Out of the blue, a random audience member was chosen to perform “A Whole New World” alongside Lea Salonga, the original voice of Jasmine—and he absolutely nailed it. From the very first note, it was clear this man had likely sung the song countless times to his young daughter.
He rose to his feet, let go of his nerves, and sang with a heartfelt passion and joy that lit up the entire room. His performance transformed the duet into something magical, as if the world itself was his stage.
For years, Lea Salonga has invited audience members at her shows to join her in this iconic duet, never knowing what kind of performance she’ll get—some are decent, others not so much.
That night, she picked Jared Young—and for him, it was a dream come true.
Here’s what Jared later shared:
“I always dreamed of playing Aladdin. I even auditioned for the role at Disney’s California Adventure and made it to the final round two years in a row, but never got cast. Eventually, I gave up. But that dream never truly left me.
Then, during Lea’s show, she surprised everyone by asking for a volunteer to play Aladdin and sing with her. And she chose me!
It was a dream 20 years in the making—performing as Aladdin and singing with Lea Salonga. I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. It was a perfect night.”