Aladdin actors make magical appearance with Clinton students

October 11, 2023

Marcus M. Martin and Jake Letts have gone on a nationwide magic-carpet ride with the crew of the Broadway musical “Aladdin” this year.
 
The two actors shared the stage with Clinton Elementary School students Oct. 4 during a special school assembly.
 
Clinton students packed the school’s gym to listen to the “Aladdin” stars share stories about their professional experiences. Martin fills the leading role of Genie and Letts portrays Babkak, who is one of the best friends of Aladdin. Both said they were happy to encourage local students to explore the fine arts.
 
“I fell in love with the theater at age seven, which is the same age as a lot of these kids,” Martin said. “To have a chance to give that same gift to others is amazing.”

 
Fifth-grade student Max said she enjoyed listening to Martin and Letts during the 35-minute presentation. She was interested to hear details about the play and why they both chose to go into the acting profession.
 
“I liked how they talked about performing,” Max said. “That was cool.”
 
Max and fellow fifth-grade student Isaiah both said they liked singing. Isaiah said his favorite music depended on how he felt each day, while Max said she was interested in rock and pop songs. Both said it caught their attention when Martin and Letts told the group that singing was a big part of their careers.
 
Clinton students had an opportunity to hear from Martin and Letts during the national tour’s stop in downtown Lincoln. Lied Center for Performing Arts hosted productions of “Aladdin” Oct. 3-8. The musical is based on the famous film and features songs and lyrics from several Tony and Academy Award winners.

Clinton Principal Angee Luedtke said there were many educational benefits to having younger students meet actors like Martin and Letts.

“I think the students learned the importance of hard work and setting goals and believing in themselves,” Luedtke said. “The purpose of the visit was for our students to connect with the ‘Aladdin’ actors and see a possibility for their futures.”
 
Lauren Silverman Durban, communications manager at Lied Center for Performing Arts, agreed with Luedtke.
 
“Educate is the first word in the Lied Center’s mission statement, and connecting artists like Marcus and Jake with students is one of the most important things we do at the Lied Center,” Silverman Durban said. “For younger students like the Clinton Elementary kids who met Marcus and Jake, it’s a chance to imagine new possibilities.”
 
Martin told students he had a soft spot in his heart for the Lincoln community. The Akron, Ohio, native came to the city in middle school when he qualified for the International Thespian Festival. He networked with fellow actors and actresses from across the world during his time in Lincoln.
 
Martin said that experience helped him realize he had the talent and confidence to earn a living on stage. He watched several doors open after graduating from the musical theater program at Baldwin Wallace University. His career has taken off since then with roles in multiple plays in New York City.
 
“I was hoping to be a professional performer when I was at that festival, and now it’s come true,” Martin told students with a big smile. “It’s so cool to be back here in Lincoln.”

 
Letts grew up in Carmel, Ind., and studied musical theater at Ball State University. He worked in solo and group performances before landing his big break with the cast of “Aladdin.” He said it was an honor to inspire future artists like those in Clinton’s classrooms.
 
“It’s really important to get to talk to these students at this age,” Letts said.
 
Both actors answered a variety of questions from students. Martin said encouragement from others and his faith gave him the confidence he needed to succeed in his career field. He said that type of support was critical for him on his path to the “Aladdin” job.
 
“I’ve had others let me know that you are good enough to be here,” Martin told students. “They’ve helped me and have let me know I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t qualified. That’s a good feeling.”
 
Both were also heartened to visit with students of all backgrounds. They felt it was important to let the younger generation know that the theater is full of positive role models and is a welcoming place for everyone.
 
“Seeing a diverse student body is awesome,” Letts said.
 
Manley and Letts ended their visit to Clinton by posing for a group picture with multiple classrooms. Their smiles showed they were happy to share the stage with Lincoln students.
 
“It’s all part of showing kids that there are wonderful possibilities that maybe they haven’t even considered yet, and that achieving dreams is possible,” Silverman Durban said. “We also want them to know that their community cares about them enough and that they are important enough for artists to invest in them!
 
“These kinds of outreach projects are vital to making the arts accessible to as many people as possible. Science tells us that the arts make us smarter, happier people, and that makes it our responsibility to share them with our community in every way we can.”
 
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