Fil-Am stage actor makes Broadway debut in ‘Aladdin’

When one thinks of Red Lory Iago from "Aladdin," one thinks of big beak and rustling red feathers. But actor Don Darryl Rivera has picked up the mantle of the character as its anthropomorphized version in the musical version of the Disney classic.

A child at heart, Rivera said his debut in "Aladdin" as a sorcerer's assistant is an extension of his childhood dreams. He told Broadway.com that he wanted to be a professional stage magician as a kid, and had even performed tricks with his pet doves when he was younger.

But instead of pursuing this path, Rivera decided to explore other avenues of performance as he grew up.

Brought to Seattle by parents Danny and Dora Rivera from the Philippines, Rivera wrote in his blog that he danced with Kultura, a Filipino folk dance group, and kaSAma, a hip-hop dance group from the University of Washington.

It was in Cornish College of the Arts where Rivera honed his acting talents by taking up Theater. Upon graduation, he decided to work with various theaters, including The Guthrie Theater, The Children's Theatre Company, and The Shakespeare Theatre Company.

“Children are the most honest audience you will ever have, because they will let you know if they like you and they will let you know if they don’t like you. Kids are always surprised that I’m not really a mean guy in person," Rivera told Broadway.com.

Other than acting, he helped write and score several shows, including an adaptation of "Adventures With Spot," a children's literature series by Eric Hill.

Rivera told the Seattle Times that being in "Aladdin" felt surreal, observing that all their performances consistently had full seats.

And, of course, the fringe benefit: “I get to live in New York City and be in a Broadway show. It’s like living a dream.” —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News