1991-1992
Under My Spell Tour
Paula performing "Straight Up" on tour
To support Paula Abdul’s second studio album “Spellbound” she launched her first headlining worldwide tour. The tour kicked-off on October 26th, 1991 and ran through August 7th, 1992. There were 75 shows in North America, 6 in Australasia and 16 in Asia for a total of 97 total shows. Paula had 11 trucks, 9 buses, 9 musicians, 8 dancers, 2 stilt walkers and hundreds of support personnel on the road for her spectacular tour.
MTV, showing strong support for Paula and the album held a “Name Paula’s Tour” contest in search of a name for Paula’s “Spellbound” tour. The name, “Under My Spell” was chosen for the tour... and the rest is history!
The tour was almost canceled before it began because Paula injured her leg during rehersals by accidently catching the heel of her shoe in a groove of the stage. Paula and her team were planning on canceling the shows until a Chinese acupuncturist's cure allowed her to dance again pain-free.
Abdul also suffered serious neck and back injuries at the end of the tour when she was flying in a private jet and the plane was forced to make an unplanned emergency landing. Abdul admits she was unbuckled in the cabin at the time of the incident.
Paula performing "Opposites Attract"
Several of Paula's Under My Spell concert shows were sold out, including the show in Los Angeles where Magic Johnson retired Paula Abdul’s Laker Girls cheerleading uniform.
Color Me Badd and Aftershock were opening acts for select dates. Animated rapper MC Skat Kat joined Abdul on tour for a duet on "Opposites Attract" and promoted his album "The Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob" by performing his single "Skat Strut" on stage for audiences.
“Under My Spell Live” was filmed during live performances at Yokohama Arena in Japan and released on VHS video and laserdisc formats in 1993. The concert also aired numerous times on the Disney Channel in 1993. An edited version of the concert at the Jamsil Arena in Seoul, South Korea aired on Korean television.
The tour grossed over $60 million dollars, an incredible amount of money for a solo-female artist at the time. Abdul's show ranked in the Top 10 Concert Grosses List by Amusement Business (as published in Billboard Magazine) several times while on tour.
Paula's Dancers, Band and Backing Vocalists
The Band
Darrell Smith - Keyboards
Sam Sims - Bass
Ming Freeman - Keyboards
Sonny Emory - Drums
Tony Maiden - Guitar
Cleto Escobedo - Saxophone / Keyboards
Paula Brown - Vocals
Rasheeda Azar - Vocals
Ameerah Tatum - Vocals
The Dancers
Sybil Azur
Terry Beeman
Bill Bohl
Nathan Prevost
Denise Holland
Tiger Martina
Keith “Tyce” Diorio
Nancy O’Meara
1. Paula’s Overture
2. Spellbound
3. Straight Up
4. Promise Of A New Day
5. Vibeology
6. Opposites Attract
7. U
8. Blowing Kisses In The Wind
9. Rush, Rush
10. The Way That You Love Me
11. Cold Hearted
12. Forever Your Girl
(Additional performances of “Will You Marry Me?” and “Alright Tonight” were also performed at certain concert venues.
Skits featuring MC Skat Kat (to promote his new album) and others featuring Paula (ie. her dancers taking off her tap shoes) and Paula's interactions with the audience were performed in-between songs and not shown on the home video release.
North America (Leg 1)
October 26, 1991 - Birmingham
October 28, 1991 - Orlando
October 31, 1991 - Pensacola
November 1, 1991 - Atlanta
November 3, 1991 - Miami
November 5, 1991 - Greensboro
November 6, 1991 - Charlotte
November 7, 1991 - Pittsburgh
November 8, 1991 - Auburn Hills
November 9, 1991 - Auburn Hills
November 11, 1991 - Richfield Township
November 13, 1991 - Hartford
November 14, 1991 - Worcester
November 15, 1991 - Worcester
November 17, 1991 - Uniondale
November 18, 1991 - East Rutherford
November 20, 1991 - Albany
November 21, 1991 - Landover
Canada
November 23, 1991 - Toronto
United States
November 24, 1991 - Buffalo
November 26, 1991 - Rosemont
November 27, 1991 - Indianapolis
November 29, 1991 - Milwaukee
November 30, 1991 - Minneapolis
December 3, 1991 - Salt Lake City
December 5, 1991 - Inglewood
December 6, 1991 - Inglewood
December 7, 1991 - Inglewood
December 9, 1991 - Phoenix
December 13, 1991 - Oakland
December 14, 1991 - Sacramento
December 15, 1991 - Oakland
December 17, 1991 - San Diego
Canada
December 19, 1991 - Vancouver, BC
Australia
January 24, 1992 - Sydney
January 26, 1992 - Brisbane
January 28, 1992 - Melbourne
January 29, 1992 - Adelaide
January 31, 1992 - Perth
New Zealand
February 2, 1992 - Auckland
Japan
February 5, 1992 - Osaka
February 6, 1992 - Osaka
February 8, 1992 - Yokohama
February 9, 1992 - Yokohama
February 12, 1992 - Tokyo
February 13, 1992 - Tokyo
February 14, 1992 - Tokyo
Singapore
February 21, 1992 - Kallang
Malaysia
February 22, 1992 - Kuala Lumpur
China
February 24, 1992 - Guangzhou
Hong Kong
February 26, 1992 - Kowloon
Philippines
February 28, 1992 - Manila
February 29, 1992 - Manila
March 1, 1992 - Manila
March 2, 1992 - Manila
South Korea
March 5, 1992 - Seoul
North America (Leg 4)
April 29, 1992 - Vancouver, BC
May 1, 1992 - Tacoma
May 3, 1992 - Edmonton
May 4, 1992 - Calgary
May 6, 1992 - Winnipeg
May 9, 1992 - Montreal
May 14, 1992 - Raleigh
May 16, 1992 - Charlotte
May 17, 1992 - Knoxville
May 19, 1992 - Maryland Heights
May 21, 1992 - Nashville
May 22, 1992 - New Orleans
May 23, 1992 - Biloxi
May 24, 1992 - Mobile
May 28, 1992 - Miami
May 29, 1992 - St. Petersburg
May 30, 1992 - Tallahassee
June 1, 1992 - Atlanta
June 5, 1992 - Dallas
June 6, 1992 - The Woodlands
June 8, 1992 - Phoenix
June 10, 1992 - Greenwood Village
June 23, 1992 - Seattle
June 24, 1992 - Portland
June 26, 1992 - Mountain View
June 27, 1992 - Sacramento
June 28, 1992 - Costa Mesa
July 5, 1992 - Milwaukee
July 7, 1992 - Noblesville
July 10, 1992 - Hoffman Estates
July 22, 1992 - Philadelphia
July 24, 1992 - Atlantic City
July 25, 1992 - Mansfield
July 26, 1992 - Saratoga Spring
July 28, 1992 - Wantagh
July 29, 1992 - Wantagh
July 31, 1992 - Buffalo
August 1, 1992 - Allentown
August 4, 1992 - Burgettstown
August 5, 1992 - Columbia
August 7, 1992 - Holmdel Township
Flip through and enjoy the entire gorgeous 48 page Under My Spell tour book. (Opens in a new window.)
11-08-91 : Abdul Casts Spell, Sets New Standard
11-13-91 : Abdul Spellbound By Debut Tour
11-21-91 : Slick staging had Paula Abdul under its spell
08-02-92 : Paula Abdul's Show Short But Spellbinding
01-22-93 : Paula Abdul Balancing Marriage, Work, Fame
Under My Spell Tour - Lighting Design - Peter Morse
The Paula Abdul Fan Club Newsletter reported that Paula's cast and crew were notorious for pulling some pranks while on the road. For example, Emilio Estevez (Paula’s then-husband) stood in Arsenio Hall's place in the video screen for “Straight Up” and two MC Skat Kat costumes once appeared on stage during “Opposites Attract” instead of the usual ‘one’.
Under My Spell World Tour
Show conceived and created by Paula Abdul
Tour Manager: Marty Hom
Directed and Staged by: Jeffrey Hornaday
Choreographed by: Paula Abdul, Bill Bohl, Jerry Evans, Cindy Montoya-Picker, Barry Lather and Morleigh Steinberg
Tap Choreography by: Dean Barlow
Costumes Designed by: Marlene Stewart
Vibeology Costumes by: Maria Blaisse
Artistic Consultant: Julie McDonald
Set Design by: John McGraw
Lighting Design: Peter Morse
Video Design by: Morgan Barrett, Inc. and Robert Higgins
Skat Kat Animation by: Michael Patterson, Candace Reckinger, John Kafka and O Pictures
Skat Kat Costume by: Pat Brymer Creations
Musical Director: Jai Winding, Sonny Emory
Vocal Coach: Gary Catona
Keyboards: Darrell Smith
Bass: Sam Sims
Keyboards: Ming Freeman
Drums: Sonny Emory
Guitar: Tony Maiden
Saxophone / Keyboards: Cleto Escobedo
Vocals: Paula Brown, Rasheeda Azar, Ameerah Tatum
Dancers: Sybil Azur, Terry Beeman, Bill Bohl, Nathan Prevost, Denise Holland, Tiger Martina, Keith Diorio, Nancy O’Meara
Road Manager: Bob Herr
Tour Accountant: Bob Cayne
Hair and Makeup for Paula Abdul: Daniel Combs
Dancers Hair and Makeup: Kim Carrillo
Publicist: Elizabeth Kittrell
Tour Photography: Alan Silfen
Stage Manager: Malcolm Weldon
Tour Book Design: John Coulter
Merchandise: Winterland, Dell Furano, Cameron Hinshaw
Tour Book Photography: Alberto Tolot, Alan Silfen, Robert Lobetta, Enrique Badelescu, Jeff Bender
Under My Spell Live In Japan
Running time: Approximately 62 minutes
Photography by: Alan Silfen
Video & Artwork ©1993 Paula Abdul Inc.
Manufactured and Marketed by: PolyGram Video