Aladdin: complete cast announced
The complete cast has been announced for Disney Theatrical Productions Broadway premiere of Aladdin, a new musical based on the Academy Award winning 1992 animated film, will open at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 20 Mar 2014, following previews from 26 Feb 2014.
Aladdin will arrive on Broadway following its pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre from 01 Nov 2013 - 05 Jan 2014.
Adam Jacobs ('Les Misérables,' 'The Lion King') will star as Aladdin, a role he originated in the 2011 world premiere production of the musical in Seattle.
He will be joined by Courtney Reed ('In the Heights,' 'Mamma Mia!') as 'Jasmine,' James Monroe Iglehart ('Memphis,' 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee') as the 'Genie,' and Jonathan Freeman ('The Little Mermaid,' 'Mary Poppins') as 'Jaffar' - the role Freeman created in the animated film.
The cast will also feature Brian Gonzales (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Brandon O'Neill (B'way debut) and Jonathan Schwartz ('Elf') as Aladdin's sidekicks 'Babkak,' 'Kassim' and 'Omar,' as well as Clifton Davis ('Two Gentlemen of Verona,' 'The Engagement Baby') as the 'Sultan.'
In a cast of 34, Aladdin will also feature Tia Altinay, Mike Cannon, Andrew Cao, Lauryn Ciardullo, Joshua Dela Cruz, Yurel Echezarreta, Daisy Hobbs, Donald Jones, Jr., Adam Kaokept, Nikki Long, Stanley Martin, Brandt Martinez, Michael Mindlin, Rhea Patterson, Bobby Pestka, Khori Petinaud, Ariel Reid, Jennifer Rias, Trent Saunders, Jaz Sealey, Dennis Stowe, Marisha Wallace and Bud Weber.
The musical's director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw said,
We have an extraordinarily diverse and quite beautiful company of actors and dancers and singers who also happen to be blessed with vaudeville chops. I think that will surprise people who expect they're just going to see the film onstage.Aladdin features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin with a book by Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph. The musical tells the story of Aladdin, a street urchin who meets and falls in love with Princess 'Jasmine.' However, Jasmine can only marry a prince, but all is not lost has Aladdin owns a magic lamp, and with the help of its Genie sets out to win the hand of his princess in marriage.
Aladdin, adapted from centuries-old Arabian folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," will feature a full Broadway score including the five beloved songs from the film, including 'A Whole New World,' which won an Academy Awards for best original song.
The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing over $500 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) and became the highest-grossing film of the year.
The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song "A Whole New World," which won the second of the film's two Academy Awards® as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Aladdin will be designed by six-time Tony winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, three-time Tony winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.
The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer and hair designer Josh Marquette. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who will also create the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.
Adam Jacobs as AladdinOriginally published on