Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed will play Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively, with James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie, in the stage premiere of the Disney musical Aladdin, based on the animated feature.
The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle announced full casting for the show on June 1. The production, starring the previously announced Jonathan Freeman as villainous Jafar (reprising his pungent vocal role from the motion picture), will play July 7-31 under the direction of Casey Nicholaw, who also choreographs.
Aladdin has music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice & Chad Beguelin; and book by Chad Beguelin.
The cast also includes Seattle actor Seán G. Griffin as the Sultan; Don Darryl Rivera as Iago; and, playing Omar, Babkak, and Kassim — a trio of characters originally conceived by the film's creators but not used — Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brian Gonzales, and Brandon O'Neill, respectively.
Rounding out the ensemble are Tia Altinay, Kristin Culp, Nick DeSantis, Ronald Duncan, C.J. Eldred, Daisy Hobbs, David Janett, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Nikki Long, Stanley Martin, Creighton Oliver, Shanna Marie Palmer, Bobby Pestka, Connor Russell, Manuel Santos, Allysa Shorte, Daniel J. Watts and Matt Wolfe.
That's unfortunate...and by "unfortunate" I mean "really making me wish I was able to get to Seattle."
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Interesting that Iago was kept but not Abu but I guess with the inclusion of Omar, Babkak, and Kassim, the character wasn't needed.
I could easily see transfer to Broadway if the reviews are good but it's up to Disney, they also Newsies at the Papermill but that's the show that more likely to licensed than on Broadway,
It'll also be interesting if any songs from the film are cut, I dont they will but some like One Jump Ahead could be reworked slightly to include Aladdin's friends. Updated On: 6/1/11 at 02:50 PM
I'm sorry, but where in the article does it mention omitting Abu? The Carpet wasn't mentioned either, but I hesitate to say they'd nix either character.
I always thought the demo of Bakak, Omar and Kasim was pretty dreadful, and as much as I hate seeing Ashman material go, was wisely cut... But on thinking about it, it does make a lot more sense to have them in a stage version to play off of Aladdin. I have a soft spot for Aladdin, but really not sure another Disney adaptation is worth me making the boat ride here from Victoria, to Seattle--I hope some production pics or even design work leaks. Casey's direction could go either way I think.
either this or Newsies is likely to be the next Disney project for Broadway. I'm hoping it's Aladdin.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I can pretty much guarantee Proud of Your Boy will be in.
I admit this little blurb on their website makes me think maybe they will go in an interesting direction with this. Maybe I will try to see it...
"This new Aladdin incorporates all of the beloved songs from the film's Oscar®-winning score plus never-before-heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the score. It marks a return to the authors' original vision: a loving homage to the Hope-Crosby road pictures with a score invoking the jazz sound of stars like Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. "
I definitely read awhile ago that Proud Of Your Boy was in this production.
It was an interview with Menken where he also first mentioned that Beguilin/Sklar were writing additional songs.
I don't recall where I read that interview though, so no link.
Take that for what it's worth.
Also, I remember that Menken said Disney had no plans to transfer this production to Broadway. In the same interview he was also very coy on Newsies' future (which led me to believe that if it does well Disney may explore a Bway production).