The wait is almost over!
Watch Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre prepare for the arrival of Disney’s new musical:
Disney’s all-new musical Aladdin, adapted from centuries-old Arabian folktales including One Thousand and One Nights, is only a month away from opening, and the New Amsterdam Theatre is transforming to welcome Prince Ali Ababwa.
Located in the heart of Times Square, the historic New Amsterdam Theatre is one of New York City’s most stunning Broadway theaters. It was built in 1903 and was once home to the legendary Ziegfeld Follies. Before Disney’s Aladdin, the New Amsterdam Theatre was previously home to the stage musical Mary Poppins.
This brand-new stage production is directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw, and composed by Tony Award® winner Alan Menken. It features lyrics penned by the legendary Howard Ashman and Tony Award® winner Tim Rice, with book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Aladdin also showcases an incomparable design team with exquisite sets, costumes and lighting by multiple Tony Award® winners Bob Crowley, Gregg Barnes and Natasha Katz.
Journey into the rehearsal studio:
Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw talks about the Disney’s new musical comedy:
Director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw and the show’s writers had previously collaborated on a well-received pilot production of the musical at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in summer 2011 mounted for a limited run with the goal of trying out new material and structure. The Broadway version will be an entirely new production featuring a new script, tunestack and a wholly original design scaled to the Broadway stage and an epic story.
Book writer Chad Beguelin, talks about the development:
Previous live versions of the film, unrelated to the new Broadway production, have included Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure, regional productions of the show licensed last summer and versions of the script which have been available to schools for several years.
Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) has appeared on Broadway as Marius in Les Miserables and Simba in The Lion King.
James Monroe Iglehart (Genie) appeared in Memphis and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Courtney Reed (Jasmine) has appeared in the Broadway productions of In the Heights and Mamma Mia.
As Jafar, Jonathan Freeman brings to the stage the role he indelibly created in the animated film. His Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, The Producers and his Tony®-nominated turn in She Loves Me.
The show also stars Brian Gonzales, Brandon O’Neill, and Jonathan Schwartz as Aladdin’s sidekicks Babkak, Kassim, and Omar. Clifton Davis (Sultan) returns to Broadway where he received his first Tony nomination for the landmark production of Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1971; and Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Merwin Foard and Michael James Scott will standby for several principals.
Aladdin comes to Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre February 26.
