About Aladdin
Journey to the faraway land of Agrabah with the hit Disney musical Aladdin! A screen-to-stage adaptation of the 1992 animated film and based on folk legends like “One Thousand and One Nights,” Aladdin brings the beloved story to life on the Broadway stage. This tale of romance and the mystical powers of a magic lamp dazzles audiences from the very beginning, with jaw-dropping sets, alluring costumes and powerful melodies. Join Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie for an unforgettable Arabian adventure!
Synopsis
The curtains rise over the exotic Arabian city of Agrahab, and the audience is welcomed by the Genie. A mixed city, Agrabah is home to the fanciest royals, deceitful villains, and bands of misfits. Among the misfits is Aladdin, a petty thief who craftily pilfers food from street vendors and makes a game of the thieving with his friends. On the other side of the class spectrum, Princess Jasmine spends her days in the city’s palace turning down suitors under the watchful eye of her father, the Sultan. Jasmine is under pressure to find a noble prince to marry before her next birthday, and time is ticking down.
Meanwhile, the Sultan unknowingly has larger problems to worry about than his daughter’s marriage, as his conspiratorial Grand Vizier Jafar is scheming to usurp the Sultan’s throne for himself. Jafar and his sidekick Iago are on their own mission to retrieve the all-powerful magic lamp from the depths of the Cave of Wonders, yet discover themselves unworthy of entry.
Aladdin and Jasmine eventually cross paths outside the palace, and their heartfelt encounter proves treacherous for Aladdin who is spared punishment by Jafar as he has ulterior motives for saving the street urchin. Jafar uses Aladdin as a pawn to enter the Cave of Wonder and recover the magic lamp, yet the Vizier’s plan gets foiled when Aladdin ends up becoming the master of the Genie who inhabits the lamp. The Genie grants the holder of the magic lamp three wishes – will Aladdin use his for good or evil? Come discover this timeless tale of romance, trickery, loyalty and righteousness!
Innovation
Aladdin’s universal themes of the quest for true love, triumph over evil, and the pursuit of freedom strike a chord with audiences young and old alike. The cast’s whimsical middle eastern costumes dazzle the eye, and their elaborate dance numbers leave spectators wholly spellbound. Directed and choreographed by the mastermind behind The Book of Mormon, Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw breathes new life into Aladdin and presents a thematically faithful yet somewhat reimagined version of the animated film. While audiences may be wondering where animal favorites like Abu and Iago have gone, they will instead find new human versions of the beloved animals, who are equally instrumental in the storyline. The addition of magic tricks, fireworks and the special effects used to depict Aladdin and Jasmine’s magic carpet ride are simply whimsical and bring a fresh new take on this classic Disney tale to the theater.
Music & Cast
Fans of Aladdin’s hit songs from the movie certainly won’t be disappointed by the theatrical production. The film’s best-loved tunes such as “Friend Like Me,” “Arabian Nights” and “A Whole New World” are all incorporated into the musical, as well as 7 brand new songs unique to Broadway. With new music by Tony and Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin, Aladdin provides plenty of toe-tapping energy.
While most of the show’s cast is too fresh-faced to have been involved in the 1992 film version, Jonathan Freeman, who famously leant his voice to Jafar in the movie, joins the Broadway crew to reprise his original role. Ainsley Melham makes a return to Broadway as Aladdin, while Michael James Scott embodies the Genie and Arielle Jacobs plays Princess Jasmine.
Awards & Accolades
Hailed by Variety as “Dazzling and eye-popping! A magical, wonderful extravaganza!” Aladdin has received 5 Tony Award Nominations and its James Monroe Iglehart took home the prize for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The show has also been nominated for 5 Drama Desk Awards, and its original cast album received a Grammy nod for Best Musical Theater Album. Both critics and audiences agree – Aladdin is a revolutionary reimagining of a Disney classic which simply cannot be missed!