So Long, and Thanks for All the High Adventures!

Brad Weinstock, Milo Alosi, and Zach Bencal as Omar, Kassim, and Babkak in Aladdin. Photo by Disney

 

For the first time in the Broadway show's history Aladdin's trio will take their final bows together as Zach Bencal, Brad Weinstock, and Milo Alosi end their incredible runs as Babkak, Omar, and Kassim today at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre.

These three pals, who are thick as thieves, have played the roles together since the show re-opened on Broadway in September 2021 when Zach Bencal brought his Babkak to New York having originated the role for the original US Tour.

The move to New York reunited him with Milo Alosi who originated role of Kassim for the US Tour before joining the Broadway production in February 2019.

And what can I say about Brad Weinstock? Brad has been Broadway's Omar since February 2016, when he took over from original Omar, Jonathan Schwartz, and is one of the longest serving cast members in the show!

These three have all been with the show for the best part of a decade. I have been blessed to see all them on tour and on Broadway multiple times over the years, and to finally meet them properly earlier this year, and we could not have asked for a greater trio.

To Brad, Milo, and Zach, I hope you have an incredible and emotional final show today. Thank you for everything you have done for this show, for all the laughs and memories over the years, and I wish you all the very best for what comes next. No matter how much you clean up your act and go legit, you'll always be street rats to me. Thanks for all the high adventures.

Cast Announced for Aladdin's Broadway Return!

 

The wait is almost over! After 18 months the magic is finally coming home to Broadway and today Disney Theatrical announced the cast who will be bringing Aladdin to life when the show reopens at the historic New Amsterdam Theatre next month!

First up is our brand new Aladdin, Michael Maliakel (The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Tour) who will be making his Broadway debut as everyone's favourite street rat! Joining him on the magic carpet is Shoba Narayan (Wicked, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812) as Broadway's new Jasmine!

Returning to grant more wishes is, of course, Agrabah's fiercest Genie, and the only man to play the role in every English language production of the show, Michael James Scott!

Also returning is everyone's favourite villainous duo - Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera as Jafar and Iago! Jonathan and DDR have been with the show since the very beginning, all the way back to the world premiere in Seattle, so I'm delighted to see them returning to these iconic roles!

JC Montgomery returns as the Sultan, a role he originated for the US Tour before taking over on Broadway in 2018.

Milo Alosi and Brad Weinstock are returning as Kassim and Omar, and joining them for some high adventures is Zach Bencal as Babkak! Zach originated the role for the US Tour so I'm incredibly excited for him to make his Broadway debut in the role when the show reopens next month.

Also transferring from the Tour to Broadway is Frank Viveros as standby for Genie, Sultan, and Babkak. He will be joining returning standbys Dennis Stowe (Jafar/Sultan) and Juwan Crawley (Genie/Sultan).

Aladdin's incredible ensemble will feature Tia Altinay (who has been with the show since the world premiere in Seattle), Mary Antonini, Netanel Bellaishe, Michael Callahan, Mike Cannon, Matthew deGuzman, Jacob Dickey, Mark DiConzo, Olivia Donalson, Josh Drake, Samantha Farrow, Jacob Gutierrez, Heather Makalani, Stanley Martin, Paul HeeSang Miller, April Holloway, Amber Owens, Jaime Kasey Patterson, Bobby Pestka, Ariel Reid, Tyler Roberts, Jaz Sealey, Charles South, Angelo Soriano, and Katie Terza.

It's an exciting mix of new and familiar faces, and I can't wait to see them all bringing that joyous energy back to the New Amsterdam stage! So please join me in wishing them all a very warm welcome/welcome back, and a massive congratulations to all of the new members of the Aladdin family, especially those making their Broadway debut during this historic return!

One of the best parts about new castings is seeing those joining the cast sharing their reactions to the news. So here's our new Aladdin, Jasmine, and Babkak in their own words!

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A post shared by Michael Maliakel (@michaelmaliakel)

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A post shared by Shoba Narayan (@shoba_narayan)

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A post shared by Zach Bencal (@zbencal)

Aladdin will begin granting wishes once more on September 28th. Tickets are on sale now.

Broadway in Bryant Park 2019

Disney on Broadway at Broadway in Bryant Park 2019, Photo by Broadway World

Last month Disney Theatrical put on quite a show at the 20th annual Broadway in Bryant Park as the casts of Aladdin (Arielle Jacobs, Michael James Scott, Brian Gonzales, Brad Weinstock, Mike Longo, and Jacob Gutierrez), The Lion King (Bradley Gibson, Tshidi Manye, Grant Braddock, John Benthal, and Pearl Khwenzi) and Frozen (Ryann Redmond, Aisha Jackson, Alyssa Fox, Jacob Smith, Jake David Smith, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Nicholas Ward, and Nina Lafarga) came together for a musical tour de force celebrating 25 years of Disney on Broadway!

And you can enjoy the full half hour performance right here!

From Beauty and the Beast to Frozen, that 25th anniversary finale is epic!!

54 Below Celebrates the Citizens of Agrabah

Ok this is awesome!!!!

Tomorrow night cast members of Broadway's Aladdin will take part in an evening of cabaret at 54 Below with Brian Gonzales (Babkak) as Master of Ceremonies!

Featuring all your favourite sidekicks - Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), Steel Burkhardt (Kassim), Brad Weinstock (Omar) and Brian Gonzales - Aladdin's new Genie, Major Attaway, and Aladdin's incredible ensemble - Kathryn Terza, Alicia Charles, Tia Altinay, Daisy Hobbs, Lauryn Ciardullo, Kathryn Allison, Angelo Soriano, Jacob Dickey (currently starring as Aladdin), Damian Chambers, Trent Saunders, Deonte L. Warren, Nathan Lucrezio, Joshua Dela Cruz, Travis Ward-Osborne, David Gilleo, Stanley Martin, Tiffany Evariste and Amber Owens.

Every time I post about a 54 Below event I say I wish I could be there and boy do I ever mean that right now!  What a show this is going to be!!

I hope everyone taking part and everyone going has a great time!  Tickets are available now at 54 Below!

54 Below normally posts videos on YouTube a few weeks after the show so I can't wait to see all the performances from this one!!

Welcome to Agrabah! Brad & Major Join Broadway's Aladdin!

This week Broadway's Aladdin welcomed two new cast members as Brad Weinstock and Major Attaway joined Disney's record breaking musical!

Both Brad and Major are making their Broadway debuts in Aladdin!  Brad has previously starred several regional and Broadway in Chicago productions and in the national tours of Jersey Boys and Wicked.  Major has starred in several regional productions including Hot Mikado and Ashman and Menken's classic Little Shop of Horrors.

Photo by Brad Weinstock via Twitter

Brad is making his Broadway debut as our new Omar, replacing original cast member Jonathan Schwartz who took his final bow last weekend.

Major is making his Broadway debut as our new Stand By Genie/Babkak, replacing Trevor Dion Nicholas who is moving to London to star as Genie in Aladdin's upcoming West End premiere!

Best wishes to you both!  I hope you're having a fantastic first week!  I wish you both an incredible run and I look forward to seeing you in the show later this year!