This blog is dedicated to Disney's Aladdin: Broadway's New Musical Comdey. Following a successful Pilot Production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2011, and regional and international productions in 2012, Disney announced that Aladdin would be coming to Broadway in 2014. Aladdin had it's pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and opened on Broadway 20th March 2014.
Showing posts with label Jonathan Freeman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonathan Freeman. Show all posts
Every time a show changes principal cast members it can be said to be the end of an era, especially if that cast member is one of the original company. But this truly is a once in a life time as Jonathan Freeman bids goodbye to a role he not only originated on stage a decade ago, but to a role he first brought to life thirty years ago in the original animated Aladdin.
If you can sum up his performance in a word, it is simply "iconic". If you closed your eyes you would think you were watching the movie. His voice, and that incredible laugh, as captivating now as they were when I was a child. Open your eyes though, and it's not just his voice. His looks, his body language, he is Jafar. As I wrote in my original review back in 2014 "Jonathan knows the character inside and out, he knows what makes him tick, his mannerisms and his psychosis and he uses this to great effect, bringing the character to life as well on stage as he did on screen."
As Jafar he brought joy to so many who got to witness their childhood come to life before their very eyes. And as he introduced others to his villainous vizier for the first time. His partnership with Don Darryl Rivera's Iago is one of the highlights of the show, with the villainous duo easily topping my list as Disney's greatest stage villains.
But all good things must end, and after a decade of plotting and scheming as Agrabah's treacherous vizier on stage, and three decades of giving him voice, Jonathan certainly deserves a well earned rest. Well... kind of end. Jonathan has already confirmed that he will continue to provide Jafar's voice so we've not heard the last of him just yet. All that remains is for me to say thank you. That movie and this show both changed my life, and getting to see you bring Jafar to life in person is something I will treasure forever. I feel blessed to have met you and seen you perform. Happy trails Jonathan, thank you for all the wonderful memories and best wishes for whatever the future may hold.
And you can tell it truly is the end of an era as several major theatrical site have carried out exit interviews with our favourite Disney villain! I've tried to link all of them here.
I just want to end with this quote from Jonathan from those interviews: "It's such a great character. It's quintessentially awful. He's so disgracefully awful. So deliciously awful. Without a villain, you don't have a good story. They're like gasoline that make the stories go."
UPDATE - Disney Theatrical have shared Jonathan's final bow and his passing of the snake staff to Dennis Stowe in a video posted to the official Aladdin Instagram which you can see below!
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!
Tonight, Disney's Aladdin celebrates a magical milestone. Five years on Broadway!
With the show still going strong in New York and the US Tour about to enter it's third year, it's hard to believe that Disney was taking a big risk when they first brought the show to the Great White Way. Well that risk, some wishing, and an incredible amount of hard work certainly paid off.
It's been an amazing journey to watch as a fan, and I can only imagine how incredible it has been for those on stage and behind the scenes each night at the New Amsterdam Theatre. And speaking of incredible, in a testament to just how much fun the show must be to be a part of, it still retains three of it's original principles. And I'm not just talking 5 years on Broadway, these guys go back 8 years to the original Pilot Production in Seattle!
As the show approached it's 5th anniversary on Broadway, Theater Mania sat down with Don Darryl Rivera, Brian Gonzales, and the iconic Jonathan Freeman to discuss their time with the show in "We're Still Here!"
How much have I written about this show and I never know about that switch they did with Jafar and Iago's characterisations! Or I did and my memory is just really bad. It's been 8 years after all!
The show has had a remarkable journey and no matter how many times I watch it, whether in London, LA or in New York, it always fills me with joy every time. The cast, in New York and around the world, are universally some of the nicest people you could hope to meet at stage door and give 110% on stage. I've always said that the joy they bring to the stage every night is infectious and that, to me, is the true magic of the show. As long as that remains, I am confident that Aladdin will remain a magical experience for all who the theatre and will be on Broadway for many years to come.
Happy anniversary Aladdin, and a massive congratulations to everyone at the New Amsterdam tonight. To those on stage and those back stage. To those who are no longer with the show, to those who have just arrived, and those who have been there all along. Keep making magic everyone!
June 8th was National Best Friends Day and to celebrate Disney Theatrical posted a very special video of the cast of Broadway's Aladdin singing Friend Like Me with their BFFs, put together by Aladdin's own Angelo Soriano and Don Darryl Rivera!
Just wait until you see who Jonathan Freeman brought as his friend :oD
Everyone's favourite evil sidekick is returning home as Don Darryl Rivera heads back to Seattle to star in The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Man of La Mancha as Sancho!
And he's not alone! Joining DDR back on The 5th's stage is none other than Aladdin's original Kassim, Brandon O'Neill, as Pedro and fellow Disney Theatrical alum Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid) in the leading role of Don Quixote!
Don Darryl Rivera along with Sean G. Griffin and Jonathan Freeman in 5th Avenue's Aladdin
Man of La Mancha marks Don Darryl's return to the 5th Avenue for the first time since making his Iago debut there in 2011. Brandon O'Neill has starred in both Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and Carousel (Billy Bigelow) at The 5th since returning home from Broadway but this marks the first time the two have shared a stage since 2014!
Brandon O'Neill as the Pirate King in 5th Avenue's Pirates of Penzance
You can read the full cast announcement right here. As always, there's an incredible amount of talent gracing the stage at 5th Avenue for this production! So make sure you don't miss out and grab your tickets now!
I wish I could be there to see this! DDR & Brandon, I hope you both have an incredible time!
Five years ago tonight Aladdin: The New Stage Musical officially opened at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. With the show now premiering around the world in Disney Theatrical's fastest ever roll out, it's hard to believe that it began life as a small Pilot Production that was never meant for Broadway. Indeed, Aladdin only came about in response to the growing demand for a licensable 2-Act version of the show with the intention that the Seattle production would provide a blueprint that could then be licensed to regional and amateur groups. But when the show premiered at The 5th with a sold out run and overwhelming support from audiences and fans, it soon became clear that a much bigger future was in store.
In celebration of the show's 5th anniversary let's take a look back at how it all began!
Our first look at the show came before we even knew who would be starring in it when Broadway World premiered a gallery of Gregg Barnes' amazing costume designs for the show. The gallery was quickly removed from Broadway World and, at the request of 5th Avenue, from this blog. Now everyone's seen the fantastic work Greg Barnes did for the Broadway show I think it's safe for these to come out of the Disney Vault! So here's a selection of costume designs from the show!
Aladdin (5th Avenue), Costume design by Gregg Barnes
Princess Jasmine (5th Avenue), Costume design by Gregg Barnes
Genie (5th Avenue), Costume design by Gregg Barnes
Jafar (5th Avenue), Costume design by Gregg Barnes
Iago (5th Avenue), Costume design by Gregg Barnes
They look pretty amazing! I love looking at these and seeing how the designs evolved from concept to Seattle to Broadway.
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin from Concept to Broadway
Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Photos by Mark Kitaoka & Cylla Von Tiedemann
I think Tia Altinay puts it best as she shares her thoughts on Aladdin's journey from Seattle to Broadway;
"It's been the most amazing experience to see the transformation of this show over the last 5yrs. Everything from costumes to characters have changed and I've been fortunate to see it all. Agrabah continues to be the best place to work on Broadway." -- Tia Altinay
Whilst the full cast announcement would come in June, there was an extra special announcement made in May. Jonathan Freeman, who gave Jafar life in the classic animated film, would be bringing him to life on stage! Needless to say, I (and every other Aladdin fan) was over joyed at this brilliant casting.
Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera as Jafar and Iago, Back Stage at 5th Avenue
And what a fantastic cast they assembled for this production! Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Courtney Reed as Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, Don Darryl Rivera as Iago, Brian Gonzales, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Brandon O'Neill as Babkak, Omar and Kassim, and Sean Griffin as the Sultan. Plus the incredible ensemble!
We're so lucky that many of them not only returned when the show took the next step to Broadway but remain with the show to this day! It's been an incredible 5 year journey for them as well as the show and, thanks to Disney Theatrical, some of them (like Tia above) have very kindly shared their thoughts on the Seattle production on this amazing story so far.
Here's a fantastic memory from James Monroe Iglehart on his first audition for the Seattle production of Aladdin;
"There have been so many magical moments on this journey called Aladdin. From the first table read in Seattle and hearing Jonathan Freeman speak as Jafar for the 1st time, to our family commune in Toronto in the cold, to 2 years on Broadway and winning a Tony! But the story that always comes to mind is that first audition. I was in the 3rd round of guys coming in for Genie and I knew of Casey Nicholaw but not what he looked like. So I was nervous for the audition but not super nervous because I figured I would do a bunch of wild crazy stuff just to get the call back and calm down a little when I met the real director. Well I audition for the casting director and the bald happy faced guy I never met before and just go nuts and they both seem to love me! Then I go back to my job at Memphis and begin to tell the guys on my floor about the audition and Michael McGrath says wow you did all that in front of Casey he must have loved that. I was like that was Casey? I had no idea! A little later Casey tells me how fearless and funny I was and that's what he loved about me, I didn't have the heart to tell him "I didn't know it was you!" When I finally told him we just laughed about it!
I have loved the Genie my whole life and I am blessed to play him every night and that first night at the 5th Ave was the beginning of a journey in my life I will never ever forget! I love my cast, we are truly a Family!" -- James Monroe Iglehart
James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, Photo by Chris Bennion
For a production that ran just three short weeks, the original cast of Aladdin was embraced by the fan base. On Aladdin Central's forum (the main Aladdin fan site) the film's fans fell in love with a cast most of us would never see (at least in Seattle) and the thread for the 5th Avenue production remains the longest the boards have ever seen as we tracked down every official video, image and interview we could. For me this is one of my fondest memories of the Seattle show, that sense of community between the fans and how we all came together to celebrate Aladdin's stage premiere.
I think part of the reason the original Seattle cast were so embraced by the Aladdin fan base is because The 5th Avenue shared so much. Starting with their Spotlight Night and that inspired Jafar phone call that they used to announce a change of venue;
In the build up to the show's first preview The 5th Avenue released several performances and interviews from the Spotlight Night before releasing the entire event on the night Aladdin made its stage debut. You can watch the special performance in full by following the link above, but here's two special performances from the event.
First up is Brian Gonzales, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Adam Jacobs and Brandon O'Neill singing an early version of "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim" by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman
And next is Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera performing Alan Menken and Tim Rice's "Why Me?" which was ultimately cut before the show reached Broadway.
And speaking of Don Darryl Rivera, everyone's favourite evil sidekick has very kindly shared his thoughts on his time with Aladdin;
"The last 5 years have been some of the best of my life. I have to thank Disney for granting me this amazing wish of originating a role from the inception of the project to making my Broadway debut in that same role. Even as we approach 1000 performances, (OMG!!!) I still have a blast onstage EVERY NIGHT with this incredible cast. Special thanks to Jonathan Freeman for the 5 year master class in Disney Villainy with an emphasis in Sidekickery." -- Don Darryl Rivera
And the Spotlight Night was just the start. Over the course of July The 5th Avenue's YouTube channel played host to The JMI Show! I think this is where the fans who couldn't make it to Seattle truly fell in love with this original cast. They all came across as perfect for their roles and having the time of their lives in the process. If you've never seen these then you're in for a real treat! So sit back and enjoy The JMI Show!
Of course, James wasn't the only one who got to interview the cast back then! He just did it better, in person and with higher production qualities ;-) Joking aside, even 5 years later I cannot say thank you enough to both the cast and The 5th Avenue (especially Bridget Summers) for the incredible opportunity they gave me. I was just a fan with a small blog and thanks to their kindness I was able to interview most of the principal cast from half way around the world. It remains, to this day, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I will be forever grateful for that.
So here they are, my full interviews with the cast of 5th Avenue's Aladdin along with some special reflections they shared on the show's 1st anniversary.
For a show with such a short run and no planned future on Broadway The 5th Avenue really went above and beyond in promoting the show.
Courtney Reed appeared on New Day Northwest with Tia Altinay, Shanna Marie Palmer and Allysa Shorte to perform "Call Me and Princess" (another song that was ultimately cut before the show reached Broadway);
Alan Menken visited the Seattle Children's Hospital
And shared the moment two of Disney's greatest directors paid the cast a visit after watching them bring their story to life on stage;
Ron Clements and John Musker with the cast of Aladdin, Photo from 5th Avenue's Blog
And that's just scratching the surface! They shared an incredible amount of character and production photos, a selection of which you can see below.
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Chris Bennion
Adam Jacobs & James Monroe Iglehart as Aladdin & Genie, Photo by Chris Bennion
Adam Jacobs & Courtney Reed as Aladdin & Jasmine, Photo by Chris Bennion
Brian Gonzales, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & Brandon O'Neill as Babkak, Omar & Kassim, Photo by Chris Bennion
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin (the first photo!!), Photo by Mark Kitaoka
Courtney Reed & Sean G. Griffin as Jasmine & Sultan, Photo by Mark Kitaoka
Seeing images like these was a dream come true for myself and so many other fans. And for some of the cast that dream continues every night when they step onto that Broadway stage;
"It is very hard to put into words how Aladdin has changed my life. If I sit and think about it, it has enhanced my life in every aspect. I always said that it would feel real when I stepped on the stage opening night, but it still doesn't feel real, and that was 2 years ago. It feels like I am in a constant dream state and don't ever want to wake up." -- Courtney Reed
And then, of course, there was the clip of "A Million Miles Away" they shared (strangely the YouTube video posted by The 5th is currently blocked due to a claimed copyright by Disney, if this gets resolved I'll update this post). Watching this I feel in love with the show all over again and knew it was in good hands with Chad Begulin.
It felt like a dream to see the film I have loved since childhood brought to life before my eyes, even for those brief few moments. Happily the trailer for the show has been preserved and you can now see some of that early magic for yourself.
From these humble beginnings a Broadway sensation was born. Aladdin in Seattle was, like its title character, a diamond in the rough. Whilst the reviews were mixed to positive, audiences embraced the show night after night. It was their support that proved to Disney Theatrical that maybe Aladdin could be something more than a licensable property. And it was the subsequent hard work of the creative team, cast and everyone at Disney Theatrical that transformed the show into to a magical production that is truly shining, shimmering, splendid. As Thomas Schumacher said on the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray, the reason Aladdin works "is because nobody quit. Nobody quit on it, and it was the sheer will of an enormous number of committed people that made the show happen". That's a kind of magic as well.
Yes, a lot changed on Aladdin's road to Broadway as it moved the production closer to the animated movie. Here's Sean Griffin, the original Sultan, reflecting on seeing the show's opening night on Broadway and his time with the production in Seattle;
"I was at the opening of Aladdin in NY and loved it. There were some changes that I liked and some I did not. The Sultan, now played by an African American actor which is good because the show needed some actors of color, was pared down somewhat as were the roles of the three "amigos" as narrators. They wanted the Genie to appear sooner in the production, I liked the old way better. But still it was a spectacular show and the audience loved it. Casey Nicholaw did a terrific job with new direction and choreography. New costumes and sets were spectacular as well. My memories of doing it in Seattle are the best. I had a most enjoyable time and the entire cast and crew and creatives were wonderful. A great experience and am lucky to have had it." -- Sean G. Griffin
Since taking part in Aladdin, Sean has starred Sugar Daddies, Outside Mullingar, Carousel and, most recently, The Secret Garden which will see him return to The 5th Avenue Theatre in April 2017.
I can't think of any better way to end this look back at The 5th Avenue's magical show than with the words of Aladdin himself;
"Has it really been five years since Seattle?? It's amazing to think of how far we've come and yet it still seems like yesterday when we were at the 5th Avenue Theatre, enjoying summer there and putting together the first production. What a fantastic, magical and hectic time that was. So much excitement surrounding every rehearsal and the feeling of accomplishment when you finally got the steps down, or made the quick change, etc. I feel so lucky to have witnessed not only the show's growth and success over the years, but the growth and success of my fellow actors who were with me from the beginning. We really worked hard, pouring our blood, sweat and tears into this project and there's nothing better than having it be a smash hit on Broadway. To say it's a life-changing experience is an understatement. Every aspect of my life has changed in some way, the greatest being that I'm a father now, and I can't help but equate the love I have for my twin boys with the love I have for Aladdin and all its meant to me. And whenever my journey with Aladdin ends I will be happy knowing that I enjoyed and appreciated every moment along the way. But until then I'm just gonna keep flying high!" -- Adam Jacobs
Happy Anniversary Aladdin! Here's wishing you many more!
Adam Jacobs & Courtney Reed as Aladdin & Jasmine, Photo by Chris Bennion
Last month I posted a special Disney Sessions video for Halloween with Aladdin's Jonathan Freeman performing a fantastic Disney Villains medley. Well, if you've been following @Aladdin on Twitter or Facebook then you'll know there's more where that came from!
So here's the complete Disney Sessions series from the cast of Broadway's Aladdin featuring Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart and Jonathan Freeman with support from Kathryn Allison and Ariel Reid.
And yes, James wrote the rap lyrics himself!
I hope there's more in the future! Especially the medleys! I'm a sucker for a good Disney medley!
To get you in the spirit here's Jonathan Freeman's Disney Sessions medley! Watch as Jafar himself brings some of Disney's greatest villains songs to life!
This week the cast of Disney's Aladdin on Broadway have been joining forces with the cast of the original animated classic to promote the film's US release on Blu-Ray and Digital Download with a special Diamond Edition for the film's 24th anniversary!
In addition to the fantastic original film two of the highlights of this release are Robin William's Genie Outtakes, specially animated as a tribute to the actor, and a very special feature on the Broadway show!! I'll be honest, I have the UK release from 2013, I've ordered this just for those two features and I can't wait for it to arrive!!
And make sure you check out Adam Jacobs, James Monroe Iglehart and Courtney Reed's Instagram accounts for plenty of incredible behind the scenes images of these two incredible casts meeting this week at the press event and at the show!
To celebrate the release Aladdin's Don Darryl Rivera also shared an incredible picture of his original Aladdin VHS tape. Kept in his dressing room this video has been signed by everyone who has worked on Aladdin and visited the New Amsterdam Theatre to see the show. As Aladdin might say; "wow!"
Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Matthew Murphy
Last month Aladdin celebrated its first anniversary on Broadway and I was lucky enough to be able to return to New York and see the show again.
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at the New Amsterdam Theatre is the new entrance way. Gone is the show logo and in its place is the Cave of Wonders, complete with a magic lamp for guests to rub and make a wish. It's a great touch and a big improvement that offers guests a little interactivity and a photo opportunity before they enter the theatre.
I'm not going to do a full review of the show itself (you can read my original review here) but I do want to talk about the cast. Whilst Aladdin has been lucky enough to keep almost all of its principal cast, the last year has seen a few changes in the ensemble and, of course, the arrival of Steel Burkhardt as Kassim. Steel has done a fantastic job of making the character his own whilst still remaining true to the character the Brandon O'Neill created. It's a wonderful performance and he works perfectly with Brian Gonzales' Babkak and Jonathan Schwartz's Omar, the trio is as hilarious as ever. And speaking of the trio, I love the "random high note" line that Brian Gonzales has added to "High Adventure"!
I was blessed to see Trevor Dion Nicholas' show (and Broadway!) debut as the Genie! If I hadn't been told after that it was his first night I never would have guessed. He gave a phenomenal performance and got a well earned standing ovation after "Friend Like Me". He didn't have easy shoes to fill but he rose to the challenge and gave the audience everything they could wish for in a Genie.
I've been wanting to see Merwin Foard since I learned that he was Cassim's singing voice in Aladdin and the King of Thieves (and appeared in lots of other Disney features as well). I got my wish this time and he did not disappoint. Merwin's Sultan is a powerful figure with a commanding presence and a delight to watch. I also got to see Dennis Stowe take on the role of the villainous Jafar and he did a great job. What I loved most about seeing the standbys and understudies was that none of them simply copied the original performance, they all made the roles their own, adding their own take on the material and their own little embellishments to the parts. It's one of the joys of live theatre, no two performers or performances are completely alike, there's always something new to take in.
One of the most joyous things about seeing Aladdin one year later was just to see how much the cast are loving it. It seemed that everyone was totally relaxed and comfortable with their characters and were just having fun playing with them every night. Adam and Courtney remain absolutely perfect as Aladdin and Jasmine, bringing them to life with charm and ease and Don Darryl Rivera somehow manages to get even bigger laughs than I remember as he seemingly revels in Iago's villainly and crazy over the top evil laughs. Seriously, he's hilarious and always manages to get some of the biggest laughs of the night. He also works so well with Jonathan Freeman's Jafar (Jonathan was back in the second time we saw the show), their stage chemistry is brilliant. The whole production just has an infectious joy to it and in some of the numbers, like the fantastic "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim", you just want to get up and dance (and this is coming from a guy with two left feet). You can't help but leave Aladdin feeling uplifted and that's the real magic and why it remains my favourite show.
Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed and James Monroe Iglehart as Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie
As you've no doubt heard this week Disney Theatrical announced the excellent news that Aladdin's leading actors have all renewed their contracts through to 21st February 2016.
That's right, Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Jonathan Schwartz (Omar), Clifton Davies (Sultan) and Merwin Foard (Stand By for Jafar & Sultan) are all staying for another year of high adventure in Disney's latest Broadway hit, and so is Steel Burkhardt, who recently joined the cast as Kassim!
Joining the cast are Trevor Dion Nicholas (Stand By for Genie & Babkak) and new Swing Angelo Soriano, who made his Aladdin debut on 5th February. A big welcome to you both!
Disney haven't announced any additional ensemble casting but when they update their website next week I'll be sure to announce any new additions here.
In addition to welcoming the above new cast members I would also like to apologise and say a belated farewell to Rhea Patterson and Aleks Pevec who both left the show last September and a warm welcome to Amber Owens and Travis Ward-Osborne who joined the ensemble last October!
