Welcome to Agrabah! Hiba Elchikhe Joins Sydney's Aladdin as Princess Jasmine!

Tonight Australia's Aladdin will welcome a new princess as Hiba Elchikhe makes her Australian debut, joining the cast as Jasmine.

Best wishes for your first night Hiba!  I hope you have a long and magical run with the show!

Salaam Worthy Friend - Arielle Jacobs Says Goodbye to Aladdin

Arielle Jacobs as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Today is Arielle Jacobs' final flight on the magic carpet as she ends her run as Princess Jasmine in Sydney.  Arielle moved to Australia earlier this year to originate the role in the Australian production of Aladdin which opened to fantastic reviews this summer.  During her time with the show Arielle has brought Jasmine to life over 100 times for thousands of fans of all ages and this afternoon she will take her final bow at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

Good luck Arielle, enjoy your final high adventure in Agrabah!  Thank you for everything and I wish you all the best for whatever the future may hold!

Thankful for Theatre

The cast of Broadway's Aladdin celebrated 1,001 performances in August, Photo by Playbill

What a year it's been!  As a fan of Disney Theatrical and especially Aladdin it's been an incredible 2016 and there's so much to be thankful for!  With new productions opening to rave reviews here in the UK and in Australia, the original Broadway production celebrating 1,001 magical shows right in the heart of New York, and the superb Disney's Broadway Hits concert premiering at the Royal Albert Hall last month it's been a truly magical year!

Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie in London's Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

I say this every year but it always bears repeating - I am so thankful for Disney Theatrical taking a chance and bringing Aladdin not just to Broadway but all around the world.  Of course this year I'm extra thankful that the show came to my home country, opening in London, and for all the success its had here!  I've not been able to see it as much as I would have liked this year, but I've loved it every time I've been, and I'm definitely planning to go more next year!

Once again, I'm so grateful for all the incredible people who bring the show to life every day all over the world, from the cast and creative team to the front of house staff and all the people behind the scenes who make live theatre possible.  The phenomenal casts of this show continue to amaze me, not only with their talent but with how welcoming they are after the show.  They really are some of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet.  I know this is true on Broadway and in London, and from social media I know it's true around the world as well.  These people make the show what it is and I'm so grateful to them.

Ainsley Melham & Arielle Jacobs as Aladdin & Jasmine in Sydney's Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

The last few years at Thanksgiving I've recounted my experiences with the show and how thankful I am for them (even that time I thought I'd die of embarrassment giving a one man standing ovation after Friend Like Me!).  I do hope to write a post like that later this year and I am so grateful for everything from the hug Trevor Dion Nicholas gave Jane and I after Aladdin's first London Preview to seeing Adam and Courtney again on Broadway to being in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall as Alan Menken sang Proud of Your Boy (oh there were tears!).  For me, it's been an amazing year.  But this year has also been one of the most divisive in recent memory on both sides of the Atlantic.  Whichever side of the debate you were on in the EU Referendum and the US Election, there's no denying it got pretty ugly.  It showed us at our worst.  Which is why, this year I want to say not just that I'm thankful for Aladdin and Disney Theatrical, I'm thankful for theatre.  I'm thankful for the way theatre and the theatrical community celebrates diversity, bringing together people of all backgrounds, races, religions, genders and sexual orientations to create art, to educate, entertain and uplift everyone who enters a theatre.  As we look forward to a hopefully more unify 2017 it's a lesson that everyone can learn from, to come together and create something beautiful.  Because when we do come together, embracing our differences and celebrating what makes us unique, there's no telling what we can accomplish.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

The cast of Disney's Broadway Hits, Photo by Manuel Harlan

Next Stop - Melbourne!

Ainsley Melham as Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

The Australian production of Aladdin is going on tour!

Next April Ainsley Melham (Aladdin), Arielle Jacobs (Jasmine) Michael James Scott (Genie) and the gang will fly the magic carpet from Sydney's Capitol Theatre to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne!

There's still time to catch them in Sydney where the show is running through to January 8th but make sure you get your tickets now as they're sure to sell out over the holiday season and as the end of the run approaches!

Tickets for both are on sale now from the show's official website so grab yours today!

Aladdin begins performances in Melbourne on 26th April 2017 and is currently booking through to 4th June 2017.

And now for an extra special treat!  This morning Ainsley Melham and Arielle Jacobs performed A Whole New World on The Morning Show and you can watch it right here!

Michael James Scott Talks with Studio 10

Michael James Scott as Genie, Photo by Deen Van Meer

I feel like I've not posted enough about Australia's Aladdin and it's well past time that changed!  Earlier this month Michael James Scott was on Australia's Studio 10 morning show talking about the show, seeing Australia and bringing the Genie to life!

Check it out right here!

Aladdin Rehearsals Begin in Australia!

The Australian Cast of Aladdin loving their first day in Agrabah! Photo by @rosechocolatebeauty

Ok, not even the time difference can make up for how late this post is!  Last week Disney's Aladdin began rehearsals for it's upcoming Australian premiere!

I just want to, very belatedly, wish everyone involved the very best of luck and I hope you all enjoy this creative process and make the show your own!  You look like you're off to an incredible start!

Make some magic everyone!


Tickets for the Australian production of Aladdin are now on sale.  You can book yours right here!  Previews begin Wednesday 3rd August and the show will officially open Thursday 11th August.

Casting Announced for Australia's Aladdin!

There's no stopping Disney's Broadway mega-hit Aladdin!  After welcoming two new faces to the recording breaking Broadway show, Disney Theatrical last week announced the cast for the upcoming Australian production of Aladdin!

Starring in the title role is newcomer Ainsley Melham as Aladdin!

And joining him from the original Broadway cast is Michael James Scott as the Genie!!  Michael was the original Stand By Genie and Babkak for the Broadway production of Aladdin and after a short time away (during which he starred in Casey Nicholaw's Something Rotten!) he's returning to Agrabah to star as Genie!



Michael James Scott as Genie in the Broadway production of Aladdin

Starring as the villainous Jafar will be Adam Murphy, whose evil deeds (and laughter) will be assisted by Aljin Abella as Iago.

Completing the principal cast are Adam Jon Fiorentino, Robert Tripolino and Troy Sussman as Aladdin's friends Kassim, Omar and Babkak, with George Henare as the Sultan.

The coveted role of Princess Jasmine has not yet been cast and will be announced at a later date (presumably along with cast of the ensemble).

Tickets for the Australian production of Aladdin will go on sale Tuesday 8th March and the show will open at Sydney's Capitol Theatre in August.  You can sign up for ticket alerts right now at the show's official website.

Disney's Aladdin to Make Magic in Australia!

Looks like the West End isn't the only place Aladdin will be flying its magic carpet to next year!  Today Disney Theatrical have officially announced that Aladdin will making its Australian premiere next August at Sydney's Capitol Theatre!

Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher was at the theatre for the announcement, saying that Sydney had been chosen as it was a "world theatre capital".  Indeed, Sydney has long been Disney's Australian home with Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins all having successful productions there.

Disney aren't the only ones hoping that Aladdin will continue that winning streak.  The Lion King's recent production attracted over 600,000 guests and Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres is hoping that Aladdin will do the same, telling The Sydney Morning Herald "It's got such a fantastic track record.  It's not just for children, it's for everyone.  It's a genuine Broadway comedy, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will inspire you.  It does all the things that Disney has been doing to families and people around the world for many, many years now."

Tickets will go on sale next March.

Australia is Aladdin's fourth international production (of the new Broadway production) following Japan (now open), Germany (opening December 15th) and the UK (opening Summer 2016) which means there's still at least one more announcement to come!