Complete cast announced for Seattle production of Disney's Aladdin.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 1:31pm

Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed will play Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively, with James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie, in the stage premiere of the Disney musical Aladdin, based on the animated feature.

The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle announced full casting for the show on June 1. The production, starring the previously announced Jonathan Freeman as villainous Jafar (reprising his pungent vocal role from the motion picture), will play July 7-31 under the direction of Casey Nicholaw, who also choreographs.

Aladdin has music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice & Chad Beguelin; and book by Chad Beguelin.

The cast also includes Seattle actor Seán G. Griffin as the Sultan; Don Darryl Rivera as Iago; and, playing Omar, Babkak, and Kassim — a trio of characters originally conceived by the film's creators but not used — Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brian Gonzales, and Brandon O'Neill, respectively.

Rounding out the ensemble are Tia Altinay, Kristin Culp, Nick DeSantis, Ronald Duncan, C.J. Eldred, Daisy Hobbs, David Janett, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Nikki Long, Stanley Martin, Creighton Oliver, Shanna Marie Palmer, Bobby Pestka, Connor Russell, Manuel Santos, Allysa Shorte, Daniel J. Watts and Matt Wolfe.




Memphis Star James Monroe Iglehart Is Genie in Disney's Aladdin; Adam Jacobs Is Title Hero Updated On: 6/1/11 at 01:31 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 1:42pm

That's unfortunate...and by "unfortunate" I mean "really making me wish I was able to get to Seattle."

[JP2]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 1:56pm

I can has?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 2:05pm

So happy for James! So sad that I just moved to the East Coast!

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 2:38pm

What an awesome cast. I wish Abu was still in though so Andrew Keenan Bolger could play that part.

[threetwoone]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 2:46pm

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin:

Updated On: 6/1/11 at 02:46 PM

[Jonwo]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 2:50pm

Interesting that Iago was kept but not Abu but I guess with the inclusion of Omar, Babkak, and Kassim, the character wasn't needed.

I could easily see transfer to Broadway if the reviews are good but it's up to Disney, they also Newsies at the Papermill but that's the show that more likely to licensed than on Broadway,

It'll also be interesting if any songs from the film are cut, I dont they will but some like One Jump Ahead could be reworked slightly to include Aladdin's friends.
Updated On: 6/1/11 at 02:50 PM

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 3:11pm

Courtney Reed is Jasmine. I'm content. ^.^

[suttonfoster]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 3:34pm

Yes! SOO happy for Courtney. She was excellent in IN THE HEIGHTS.

[AndyBarclay]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 3:34pm

I'm sorry, but where in the article does it mention omitting Abu? The Carpet wasn't mentioned either, but I hesitate to say they'd nix either character.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 3:58pm

They don't come much more Arabic than Andrew Keenan-Bolger.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 5:03pm

^

But he's so adorable! And have you seen him with his shirt off?!? Hopefully he's wearing an open vest too.

Posted: 6/1/11 at 6:23pm

I always thought the demo of Bakak, Omar and Kasim was pretty dreadful, and as much as I hate seeing Ashman material go, was wisely cut... But on thinking about it, it does make a lot more sense to have them in a stage version to play off of Aladdin. I have a soft spot for Aladdin, but really not sure another Disney adaptation is worth me making the boat ride here from Victoria, to Seattle--I hope some production pics or even design work leaks. Casey's direction could go either way I think.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 11:17pm

either this or Newsies is likely to be the next Disney project for Broadway. I'm hoping it's Aladdin.

[JP2]

Posted: 6/1/11 at 11:21pm

So, will "Proud of Your Boy" be included into the score? Song brings me to tears.

Really hoping this is good, and transfers!

Posted: 6/2/11 at 12:51am

I can pretty much guarantee Proud of Your Boy will be in.

I admit this little blurb on their website makes me think maybe they will go in an interesting direction with this. Maybe I will try to see it...

"This new Aladdin incorporates all of the beloved songs from the film's Oscar®-winning score plus never-before-heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the score. It marks a return to the authors' original vision: a loving homage to the Hope-Crosby road pictures with a score invoking the jazz sound of stars like Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. "

[tazber]

Posted: 6/2/11 at 7:44am

I definitely read awhile ago that Proud Of Your Boy was in this production.

It was an interview with Menken where he also first mentioned that Beguilin/Sklar were writing additional songs.

I don't recall where I read that interview though, so no link.

Take that for what it's worth.

Also, I remember that Menken said Disney had no plans to transfer this production to Broadway. In the same interview he was also very coy on Newsies' future (which led me to believe that if it does well Disney may explore a Bway production).

I'll try to find this interview.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 5:05pm

Updated On: 6/14/11 at 05:05 PM