‘Aladdin’ opens in Melbourne mid-month

Disney’s Aladdin, one of the largest and most spectacular productions to ever grace an Australian stage, arrives at Her Majesty’s Theatre soon, beginning performances April 15.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film and produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (The Lion King, Mary Poppins in Australia), Aladdin features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin. 

Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon) directed and choreographed this production.

The principal cast features Michael James Scott in the role of the Genie, Ainsley Melham as Aladdin, Hiba Elchikhe as Jasmine, Adam Murphy as Jafar, Aljin Abella as Iago, George Henare as the Sultan, Adam Jon Fiorentino as Kassim, Troy Sussman as Babkak and Robert Tripolino as Omar.

With a cast of 34, a staggering 337 glittering costumes, 1,225 different fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and almost 500,000 Swarovski crystals, Aladdin promises to be one of the largest and most spectacular productions in Australia to date.

Forty tonnes of exotic flying scenery and 60 tonnes of automation and staging have been built into Her Majesty’s Theatre to recreate the fantasy city of Agrabah, including the colourful marketplace, the lush palace of the Sultan and his princess daughter Jasmine, and the legendary Cave of Wonders.

Aladdin, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack, and more written especially for the stage.

Aladdin opened on Broadway to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 11 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming over four million people worldwide. Its global footprint has expanded to include productions in Tokyo, Hamburg, London and of course, Australia – with a North American tour also launching in Chicago this month.

Tickets for Melbourne shows are now on sale through Ticketek.com.au or 13 28 49. Visit www.AladdinTheMusical.com.au for more information.