Disney’s hit Broadway musical Aladdin will arrive – possibly by flying carpet – at London’s Prince Edward Theatre next summer, beginning its magical run on 27 May before officially opening on 9 June.
Trevor Dion Nicholas, who has played the Genie in the New York production, will climb into his bottle – maybe – to be shipped across the Atlantic and star in the West End production.
The rest of the cast for the UK premiere, many of whom will be cast via open auditions held in August, is yet to be announced.
Speaking about the transfer, Disney Theatrical Productions’ President and Producer Thomas Schumacher said: “In 1992, Howard Ashman, Alan Menken and Tim Rice’s reimagining of the Aladdin tale became the biggest movie of the year around the globe. Now 23 years later, Casey Nicholaw’s production lifts a whole new audience and sends them home on air. We are thrilled to fly Aladdin’s carpet to London where the show has found its ideal home in Cameron Mackintosh’s stunning Prince Edward Theatre.”
Aladdin tells the tale of the titular street urchin who falls for a princess, is swindled by an evil sorcerer and has his life changed immeasurably when he stumbles across a wish granting genie.
The show, which has made the wishes of more than one million musical theatre fans on Broadway come true, features the hit songs of the animated film, including Arabian Nights and A Whole New World, alongside new songs written by Menken.
Aladdin opens at the Prince Edward Theatre following the hugely successful revival of world conquering musical Miss Saigon, which brings its second London run to a close on 27 February.
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