Hurtling around a sprawling desert metropolis, flying magic carpets and magically having your wishes come true: all in a day’s work for the new cast of utterly spectacular musical Disney’s Aladdin.
Ahead of its first anniversary at the Prince Edward Theatre, Disney’s Aladdin has released this behind-the-scenes photography of the new company in rehearsals. Having opened to critical acclaim in London’s West End in June 2016, the hit musical based on the classic Academy Award®-winning animated film will celebrate its first birthday in the West End on 15 June 2017.
Matthew Croke (Aladdin) and Jade Ewen (Jasmine) in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)
Matthew Croke joins the production in title role of Aladdin, marking his debut in a leading role in the West End, with his first performance on 5 June. Jade Ewen and Trevor Dion Nicholas continue in the roles of Jasmine and Genie respectively.
Now in its fourth record-breaking year on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Aladdin’s global presence has grown to six productions on four continents, and has been seen by more than 4 million people worldwide. The show opened at Tokyo’s Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in May 2015, had its European premiere in December 2015 at the Stage Theatre Neue Flora, Hamburg, began performances in August 2016 in Australia and launched its North American tour in Chicago in April 2017.
Trevor Dion Nicholas (Genie) in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)
Aladdin features the timeless songs from the 1992 animated film as well as new music written by Tony®, Olivier© and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Little Shop Of Horrors). With lyrics from Olivier Award and two-time Oscar® winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony and Olivier Award, three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida), and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), and a book by Beguelin, Aladdin is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
The new Aladdin company welcomes Nick Cavaliere in the role of Iago, whilst current cast members Miles Barrow, Leon Craig and Daniel de Bourg step into the roles of Omar, Babkak and Kassim respectively. Don Gallagher and Irvine Iqbal continue in their respective roles of Jafar and the Sultan.
Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Daniel de Bourg (Kassim), Leon Craig (Babkak) & Miles Barrow (Omar) in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)
The new cast also includes Chanelle Anthony, Danny Becker, Cindy Belliot, Filippo Coffano, Nolan Edwards, Sinead Kenny, Travis Kerry, Dann Kharsa, Tarisha Rommick, Joshua Steel, Monica Swayne, Damien Winchester and Niko Wirachman. Danny Becker, Travis Kerry and Niko Wirachman join the production after entering international open auditions.
The remaining cast comprises Arran Anzani-Jones, Albey Brookes, Lauren Chia, Bianca Cordice, Cavin Cornwall, Melanie Elizabeth, Kade Ferraiolo, Antony Hewitt, Mitch Leow, Oliver Lidert, Ian Oswald, Kyle Seeley, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Ricardo Spriggs, Kayleigh Thadani and Jermaine Woods.
Jade Ewen (Jasmine) in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)
The cast in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)
The cast in rehearsal for Disney’s Aladdin (Photo: Johan Persson)