Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart, Jonathan Freeman & More Will Take Flight on Broadway in Aladdin
Adam Jacobs will stay one jump ahead of the rest as the title star in the Broadway premiere of Aladdin. Jacobs, who originated the role in the 2011 world premiere production in Seattle, will be joined at the New Amsterdam Theatre by Courtney Reed as Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie and Jonathan Freeman as Jafar. Aladdin begins performances on February 26, 2014, with an official opening night on March 20, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.
In addition to Jacobs, Reed, Iglehart and Freeman, Aladdin will feature Brian Gonzales, Brandon O’Neill and Jonathan Schwartz as Aladdin’s sidekicks Babkak, Kassim and Omar; Clifton Davis as the Sultan and Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Merwin Foard and Michael James Scott will standby for several principals.
The cast of 34 will feature Tia Altinay, Mike Cannon, Andrew Cao, Lauryn Ciardullo, Joshua Dela Cruz, Yurel Echezarreta, Daisy Hobbs, Donald Jones, Jr., Adam Kaokept, Nikki Long, Stanley Martin, Brandt Martinez, Michael Mindlin, Rhea Patterson, Bobby Pestka, Khori Petinaud, Ariel Reid, Jennifer Rias, Trent Saunders, Jaz Sealey, Dennis Stowe, Marisha Wallace and Bud Weber.
Adapted from the 1992 Disney animated film, Aladdin is the story of a street urchin who uses the help of a magic Genie to win the heart of Princess Jasmine. The Broadway musical features a book by Chad Beguelin, music by Oscar and Tony winner Alan Menken andlyrics by Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman.
Jacobs starred on Broadway as Simba in Disney’s The Lion King and Marius in Les Miserables. His other notable credits include leading roles in Zorro, Once On This Island, Ordinary Days, Mamma Mia and Cinderella. Reed appeared on Broadway in In the Heights and Mamma Mia! and played Jasmine in the show's Seattle premiere.
Iglehart has appeared on Broadway in Memphis and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and in the Encores! presentation of The Wiz. Freeman, who originated the role of Jafar in the animated film, received a Tony nomination for She Loves Me and has appeared on the Great White Way in Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, 42nd Street, On the Town, How to Succeed, Platinum and Sherlock Holmes.
The creative team for Aladdin includes scenic designer Bob Crowley, lighting designer Natasha Katz, costume designer Gregg Barnes, sound designer Ken Travis, illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette, music supervisor Michael Kosarin, orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.
Aladdin will have a pre-Broadway run at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre from November 1 through January 5, 2014, with opening night on November 21.
