Disney's ALADDIN Sets Lottery Policy, NEWSIES Switches to General Rush

Two Disney Broadway hits announce new ticket policies beginning April 21 providing access to affordable tickets for same-day performances, with minimal time commitment for guests.

Following two months of sold-out houses and critical acclaim, Aladdin will offer a limited number of tickets via lottery at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W 42nd St.). Beginning two and a half hours before the performance, patrons are invited to enter the lottery; winners will be drawn two hours before each performance. Winners may purchase up to two $30 tickets with cash only to that day's performance. Locations will be at the theatre's discretion and may not be offered at allperformances.

The New Amsterdam Theatre box office is open Monday through Friday 9:00am - 8:00pm, Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm and Sunday 10:00am - 6:30pm. Aladdin is performed on the following schedule: Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday at 2pm and 8pm; Thursday and Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and Sunday at 3pm. Visit AladdinTheMusical.com for details.

Now in its third smash year and approaching $100 million at the box office, Newsies, far and away the biggest hit of its season, will offer a limited number of general rush seats for $30 each on the day of the show when the box office opens. Rush tickets can be purchased by cash or charge at the Nederlander Theatre box office (208 W 41st St.). Locations will be at the theatre's discretion and may not be offered at all performances. Eachguest in line may purchase a maximum of two tickets.

The Nederlander Theatre box office hours are Monday through Saturday 10am - 8pm and Sunday 11:30am - 6pm. Newsies is performed on the following schedule:Monday - Wednesday at 7:30pm; Friday - Saturday at 8pm; Wednesday & Saturday at 2pm; and Sunday at 3pm. Visit NewsiesTheMusical.com for details.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, Aladdin features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), 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 two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). This new production features a full score, including the Oscar and Grammy winning hit "A Whole New World," and four other cherished songs from the film and multi Grammy-winning original motion picture soundtrack.

Aladdin stars Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables, The Lion King) in the title role, Courtney Reed (In the Heights, Mamma Mia) as Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart (Memphis, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Genie, and, as Jafar, Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman (Mary Poppins, The Producers, She Loves Me) brings to the stage the role he indelibly created in the animated film. The show also stars Brian Gonzales, Brandon O'Neill and Jonathan Schwartz as Aladdin's sidekicks Babkak, Kassim and Omar, Clifton Davis as Sultan and Don Darryl Rivera as Iago.

Since bursting onto Broadway, Newsies has set and broken seven Nederlander Theatre house records on its way to becoming the highest-grossing show of the 2011-12 Broadway season. The showreceived 23 major theatrical nominations - including eight Tony Award nods - and won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Score and Choreography.

Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, with a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, Newsies is directed by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who won a 2012 Tony Award for his work.

The Broadway company of Newsies stars Corey Cott as Jack Kelly, John Dossett as Joseph Pulitzer, Liana Hunt as Katherine, Jeremy Greenbaum as Davey, Lavon Fisher-Wilson as Medda Larkin, Andy Richardson as Crutchie and Luca Padovan and Zachary Unger alternating the role of Les.

Photo Credit: Deen Van Meer