A Whole New Year! Leads Extend Runs in Disney's ALADDIN as Show Celebrates 2nd Anniversary on Broadway

Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, will celebrate its second anniversary this Sunday, March 20th, 2016 at The New Amsterdam Theatre - and in celebration, the musical has announced that seven of the show's original stars have extended their contracts through February 19th, 2017.

Those extending include Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Clifton Davis (Sultan) and Don Darryl Rivera (Iago). The seven have led the company since the production opened on Broadway.

Aladdin opened to critical acclaim on March 20th, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, already welcoming nearly 1.5 million people and breaking 11 New Amsterdam Theatre house records. Its global footprint expands with productions in Tokyo and Hamburg and upcoming productions in London, Sydney and the recently announced North American tour. NBC-TV raves "Aladdin is exactly what you wished for!" New York Magazine calls it "Musical comedy wish-fulfillment!" while The New York Times hails the show as "Fabulous... Extravagant! It defies expectations," and the Daily News declares, "Seriously, it's amazing!"

"We're privileged to be in the rare position of having seven of our original stars continue in Aladdin," said Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. "Adam, Jonathan, James, Courtney, Brian and Don Darryl have been an integral part of Aladdin since its journey to the stage began, and I am thrilled that they, along with Clifton Davis who joined us in Toronto, will continue delighting audiences at The New Amsterdam Theatre for another year."

Also continuing in their principal roles are Steel Burkhardt (Kassim) and James Moye (standby Jafar/Sultan). As previously announced, Aladdin recently welcomed new principal cast members Brad Weinstock as Omar and Major Attaway as the standby for Genie/Babkak/Sultan to the company.

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 four-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, who makes history this spring as director-choreographer of four concurrent Broadway musicals.

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.

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing over $500 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) and becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.

The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song "A Whole New World," which won the second of the film's two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, five-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.

Tickets are available for purchase through AladdinTheMusical.com, by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717, or in person at the New Amsterdam Theatre box office (214 W. 42nd Street). 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.

Premium and group tickets are also available. For information about tickets for groups of 20 or more, CLICK HERE.

Photo by Deen Van Meer