Broadway's ALADDIN to Welcome Pair of Principal Cast Members This Month

Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, will welcome new principal cast members Brad Weinstock (Omar) and Major Attaway (Standby Genie/Babkak/Sultan) to the cast beginning this month, it was announced today.

Brad Weinstock (Omar). Broadway debut! National tours: Jersey Boys (Frankie Valli), Wicked (Boq). Broadway in Chicago: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip). Regional: Sweeney Todd (Geva), Hero (Asolo Rep). Northwestern graduate. He was also a contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Movie Week."

Major Attaway (Standby Genie/Babkak/Sultan). Broadway debut! Regional: Hot Mikado (Mikado), Stagger Lee (T-Bone), Hands on a Hardbody (Ronald), Little Shop of Horrors (A2), Ain't Misbehavin' (Ken), Frosty the Snowman (Frosty). Video Game: "Battleborn" (Ghalt).

Jonathan Schwartz, who originated the role of Omar on Broadway, played his final performance Sunday, February 21st. Trevor Dion Nicholas, current standby for Genie/Babkak/Sultan, departs the Broadway company next month to make his West End debut as Genie in the London production, set to begin performances at The Prince Edward Theatre on May 27th, 2016.

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 over one 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!"

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show 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 (The Book of Mormon).

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.