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.
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“What I find lovely when I’m sitting in the theatre at night in New York and I look at a few 35-year-old Brooklyn hipster who is bringing his girlfriend to watch the show – which happens all the time – they were 12 when the movie came out”, Schumacher told AAP.
Eventually, the musical’s creators decided the essence of the genie would be best represented using a showman based on the jazz singers of the harlem renaissance in 1920s New York.
The musical comedy has already played in major cities across the world, receiving rave reviews.
“The idea is so filmic and they didn’t know how to get into it”, Schumacher said.
“These people are trained like athletes”.
Disney have announced that the Tony® Award-winning new musical Aladdin will have its West End premiere on Thursday 9th June 2016 at the Prince Edward Theatre, in London’s West End, with previews from Friday 27th May, 2016.
“In an era where everyone’s head is stuck in their smart phone or on their tablets or on their computers, it just makes great sense to immerse yourself in pure theatre and entertainment”, he adds. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, the production features a book by Chad Beguelin, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Beguelin, Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman.
Aladdin The Musical is coming to London!
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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. It won the award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, rewarding the original Genie James Monroe Iglehart for his incredible performance in the iconic role. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
