Theatre Royal Plymouth stages Disney’s Hit Broadway musical in 2024
Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, is announcing casting for the first ever UK and Ireland tour of Disney’s Aladdin.
The critically acclaimed Broadway and West End musical will open the tour in Edinburgh in October 2023. It’s due to run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 17 January to 11 February 2024.
The UK and Ireland tour of Disney’s Aladdin will star Yeukayi Ushe (Disney’s The Lion King, A Strange Loop, Kinky Boots and Motown The Musical) as Genie.
It will introduce Gavin Adams as Aladdin. A recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Gavin will be making his professional debut in the title role.
Also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Desmonda Cathabel (Miss Saigon, From Here to Eternity) will play Jasmine when the show opens in Edinburgh, with casting for the role in future venues to be announced in due course.
They will be joined by Adam Strong (Rock of Ages, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) as Jafar, Jo Servi (Dreamgirls, The Color Purple) as Sultan, Angelo Paragoso (The Reporter, Miss Saigon) as Iago, Nay-Nay (Once On This Island) as Babkak, Adam Taylor (Cabaret, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Omar and Nelson Bettencourt (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables) as Kassim.
The full cast will also include Hannah Amin, Dammi Aregbeshola, Rico Bakker, Daisy Barnett, Sarah Benbelaid, Erin Gisele Chapman, Tau-En Chien, Zac Frieze, Juan Jackson, James Lim, Harriet Millier, Aaron Elijah Patel, Abbie Platts, Joseph Poulton, Olivier Scheers, Kerry Spark, Ricardo Spriggs, Damien Winchester and Niko Wirachman.
One lamp: three wishes
The production team are inviting audiences to ‘experience the timeless story of Disney’s Aladdin, a thrilling production filled with unforgettable magic, comedy and breath-taking spectacle!’ They add the production has already seen by more than 14 million people worldwide.
‘I remember when I first watched Disney’s animated feature of Aladdin as a child,’ says Yeukayi Ushe (Genie). ‘Singing along to those timeless songs and watching in awe at the comedic stylings of Robin Williams.’
‘Now I get to take that brilliant, bold, and beloved Genie envisaged by such brilliant creators and bring him to life in this spectacular, all singing, all dancing live stage version, going on UK tour for the first time.’
‘I am delighted to be making my theatrical debut in such an iconic role,’ says Gavin Adams (Aladdin).
‘A real diamond in the rough whose aspirations and heart make him a true loveable hero. Come and join us on this magic carpet ride! We can’t wait to see you.’
Adapted from Disney’s 1992 animated film and centuries-old folktales, this smash-hit musical is brought to theatrical life in a unique and dazzling way.
Since its Broadway opening, in March 2014, nine subsequent productions have launched around the world, including more than 1200 performances at the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End.
Aladdin features the timeless songs from the animated film, as well as new music by Tony®, Olivier®, Grammy® and eight-time Acadamy Award® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act).
An international award winning production team
Lyrics by two-time Academy Award® winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony® and three-time Academy Award® winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony® nominee Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer). It is directed and choreographed by Tony® and Olivier® Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony®-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, seven-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 designers Jim Steinmeyer and Rob Lake, 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.
Ben Clare is the associate director, Kyle Seeley is the dance supervisor, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor and Myriah Bash is the US general manager. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.
