Disney has tapped the 5th Avenue Theatre of Seattle, Washington to debut its latest stage musical adaptation, “Aladdin.”
The stage show will feature the Academy-award winning score by Alan Menken, the late Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice. The performance will preview on July 7 and will run until July 31.
The cast and creative team will be a mixture of talent from both Seattle and Broadway. Tony-nominated and acclaimed director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw will head up the production, returning to The 5th Avenue Theatre from Broadway, where his resume includes work on “Spamalot,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and “Elf: The Broadway Musical.” Menken will be joined by librettist Chad Beguelin in contributing additional lyrics for the original score. Also confirmed for the project are set designer Anna Louizos, costume designer Gregg Barnes (who won a Tony for his work on “The Drowsy Chaperone”), Tony award-winning light designer Natasha Katz, dance arranger Glen Kelly, and musical supervisor Michael Kosarin. (Both Katz and Kosarin are veterans of another Disney on Broadway production – “Beauty and the Beast.”)
Steve Fickinger, vice president of Creative Development and Licensing for Disney Theatrical Productions, talked a little about how the project came into being.
“Responding to extraordinary demand from our licensing customers for a full length, two-act version of ‘Aladdin,’ Alan Menken brought to us the idea of returning to the highly theatrical vision he and Howard Ashman had originally conceived but that had proved unsuitable for the film. Our goal with this pilot production of ‘Aladdin’ at The 5th Avenue is to launch this title for inclusion in our innovative professional and regional theatre licensing catalog.”
Based upon the hit animated feature that was released in 1992 to critical and commercial success, the story is an adaptation of “One Thousand and One Nights,” as well as other famous Arabian folktales. The film starred Robin Williams as Genie and won praise for witty dialogue and catchy songs, like “Friend Like Me,” and “A Whole New World.”
Tickets for “Aladdin” are available by calling 206-625-1900, or by calling the toll free line at 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849). Those interested can also purchase tickets at the theatre’s box office, located at 1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, or online at 5thavenue.org.
