Disney Theatrical productions have consistently provided fantastic stage musical productions of their hit films such as Mary Poppins and The Lion King. Each have managed to capture the magic of its source material, while making the theatre experience even more magical with spectacular set designs, immersive costumes, brand new songs along with some hits and an enriched storyline. While Broadway has been able to enjoy this show for a while now, Australia is finally set to have its chance to enjoy Aladdin starting August 2016. But one of the big questions is… who will be able to fill the shoes of such iconic characters such as Aladdin and the Genie? Most but not all of the cast have recently been announced.
Having seen him perform in preview videos, my top pick for the Genie would be James Monroe Iglehart, but with him still making audiences smile on Broadway, this was an unlikely outcome. But they have secured someone for the role who has had experience performing with the show before. American performer Michael James Scott will play the role of the Genie. Not only has he performed in shows including the original company for The Book of Mormon and the 2010 revival of Hair, he was the standby Genie in the original Broadway cast of Aladdin.
Aladdin would be an awesome show to make your mainstage debut on, and for one lucky Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) graduate it will be. They have announced that Ainsley Melham will be making he debut as the show’s titular character.
These two will be joined by Adam Jon Fiorentino as Kassim, Adam Murphy as Jafar, Robert Tripolino as Omar, Troy Sussman as Babkak, Aljin Abella as Iago and George Henare as the Sultan.
Also in the cast as standbys/ensemble members are Dean Vince (Standby Jafar/Sultan), Gareth Jacobs (Standby Genie/Babkak), Jakob Ambrose, Caleb Bartolo, Dion Bilios, Max Bimbi, Daniel Camilleri, Will Centurion, Ross Chisari, Mia Dabkowski-Chandler, Nicholas Eaton, Mitchell Fistrovic, Alex Gibson-Giorgio, Chaska Halliday, Joel Hewlett, Mitchell Hicks, Kimberley Hodgson, Leah Howard, Graeme Isaako, Emile Keane, Madeleine Mackenzie, Heather Manley, Rechelle Mansour, Joseph O’Sullivan, Anica Scott-Garrell and Anica Scott-Garrell.
With such a large cast, this will hopefully be one colourful, active and memorable journey into Agrabah. However you might have noticed one very prominent name missing. The search for the actor who plays Jasmine continues.
Aladdin will be headed to the Sydney Capitol Theatre in August, where it will be held for a currently indeterminate amount of time. No other legs for the show have been announced across Australia, although they have not confirmed or denied the possibility of a full Australian tour. In the mean time, those who cannot make the trip to Sydney might want to be on the look out for any wish granting genies.
