Disney’s Aladdin celebrates its second anniversary this Sunday, March 20th, 2016 at The New Amsterdam Theatre.
To celebrate, the production announced that seven of the show’s original stars, Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Clifton Davis (Sultan) and Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), recently extended their contracts with the production through February 19th, 2017. The seven actors have led the Aladdin company since the production opened on Broadway.
“We’re privileged to be in the rare position of having seven of our original stars continue in Aladdin,” said Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. “Adam, Jonathan, James, Courtney, Brian and Don Darryl have been an integral part of Aladdin since its journey to the stage began, and I am thrilled that they, along with Clifton Davis who joined us in Toronto, will continue delighting audiences at The New Amsterdam Theatre for another year.”
Also continuing in their principal roles are Steel Burkhardt (Kassim) and James Moye (standby Jafar/Sultan). As previously announced, Aladdin recently welcomed new principal cast members Brad Weinstock as Omar and Major Attaway as the standby for Genie/Babkak/Sultan to the company.
Aladdin opened on March 20th, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, already welcoming nearly 1.5 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.