Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, has welcomed three new principal cast members ahead of the show’s fifth anniversary.
- Australian actor Ainsley Melham will take over the role of Aladdin, marking his Broadway and North American theatrical debut.
- Michael James Scott, a Broadway veteran known for his roles in Tarzan and The Book of Mormon, will assume the role of Genie.
- Scott originated the role in Australia and is coming fresh off of portraying the character on the show’s North American tour.
- Mike Longo, also from the show’s North American Tour, will take over the role of Kassim, part of Aladdin’s trio of sidekicks.
- Scott’s first performance will be Friday, February 15, and he will continue on Broadway through Sunday, September 15.
- During that time, Major Attaway, Broadway’s current Genie, will take Scott’s place on the North American tour before returning to Broadway upon his departure from Broadway.
- Melham and Longo’s first performance will be Tuesday, February 19.
- Telly Leung and Steel Burkhardt, the current Aladdin and Kassim, will give their final performances on Sunday, February 17.
- Melham, Scott and Longo join a cast that also includes Arielle Jacobs as Jasmine and Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman as Jafar, bringing to the stage the role he created in the animated film.
- Disney’s Aladdin opened on March 20, 2014 and over the past nearly five years has established itself as one of the most successful shows on Broadway.
ICYMI – More Aladdin news:
- Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of the animated classic Aladdin is headed to the pages of a graphic novel thanks to Dark Horse Comics.
- Entertainment Weekly shared a first look at the characters of Disney’s live-action Aladdin, including Will Smith as the Genie.
- Funko recently revealed a new line of Aladdin Pop! figures and other products.