Original cast members of Aladdin extend to 2016

It has been announced that the original lead cast members of Disney Theatrical's Broadway musical of Aladdin have extended their contracts to 2016 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie) and Courtney Reed (Jasmine) will now remain in the production until 21 February 2016. This new musical, based on the Academy Award winning 1992 animated film, officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 20 March 2014, following previews from 26 February 2014.

The show opened to generally positive reviews, with many critics praising the central performances as well as the staging by director Casey Nicholaw: "This is a wonderful adaptation filled with color, charm and loads of theatrical magic" (NY1); "The magic carpet flies smoothly and so does the rest of Aladdin" (Newsroom Jersey); "the show's ebullient comic spirit should make it a popular hit" (Hollywood Reporter).

The production went on to be nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical, with James Monroe Iglehart taking home the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Also continuing in their principal roles are original cast members Brian Gonzales and Jonathan Schwartz as Aladdin's sidekicks 'Babkak' and 'Omar', Clifton Davis as 'Sultan', Don Darryl Rivera as 'Iago', Merwin Foard as the standby for 'Jafar/Sultan' and Steel Burkhardt, who recently joined the production as 'Kassim'.

Aladdin features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin with a book by Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

The musical is adapted from the 1992 Disney film of the same name and follows street urchin Aladdin who meets and falls in love with Princess Jasmine. Whilst Jasmine can only marry a prince, all is not lost as Aladdin owns a magic lamp, and with the help of its Genie sets out to win the hand of his princess in marriage.

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing over $500 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) and became the highest-grossing film of the year.

Aladdin is designed by six-time Tony winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, three-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 designer Jim Steinmeyer and hair designer Josh Marquette. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who will also create the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.

- by Dom O'Hanlon