Aladdin to open on Broadway on 20 Mar 2014

Disney Theatrical Productions Broadway premiere of Aladdin, a new musical based on the Academy Award winning 1992 animated film, will open at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 20 Mar 2014, following previews from 26 Feb 2014.

The show will arrive on Broadway following its pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre from 01 Nov 2013 - 05 Jan 2014.

The show will feature music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin with a book by Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph. Casting for the musical is still to be announced.

The musical tells the story of Aladdin, a street urchin who meets and falls in love with Princess 'Jasmine.' However, Jasmine can only marry a prince, but all is not lost has Aladdin owns a magic lamp, and with the help of its Genie sets out to win the hand of his princess in marriage.

Aladdin, adapted from centuries-old Arabian folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," will feature a full Broadway score including the five beloved songs from the film, including 'A Whole New World,' which won an Academy Awards for best original song.

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.

The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song "A Whole New World," which won the second of the film's two Academy Awards® as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Aladdin will be 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.