Major Attaway to take over as Genie in Disney's Aladdin

Disney Theatrical has announced that current standby Major Attaway will be assuming the role of Genie in the Broadway musical Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre full-time, beginning February 21, 2017. Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart will play his final performance as Genie on February 19.

Read our past interview with James Monroe Iglehart HERE.

Aladdin marks the Broadway debut for Major Attaway whose regional credits also include 'Ragtime,' 'Big River,' 'The Mikado,' 'Hands on a Hardbody,' 'Little Shop of Horrors,' 'Ain't Misbehavin,' 'Rent,' 'Stagger Lee,' and 'Frosty the Snowman.'

Adam Jacobs will play his final performance as Aladdin on February 12, 2017, before departing to headline the upcoming National Tour of the show. A full-time replacement for Mr. Jacobs will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, understudy Joshua Dela Cruz will be performing the title role from February 14. All other principal cast members have extended their contracts with the production and will remain through to February 18, 2018.

The principal cast of Aladdin currently includes Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney ReedJames Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), Clifton Davis (Sultan), Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Brad Weinstock (Omar) and Steel Burkhardt (Kassim).

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

Aladdin, based on the Academy Award-winning 1992 animated film, officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, following previews from February 26, and is currently booking through to August 13, 2017.

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."

The creative team behind Aladdin features scenic design by Bob Crowley, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and sound design by Ken Travis.