Disney Theatrical Productions has revealed casting for its forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of Disney’s Aladdin.
The critically acclaimed Broadway and West End musical will open in Edinburgh in October 2023, followed by dates in the UK and Ireland.
The tour of Disney’s Aladdin will star Yeukayi Ushe (Disney’s The Lion King, A Strange Loop, Kinky Boots, Motown The Musical) as Genie, newcomer Gavin Adams as Aladdin, plus Desmonda Cathabel (Miss Saigon, From Here to Eternity) will star as Jasmine for the Edinburgh leg of the tour.
They will be joined by Adam Strong (Rock of Ages, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) as Jafar, Jo Servi (Dreamgirls, The Color Purple) as Sultan, Angelo Paragoso (The Reporter, Miss Saigon) as Iago, Nay-Nay (Once On This Island) as Babkak, Adam Taylor (Cabaret, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Omar, and Nelson Bettencourt (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables) as Kassim.
The full cast will also include Hannah Amin, Dammi Aregbeshola, Rico Bakker, Daisy Barnett, Sarah Benbelaid, Erin Gisele Chapman, Tau-En Chien, Zac Frieze, Juan Jackson, James Lim, Harriet Millier, Aaron Elijah Patel, Abbie Platts, Joseph Poulton, Olivier Scheers, Kerry Spark, Ricardo Spriggs, Damien Winchester, Niko Wirachman.
Disney’s Aladdin promises to be a thrilling production filled with unforgettable magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. The musical is adapted from Disney’s hit 1992 animated film, and played London’s Prince Edward Theatre for 1,200 performances. The show is also still playing at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway.
Aladdin features songs from the animated film and new music by Tony, Olivier, Grammy and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Academy Award winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony and three-time Academy Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony nominee Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin.
The show is directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), and designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting design by Natasha Katz, costume design by Gregg Barnes and sound design by Ken Travis.
The creative team also includes illusion designers Jim Steinmeyer and Rob Lake, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. Ben Clare is the associate director, Kyle Seeley is the dance supervisor, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor and Myriah Bash is the US general manager. Casting is by Jill Green CDG.
Actor Yeukayi Ushe said in a statement: “I remember when I first watched Disney’s animated feature of Aladdin as a child, singing along to those timeless songs and watching in awe at the comedic stylings of Robin Williams. Now I get to take that brilliant, bold, and beloved Genie envisaged by such brilliant creators and bring him to life in this spectacular, all singing, all dancing live stage version, going on UK tour for the first time.”
Actor Gavin Adams said: “I am delighted to be making my theatrical debut in such an iconic role, a real diamond in the rough whose aspirations and heart make him a true loveable hero. Come and join us on this magic carpet ride! We can’t wait to see you.”
See all tour dates and book tickets to Disney’s Aladdin – UK & Ireland tour
