Right from the outset let me tell you that we will not see this show here for while, as its just started a pre-Broadway run in Toronto, and doesn’t even open on Broadway until February 2014.

But although It may seem a way away, and no announcement has yet been made as to whether ALADDIN will even be flying hismagic carpet over the Atlantic to us, most other Disney created musicals so far have ended up over here in the UK – so the odds make it likely.

So following in the wake of previous Disney musical success (Lion King, Beauty and The Beast), and failures (Tarzan, Little Mermaid), and those in between (Mary Poppins) comes ALADDIN.

Experience a Whole New World in a Whole New Way

This new show is based on the hit musical animation, famously featuring the incredibly ‘over covered’ central song – ‘A WHOLE NEW WORLD’.  Disney’s well loved animated version of the story certainly features all the ingredients for a hit family show, with excellent score, brilliant characters such as the Genie and villainous Jafar, the good looking hero and princess, a cute little monkey character and sharp witted talking Parrot – and lots of opportunity for big chorus numbers, magic and spectacle.

Plus if that wasn’t enough, there is also the chance for Disney to wow us with a ‘Chitty Chitty’ type ‘flying carpet over heads of audience’ sequence.

So its all there, that’s for sure. However time will tell whether us Brits will embrace the subject matter as a fully-fledged, bona fide musical. Will Aladdin as a stage musical clash with our experience of him and the fact that Aladdin has been very much subject only for pantomime over here – and everything that brings with it?

Pantomime? Oh No It’s Not!

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast suffered this issue initially, which it eventually was able to overcome. But Beauty isn’t a title as often used for Pantomime fodder as Aladdin, which I believe is the second most popular produced Pantomime show next to Cinderella. From the little we have seen of the new production – it also looks a bit ‘Pantomime-ish’ – nothing wrong with that – just saying…

However the new Aladdin Musical has the might of Disney behind it, and not only that, it has re-grouped the award winning team from their biggest theatre shows and animated motion picture soundtracks – and brought back together composer Alan Menken and lyricists Howard Ashman & Tim Rice with the book by Chad Beguelin.

Broadway Bound

The show is currently being staged in previews, and opens for reviews 21 November 2013.  It then transfers to Broadway in February 2014, with tickets going on sale 2 December 2013 – so if you are lucky enough to be doing a ‘Christmas Shopping Weekend’ in the ‘big apple’ anytime soon, you may want to pre-book tickets.

West Midlands Theatre Aladdin Opportunities

But failing that you can also catch the more traditional seasonal version of Aladdin in panto at the following West Midlands Theatres.

Aladdin Palace Theatre, Redditch
9th Dec 2013 to 5th Jan 2014

Aladdin at Oakengates Theatre, Telford
12 Dec 2013 to 5 Jan 2014

Aladdin at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
14 to 19 January 2014

Other Disney Stage Versions of Aladdin

This is not the first time Disney has stage their award winning animation.  They currently have two other live stage versions of Aladdin showing in the US.   In addition to the big budget version, there is a shorter 50 minute version, which plays daily at the Hyperion Theatre in Disneyland California, and another excellent version of Aladdin that plays aboard the Disney Cruise Line inside the ships stunning Walt Disney Theatre.

Both versions can be viewed below

Hyperion Theatre Version of Disney’s Aladdin

Disney Cruise Line version of Aladdin