Disney's Aladdin Celebrates 10 Years on Broadway

The musical marked a decade of magic with 3,513 performances and nearly six million theatergoers since its opening on March 20, 2014. Choreographer Casey Nicholaw is bringing the magic up a notch with a celebratory performance on March 28 which will include Easter eggs for fans and an extra special surprise in Genie's signature number, Friend Like Me.

Aladdin premiered on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on February 26, 2014, before formally opening just under a month later. The cast featured Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Courtney Reed as Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, and Jonathan Freeman as Jafar. With a Tony Award-winning crew at its helm, the musical would go on to snag five Tony nominations in its first year on stage, including Best Musical, as well as a Grammy nomination the following year. Inglehart would also win a Tony for his stellar rendition of the iconic Genie.

A whole new world

While the musical struck gold with its initial crew and cast, the ten years since have seen some notable changes. The current lineup stars Michael Maliakel as Aladdin, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine, Michael James Scott as Genie, and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The production has also traveled the globe with 11 productions on 4 continents. It's not difficult to understand Aladdin's global appeal: it is the quintessential rags-to-riches story where a down-on-his-luck boy with an honest soul charms his way through life and royalty.

But the original 1992 film was a hit for more than just its loveable lead. It also had one of the best soundtracks of any Disney film ever released. The stage version features all the classic songs, like A Whole New World and Prince Ali, and includes original songs from the late Howard Ashman that were cut from the film. Four more tracks were penned for the musical and the result is one of the best film-to-stage adaptations of modern times.

Don't miss the anniversary special of Aladdin on March 28.