At the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, you can catch the world-famous Broadway musical Aladdin, which is based on the Disney animated picture of the same name and was released in 1992. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable evening of Broadway magic, so make sure to pick up some tickets and have your wishes ready! The story is set in the mythical Arabian city of Agrabah. Aladdin whisks you off on a heroic magic carpet ride across the desert to rescue the beautiful princess Jasmin from the wicked hands of the sultan’s Grand Vizier, Jafar.
“Aladdin Will Leave You Dreaming Of Genie.” – NBC New York
“Musical comedy wish-fulfillment!.” – New York Magazine
“Broadway Magic!.” – The Wall Street Journal
Aladdin is a young guy who spends his days stealing food to live, but vows to quit once his mother dies. Princess Jasmine, who lives in the Palace, is chastised by her father for rejecting yet another suitor. Jasmine must marry a noble prince before her birthday, which is only three days away. Jafar is the Sultan’s Grand Vizier who wishes to take the Sultan’s throne. In his hunt for a way to reach the “Cave of Wonders,” a mythical cavern in the desert said to be filled with unfathomable power. The cave’s voice tells Jafar that only those who are worthy, a “diamond in the rough,” may enter.
Aladdin’s actual identity as a “diamond in the rough” is revealed in response to Jafar’s magical enquiry, and Jafar set out to find him. Jasmine, wishing to see the world outside the royal gates, disguises herself and sneaks out to the market, where she accidentally meets Aladdin. Smitten, and on the run from some guards, Aladdin brings her to his cave. But the two are followed and the guards take Jasmine back to the castle. Meanwhile, Aladdin is set to die. Jafar rescues Aladdin and, in order to fulfill Jafar’s request, leads him to the “Cave of Wonders.” Once inside, Aladdin is instructed to carry just a magic lamp out, but Aladdin has never imagined such wealth in his whole life. After stealing the lamp, Aladdin tries to steal an Egyptian chain, but the cave mysteriously closes, locking Aladdin within.
“Sly Alchemy From That Lamp.” – New York Times
“A Smooth Ride for the Family Crowd.” – New Jersey Newsroom
In complete darkness, Aladdin accidentally brushes the lamp, waking up the genie within, who grants Aladdin three wishes, but cautions him that there are certain limitations to the Genie’s power – no murder, romance, or reviving the dead. Aladdin deceives the genie into freeing him from the cave without making a wish. Aladdin’s first wish is to be a Prince, and Poof! Aladdin is paraded through the streets, right up to the Sultan’s Place. Inside, Aladdin and Jasmine meet once more, but Jafar learns of Aladdin’s scheme, and steals the lamp away, and imprisons Aladdin.
Jafar, for his wishes, uses his first to imprison the princess Jasmine and his second to become Sultan. Aladdin then convinces Jafar that if his third wish is to become a genie, he would inherit unlimited powers. Jafar only craves power, and by transforming into a genie, he is drawn into the lamp and imprisoned for all eternity! Aladdin is free, and the old Sultan is overjoyed to have his princess safe once more, but what of Aladdin’s final wish?
Aladdin premiered in Seattle in 2011. After several regional and international productions in 2012 and 2013. The Broadway production opened in March 2014 and has been produced globally since. It is the 10th highest-grossing Broadway production of all time, having sold over $500 million in tickets on Broadway as of August 2022. A special performance of Aladdin was filmed on location in London in August 2019, and this will be streamed exclusively on Disney+ in 2022, for the 30th anniversary of the 1992 film.
“Fabulous and extravagant!.” – The New York Times
“It’s genie-us! ‘Aladdin’ rubs you the right way.” – USA Today
“Exactly what you wish for!.” – NBC-TV
Review by Linda Winer, for Newsday.
“The carpet flies, kids, and it’s awesome. Aladdin, an urchin from the streets, and Princess Jasmine float far away into the extremely twinkly sky. Such awesomeness, of course, is to be expected from “Aladdin,” Disney’s latest Broadway translation of a beloved animated fantasy. But what’s a whole new world, as the song promises, is the almost modest, down-to-earth human scale of director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw’s big, cheerful production — an enjoyable throwback to old-time musical comedy.”