Disney has adapted their 1992 animated classic Aladdin for the stage in a Broadway musical, but before it departs for the Great White Way, the show will have a 9-week stint at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in November. The musical’s Toronto stay is a ‘tryout’ before its official Broadway premiere, which is anticipated to be in September 2014. While the show has seen incarnations in other cities, the version coming to Toronto is of a grander scale, intended for Broadway theatres and will feature new songs, script, and design.

The Aladdin musical has some additional characters, and includes favourite songs from the movie as well as new ones from Alan Menken, who helped create the original tunes. The stage version of the genie will also differ from the film and instead of a magical, blue apparition audiences will see a “Cab Calloway-styled vaudevillian.” President of Disney Theatrical Productions, Thomas Schumacher, is confident that these changes will be well-received by theatre-goers and says the goal is to create a live experience instead of a rehash of the film. Old school genie, or not — we’re excited to see Prince Ali Ababwa up close and personal.

[via Broadway World, CBC News] 

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Hallae Khosravi is an intern at Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter @hallaek.  

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