One Disney musical closes on Broadway; another opens: According to BroadwayWorld.com, Mary Poppins will close on March 3 to make way for renovations at the New Amsterdam Theater on 42nd Street, followed by its next tenant. Two Broadway theater executives (speaking on condition of anonymity) have claimed that the theater's next show will be "a musical adaptation of the company's 1992 animated film Aladdin," although this has not been confirmed by Disney executives. The theater was previously home to the long-running The Lion King, which transferred to the Minskoff to make room for Mary Poppins.
Alan Menken revealed back in August 2012 that Aladdin was being prepped for a Broadway run. Based on the Disney film by the same name, Aladdin has a book by Chad Beguelin, music by Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, with additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. The musical was produced at the Muny in St. Louis over the summer, as well as at Utah's Tuacahn Theater. No word yet on casting, but several Broadway heavyweights (including Tony-nominees Robin De Jesus and John Tartaglia) have been involved in the past.
Stay tuned for details about casting and how to get tickets!