Disney’s Aladdin - Soars to a Whole New World in Minneapolis! - Leah Rimstad

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 Leah Rimstad

Disney’s Aladdin - Soars to a Whole New World in Minneapolis! 

Tour Company of Aladdin, Photo by Deenvan Meer, 2023


I grew up dreaming to soar the sky on a flying carpet! At the age of 5 I rode the “Magic Carpets of Aladdin” in Disney World, but now at 16, the Aladdin Tour is my new way of fulfilling this childhood fantasy! Minneapolis is the next destination on the carpet’s journey, running at the Orpheum theater from Dec. 5th - Dec. 10. I was fortunate enough to score a seat on the 7th at 7:30pm, and it truly felt like we were in “A Whole New World”! Aladdin covers the story of a young man finding love with the help of a magical Genie. He is granted 3 wishes, but he must use them carefully in order to get what he desires. With breathtaking music by Alan Menken and countless adventurous scenes, Aladdin is guaranteed fun for the whole family! As Aladdin would ask, “Do you trust me?”

The Agrabah story begins with an energized performance of “One Jump Ahead” with lead vocals by Adi Roy (Aladdin). Previously playing Phoenix in the Broadway revival cast of Jagged Little Pill, Roy is no stranger to the stage! He is supported by a 26 person company contributing to breathtaking energy in “Friend Like Me” in which Casey Nicholaw (Director/Choreographer) has visibly done his part. The applause  after this number was some of the loudest I've ever heard! And although I was thrilled to see these phenomenal roles and scenes, I had also anxiously awaited the portrayal of Jasmine since the beginning! The 20 year old actress, Senzel Ahmady, made herself the youngest Filipina to ever play Jasmine. Her breathtaking performance of “These Palace Walls” filled my soul with ambition, and a young audience member in front of me appeared to feel the same. Just when I thought the casting couldn’t get any better, Marcus M. Martin granted my wish of a perfect Genie, portraying the iconic role with style! I met him at the stage door after the show, and he assured us that he would get to everyone for a picture. He is a great guy, and exactly what I had envisioned for the role. Tara Rubin Casting has worked with many broadway productions including Dear Evan Hansen, Les Misérables, ect. This casting company has excelled in understanding and portraying an artist's vision, and they visibly continue to do so!

Aladdin Costume Sketches, Gregg Barnes      

Designed by Gregg Barnes, a grand total of 236 costumes elegantly encapsulated the beauty of Middle Eastern culture! He spent eight hours drawing/painting each costume sketch, and the details from the sketch to the final costumes honorably present his work. These costumes include 2,039 fabrics from all around the world, and were hand made by 205 people. I was 

amazed to read that after all the precise beading, Jasmine’s wedding gown weighs a total of 18 pounds! Aladdin was filled with scenic elements, a notable one being the flying carpet used in “A Whole New World”. The kid beside me told her mom, “They are really flying!” The scenic design (Bob Crowly) even made me sometimes question, “how?” I began to feel like a little kid again, who would dream and believe in these Disney stories. The hauling of 236 costumes, 15 tons of flying scenery, a 75 person company, all traveling together to 36 cities in the 2022-2023 season is truly a work of magic!


I stepped out of the theater feeling more youthful, and ended the night at the stage door to meet the cast. I even scored a playbill full of signatures and pictures! Why not get “One Jump Ahead” this holiday season and enjoy your own tickets to Aladdin? The touring company will be running now - Dec. 10 at the Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis. Don’t let this production soar away from your weekend plans!

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