Jonathan Freeman to Play Jafar in New Stage Musical of Aladdin

Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman, who voiced the character of the evil royal vizier Jafar in Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin, will play the same role in a new live stage musical version of Aladdin, at 5th Avenue Theatre, July 7-31. As previously reported, Casey Nicholaw will direct.

Aladdin, inspired by Arabian folktales and the famous One Thousand and One Nights, has a score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book and additional lyrics by Chad Begulin. It tells the story of a resourceful young man who dares to woo a princess with the help of an all-powerful Genie.

The production will feature all of the songs from the film’s Oscar-winning score, including “Friend Like Me” and “A Whole New World,” plus numbers restored from early drafts of the score. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Freeman has a long list of credits in Disney films, TV shows, and stage productions. In addition to voicing Jafar, he has appeared in nearly every Disney Theatrical Productions Broadway show, including playing Grimsby in the original cast of The Little Mermaid and Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast. He is currently portraying Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman in Mary Poppins on Broadway. Additional Main Stem credits include his Tony-nominated turn in She Loves Me.

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