Broadway Austin

Dazzling Aladdin brings whole new world to Austin's Bass Concert Hall

Korie Lee Blossey plays Genie on the North American tour.

Photo by Deen van Meer

At some point, we’ve all wished for something we know we can’t have. It’s human nature. But sometimes it is simply the possibility of those wishes coming true that propels us forward. Longing for something different, something better, is one of the many themes explored in Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical Aladdin.

Adapted from the age-old The Thousand and One Nights, upon which the 1992 classic animated film is based, this eye-popping production comes to Bass Concert Hall March 11-22. The dazzling production promises to transport audiences to the Middle East where a savvy orphan charms a princess and helps save a kingdom.

“What makes this such a time-honored story is that everyone wants to know that anything is possible, if you find it within yourself. You don’t need a lamp or a genie. You just have to believe in yourself and do the work,” explains Korie Lee Blossey who plays Genie on the North American tour.

In the role made famous by Robin Williams in the Disney movie, Blossey says there are so many wonderful things about playing Genie — including having license to make it his own. “Our director and choreographer, Casey Nicholaw, has created a way for each Genie to personalize the character to fit our strengths, which helps us shine just a little more.”

Genie helps Aladdin find his true potential after granting him three wishes. Aladdin uses his wishes to become closer to Princess Jasmine (after crossing paths with her in a marketplace, she in disguise) and to protect the city of Agrabah from the Sultan’s most trusted councilman Jafar, who wants to overthrow the Sultan.

The show is a spectacle complete with sparkle, colorful costumes, gorgeous sets, and amazing effects including a magic carpet ride. Its themes explore friendship, loyalty, integrity, determination, love, and good versus evil. Fans of the movie will be happy to know the production’s score includes the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack including "Friend Like Me" and "A Whole New World."

“It’s a phenomenal show," says Blossey. "Come on down to Agrabah, get swept away from the real world and escape reality for two and a half hours. You’ll be glad you did."

Tickets for Aladdin’s two-week run in Austin start at $30 and are available at BroadwayinAustin.com. Aladdin is the second last show in this Broadway in Austin Season. The 2020-21 season was recently revealed and includes Wicked and To Kill a Mockingbird.

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Editor's note: The word of the week in Austin is growth. Whether it's fast-growing cities, the city's highly anticipated inclusion in the Michelin Guide, or an updated H-E-B ready to re-anchor the neighborhood, things are always reshaping and Austinites are keeping up online. Here are our most-read stories over the past week. Looking for things to do this weekend? Our top picks are here.

1. Austin neighbor saw 4th biggest population boom in U.S. for 2023.The Austin-area suburb of Georgetown has proven it's not just a laid back destination for tourists, but one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

2. Michelin Guide plates up first Texas picks, with 7 stars in Austin.The first Michelin Guide in Texas has finally made its picks known. At a black-tie event in Houston on November 11, the guide announced that 47 Austin restaurants have won recognition.

3. New South Congress H-E-B is finally opening at the end of 2024. After roughly two years of construction, H-E-B announced its 145,000-square-foot building on South Congress Avenue and East Oltorf Street will open to shoppers starting December 4.

4. Bubbly Austin brunch spot Irene's closing after 8 years. Despite the ever-increasing number of Austin brunches, the scene is losing a classic. Irene's on West 6th Street announced November 12 that it will be closing at the end of its lease this month.

Irene's Austin cocktail One of Austin's most popular brunch spots is throwing in the towel when its lease ends.Irene's/Instagram

5. $15.2 million Austin sanctuary is in the middle of a nature conservancy. The Sanctuary on Barton Creek is a 24-acre estate completely surrounded by a 4,100-acre nature conservancy to provide a peaceful and private escape from city life.