It's a cast-swap as Michael James Scott (the current Genie in the ALADDIN US tour) will head to the West End this Summer and current London Genie Trevor Dion Nicholas will return to his native USA to join the tour. So for all the fans of ALADDIN, there'll be a new Genie in town this August...
It's been announced that Trevor Dion Nicholas, who has starred as Aladdin’s London Genie since the hit musical opened in 2016, will join the show’s US Tour for a limited engagement this summer, during which time he’ll play his hometown of Pittsburgh, before returning to the West End. Trevor will be swapping places with American musical theatre star Michael James Scott, who is currently wowing audiences on tour across the US as Genie and will play the role in the London production of Aladdin between 17 August – 30 September 2018.
This marks Michael James’ return to the London stage for the first time in eight years since he made his West End debut in the Broadway transfer of Hair at the Gielgud Theatre in 2010.
Michael James was a member of the original Broadway company of Aladdin in 2014 as standby Genie and Babkak, and originated the role of Genie in the Australian production when it opened in Sydney in 2016. Michael received a prestigious Helpmann Award in 2017 for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his work in the Australian tour. His numerous previous theatre roles include the original Broadway productions of Something Rotten!, The Book of Mormon, Elf – The Musical, The Pirate Queen, Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up and Tarzan. Michael has also appeared in Jersey Boys (Las Vegas), Aida (St. Louis) and the 2010 revival of Hair (Broadway and West End) and is also a member of the critically acclaimed group The Broadway Boys and the Grammy-nominated Broadway Inspirational Voices.
Michael James Scott said: “Playing this iconic role of Genie has taken me all over the world, something I never even dreamed of. My ‘Genie Brother’ Trevor Dion Nicholas has raved about his time in London, so to be a part of this awesome Genie swap and return to play the West End again is an enormous Genie-sized gift. I just can’t wait!”
Trevor Dion Nicholas said: “My time here in the West End has been absolutely incredible so far, and I am beyond proud to call London my new home. Still, being presented with the chance to perform this phenomenal show as Genie in Pittsburgh is something I cannot pass up. In a city so close to where I grew up, having an audience full of family and friends, is another dream come true. Michael James Scott is such a wonderful performer and friend to me, I know he and the London audiences will have an absolute blast with each other this summer!”
Aladdin opened to critical acclaim at the Prince Edward Theatre on 15 June 2016. Tickets are now on sale for performances up to and including 9 February 2019 for individuals and 1 June 2019 for group bookings. For further details please visit www.aladdinthemusical.co.uk
