Disney's Aladdin Jr., Featuring Cinnaminson Resident, Opens at The Ritz

The Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township takes you on a magic carpet ride with Disney’s ALADDIN JR. on Thursday April 23, Friday April 24, and Saturday April 25 at 7:30p.m., and on Sunday April 26 at 2 p.m.

Co-produced by The Ritz and McMagical Productions, the 60-minute musical grants audiences a pretty cool wish—watching all of your favorite characters from the 1992 animated feature film come alive on stage, portrayed by a cast of 61 kids, grades 3 to 8, from nearly every school district in South Jersey.

“We were blown away last year when we sold out every performance of our first-ever all-kids show The Little Mermaid,” says Bruce Curless, producing artistic director at The Ritz. “We couldn’t wait to get the kids in our community back up on our stage. They are so incredibly talented!”

The classic Disney tale showcases all of the songs and characters you know and love from the movie. The historic Ritz Theatre will be transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise, where a young street urchin named Aladdin—with help from his monkey sidekick, Abu— releases a Genie (famously voiced in the movie by Robin Williams) from a magic lamp and is granted three wishes.

Aladdin uses one wish to become a prince so he can woo the princess, Jasmine, all the while trying to escape the clutches of the evil sultan Jafar and his hilarious assistant parrot, Iago. Along the way, Aladdin makes two more wishes, gets kidnapped, gets exiled, and rides around the world on a magic carpet. (Yes, that carpet “flies” on stage!)

“In the end, Aladdin decides to help someone else instead of helping himself,” says director Nicky O’Neal. “It’s such a great message for kids.”

“We’re going all-out on this production—gorgeous costumes, a stunning set, special effects—thanks in a large part to the commitment of parent volunteers,” says Donna Krier, Managing Producer of McMagical Productions, a South Jersey non-profit that raises funds and awareness for diseases through the advancement of the performing arts. A portion of the proceeds from Aladdin will be donated to Huntington’s Disease research. “Working on this show feels like a community coming together to put on something really special for its children, both the ones on stage and the ones in the audience.”

Performances are April 23, 24, and 25 at 7:30, and April 26 at 2:00 at The Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, NJ 08107. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the theatre’s box office Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m., or online at www.ritztheatrecompany.org.