Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ to open in Tokyo in 2015

The box-office success of “Aladdin” in New York has had Broadway watchers wondering where the Disney musical will pop up next on the international map.

On Monday, Disney announced that “Aladdin” will open in Tokyo in May 2015 in what will be the musical’s first overseas production. Audiences at Tokyo’s Densu Shiki Theatre Umi will see the production that Casey Nicholaw directed and choreographed in New York, but the musical will be performed in Japanese with locally cast actors.

Based on the 1992 Disney animated movie, “Aladdin” bowed on Broadway in March at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it has consistently grossed more than $1 million on a weekly basis since opening. The production was nominated for five Tony Awards, with actor James Monroe Iglehart taking home a prize for his role as the genie.

The family-friendly musical features many of the same songs from the original animated movie, including “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me.” It also contains some numbers that were not in the movie.

“Aladdin” will be Disney’s fifth collaboration with the Shiki Theatre Company in Japan. Disney has presented “The Lion King,” “Aida,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast” at the Tokyo theater.

There have been rumors that Disney also has plans to take “Aladdin” to London’s West End, possibly in 2016, but no official announcement has been made.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT