Michael James Scott Sets Final Performance as Broadway's Genie in Aladdin

Michael James Scott, Aladdin’s longest-running Genie and an original cast member, will play his final performance May 3 at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre. His successor will be named at a later date.

Scott has played nearly 4,000 performances across four companies on three continents. He joined Aladdin as the Genie standby during the show’s 2013 pre-Broadway engagement in Toronto and opened in the Broadway company in March 2014. He went on to originate the role in the Australian production in 2016, earning the Helpmann Award, before leading the West End and North American touring companies. He returned to the Broadway in 2019 and has been playing the Genie, the role created by Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart, since then.

READ: How Michael James Scott Relates to Aladdin’s Genie In His Quest for True Freedom

“Playing The Genie on Broadway has been the creative journey of a lifetime—one that pushed me, shaped me, and reminded me every night why I fell in love with the stage,” says Scott in a statement. “I’m deeply aware that opportunities like this haven’t always been accessible to actors who look like me, and it’s not lost on me how rare it is for an actor of color to lead a Broadway show for this long. This experience has changed me forever, and I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. I’m endlessly grateful to my Disney on Broadway family for trusting me, uplifting me and making this Genie journey unforgettable.”

The actor can also currently be seen as Nurse Francois Dubois on ABC’s revival of Scrubs. His additional Broadway credits include originating the role of The Minstrel in Something Rotten! and Dr. Gotswana in the Tony–winning The Book of Mormon, as well as appearances in Hair, Elf, The Pirate Queen, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia!, and Tarzan. He began his career as Ben Vereen's standby in the international tour of Fosse.

Aladdin recently became the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history. To date, the musical has welcomed more than 6.5 million guests to the New Amsterdam and appeared on the Top 10 list of highest-grossing Broadway shows nearly every week of its run. There have been 11 productions on four continents welcoming over 21 million guests.

The current Broadway cast is led by Rodney Ingram in the title role, Scott as Genie, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine, and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show also features Jacob Ben-Shmuel as Omar, Colt Prattes as Kassim, JC Montgomery as Sultan, Don Darryl Rivera as Iago, and Ryan Gregory Thurman as Babkak. Caleb A. Barnett, Wes Hart, and Marcus M. Martin stand by for several principals.

The stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Aladdin opened at the New Amsterdam March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26. The musical was nominated for five 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. James Monroe Iglehart won the Tony for his performance as the Genie.

READ: All the Actors Who Have Played Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway

Aladdin is designed by Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, and sound designer Ken Travis.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette, and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. John MacInnis is the associate choreographer, Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor, and Myriah Bash is the general manager.

The musical is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart.