Magic carpet to red carpet: ‘Aladdin, Jr.’

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Disney’s musical version of “Aladdin” opened this year on Broadway, but residents can enjoy a family-friendly junior version closer to home when the Konos Academy Juniors of Fayetteville and Peachtree City presents Disney’s “Aladdin, Jr.,” on Friday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church at Whitewater in Fayetteville.

Based on the popular animated movie, Disney’s “Aladdin” is the story of a poor Arabian boy who meets a beautiful princess, Jasmine.

When Aladdin is imprisoned in a cave, he finds a magic lamp inhabited by a genie. Will the villain, Jafar, be able to marry the princess, or will Aladdin win her heart? Find out what happens in Disney’s version of the classic tale from the Arabian Nights.

At the 5 p.m. show, Evan Haasenritter and Rachel Marchman portray Aladdin and Jasmine. Genie is played by Kaela Davis, Jafar by Nathan Beaty, and the Sultan, Jasmine’s father, by Joel Smith.

At the 7:30 p.m. show, another cast portrays Aladdin (Elijah Lee), Jasmine (Emma Futch), Genie (Katie Futch), Jafar (Matthew Lauer) and the Sultan (William Fry).

Featured in both casts is Nicoli Schwab as the hilarious Iago.

The narrators are Clay Lute, Andrew Fry, Canaan Pace, Benjamin Headley, Sadie Beaty and Evan Castenada. Razoul, played by Scott Pollard, leads the bumbling guards played by Joey Cull, Tyler Rutt, Evan Maurer and Ethan Worlow. And Summer Johnson plays the enchanting magic carpet.

Colorful sets and costumes help bring the delightful story to life. The cast includes 47 seventh and eighth grade students under the direction of Dr. Dana Spears, with music direction by Kim Pollard and choreography by Joanne Lee.

Featured dancers are Olivia Allen, Kylee Boggs, Rebekah Foster, Ellie Stanley and Annie Vender.

The Harem girls are played by Micah Bettis, Victoria Goodman, Katherine Harwell and Madeline Oliver.

Featured soloists and actors are Carter Ries, Shek Berry, Abby Fowler, Olivia Ries, Addisyn Katz, Connor Macaluso and Luca Segala.

Konos Academy is an accredited, home-school, hybrid, Christian educational center that currently meets at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City.

The school, which serves home-school families with children grades 4-12, grew by nearly 20 percent this year, and 33 percent in the high school.

The school plans to move to a larger location in the fall of 2015. Performance space has been provided for “Aladdin, Jr.” by Christ Church at Whitewater.

Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults, with a $25 family maximum. Seating is limited, so plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the show to purchase tickets.

Christ Church at Whitewater is located at 1577 Ga. Hwy 85 South. just south of Whitewater Middle School in Fayetteville. The Carrier Center, where “Aladdin, Jr.” will be performed, is at the north end of the church campus. For more information on Konos Academy go to www.konos.org.