Get ready for a magic carpet ride! Princess Jasmine shares preview of ‘Aladdin’ at the Washington Pavilion

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

The past year literally has been a “whole new world” for one of the stars of ALADDIN, which premiers at the Washington Pavilion later this month.

Senzel Ahmady auditioned for the role of Princess Jasmine in the middle of her sophomore year at New York University.

“And I got it,” the California native said. “It was crazy. I knew if I took this job my life would change forever. But when ALADDIN became a musical in high school, I just knew I wanted to be in it and I wanted to play Jasmine. So when the opportunity arose, I went for it.”

Ahmady, now 21, became the youngest actress to play Jasmine in a national tour when she landed her first professional role and began touring last fall.

“ALADDIN was a huge part of my life growing up, and Jasmine was my favorite princess,” Ahmady said. “She was the first brown princess Disney introduced, and I always felt like she was my representation in Disney, and now I get to carry that into my adulthood and bring that for other girls.”

And she does. So far, the tour has taken the cast to 44 cities, where fans young and old have embraced the show.

“I always get excited for people to see all the new songs they wrote for our show,” Ahmady said. “They feature all the ones everyone loves from the animated feature, but there are so many new songs and new characters. A lot of what you see was written for the movie that they didn’t use for time or because it didn’t fit. So I think of it as the full version of ALADDIN that Disney wanted us to have.”

ALADDIN performs as part of the Washington Pavilion’s 2023-24 Pavilion Performance Series with eight performances Nov. 28 through Dec. 3.

“This show truly embodies the ‘magic of theater.’ Disney pulls out all the stops and transports you to a whole new world,” said Regina Ruhberg, director of performances for Washington Pavilion Management.

“We will empty 10 semi-trucks and take three days to load in the set and set the stage for an unforgettable experience for our guests.  From the magic carpet ride to the vivid costumes and props, it’s just such a beautiful show.”

The show is “visually spectacular,” Ahmady added. “The costumes are gorgeous. They sparkle like crazy. I think it’s a great show for people to see if they don’t consider themselves theater people. We have a lot of people tell us it’s their first musical ever, and I think even if you don’t like theater, you will really like this show.”

ALADDIN is a true family show, and all ages are welcome. Dress up in your favorite princess dress or genie pants and take advantage of concession specials, merchandise tables and free admission to the Visual Arts Center with your performance ticket. The WP will be open for light dinner options, treats for the kiddos and exclusive cocktails before the performance.

“Having the show in town for a full week allows us more opportunities to get the cast out into the community,” Ruhberg added.

“They will be visiting two local schools while in town and hosting a master class on Saturday afternoon. After the performances on Wednesday and Friday, we will have a talk back with some members of the cast and crew. Stay in your seats or venture down to the orchestra level to get an inside look into life on the road and what it takes to be part of a touring Broadway production.”

And, don’t delay in getting tickets.

“We are tracking to have the highest sales to date, which will be close to a sellout,” Ruhberg said. “The best seat availability currently is on Sunday night. Again, there are eight performances, so there is plenty of opportunity to fit this show into your busy schedule.”

ALADDIN builds on an already successful 25th season for the Pavilion Performance Series.

“BEETLEJUICE was a great success for us and the perfect show to kick off our 25th season, but then to be able to follow that with another full week is really a dream come true for me,” Ruhberg said.

“Having it be Disney’s ALADDIN and during the holidays is really the trifecta. We opened 25 years ago with the goal of being the region’s premier arts destination, and having two full-week Broadway runs certainly meets that goal. We continue to celebrate our anniversary season and are so fortunate to be able to do it with record-setting sales and community support.”

Ticket information

Tickets and subscriptions are available for purchase at the box office at 301 S. Main Ave. or online at WashingtonPavilion.org.

There’s still time to secure your tickets and elevate your experience with the Washington Pavilion’s exclusive Choose Your Own Four mini subscription package. Subscribers receive a range of enticing benefits, including preferred seating, waived fees, flexibility and a 10 percent discount. Tailor your subscription by selecting your favorite four shows from our remaining lineup and prepare to be captivated by a series of exceptional performances.