Upcoming Aladdin dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Two seats to target for Aladdin
For a first visit to Aladdin, buy the center front mezzanine if the flying carpet is the moment you care about, or the center orchestra, roughly a third of the way back, if you want to be close to the Genie's comedy and the costume parade. Both put you on the centerline, and both see the full stage. Everything else in the house is a trade-off against one of those two.
The reason is the staging. "A Whole New World" is an illusion, and it reads best from slightly above stage height, where you see the carpet against the whole stage picture. "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" are close-range spectacle, built on faces, sequins and timing, so they reward a seat nearer the stage.
Orchestra, mezzanine, balcony and boxes compared
The New Amsterdam Theatre seats 1,702 on three levels, according to Wikipedia. Its balconies are cantilevered (held up from the back wall, with no support posts), so no level has columns in the way, and they run across the rear of the house rather than curling along the sides.
Orchestra
The ground floor. The middle rows in the center are the closest you can get without losing the top of the set. The first few rows look up at the stage and flatten the carpet effect, and the far ends of each row lose some scenery at the back of the stage.
Mezzanine
The first raised level. Its front rows, near the center, are the strongest family value in the building: high enough for small children to see over the heads in front, low enough to read faces.
Balcony
The top level. The view is clear but distant, and the faces get small. If you sit up here with children, the front rows matter more than the section, because kids see less over adults in the rows ahead.
Boxes
The side boxes were restored in 1997 from the original drawings. They feel special, but the side angle cuts off part of the stage. Save them for a second visit.
Bringing kids: length, ages and house rules
Aladdin runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. The production recommends it for ages 6 and up, and every guest needs a ticket regardless of age, so infants and toddlers cannot ride on a lap.
- Pacing: the biggest number, "Friend Like Me," comes late in Act One, and the carpet ride arrives after the break, which gives younger children something to wait for.
- Tone: bright and comic, with a villain who is more pantomime than menace.
- Aisle seats: worth requesting for children at the younger end of the range, so a mid-show exit does not disturb a row.
As of 2026, the New Amsterdam's code of conduct requires guests under 14 to be accompanied by someone 14 or older, sends large bags to coat check and allows bag screening. Check the theater's current rules before you go.
The story, the songs and the stage changes
Aladdin is Disney's stage adaptation of its 1992 animated film. A street kid in Agrabah finds a lamp, gets three wishes from the Genie inside, and uses them to win Princess Jasmine and outwit Jafar, the Sultan's scheming vizier. The film's songs are all here, along with three Menken and Howard Ashman songs that were cut from the movie and four new numbers.
Alan Menken composed the score, with lyrics by Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin; Beguelin also wrote the book, and Casey Nicholaw directed and choreographed. Fans of the film will notice one change right away: Abu the monkey is out, replaced by Aladdin's three friends Babkak, Omar and Kassim, characters first written for the film and then dropped.
Seattle premiere to Broadway long-runner
The show began at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in July 2011, played regional and international dates in 2012, and tried out in Toronto from November 2013 to January 2014. Broadway previews started February 26, 2014, and the official opening followed on March 20. Of five Tony nominations, including Best Musical, it won one: James Monroe Iglehart, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, for the Genie.
More than a decade later, Wikipedia lists over 4,000 Broadway performances and places Aladdin among the highest-grossing productions in Broadway history. It has also played the West End (2016 to 2019), Germany, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Spain and South Korea. The most recent North American tour ended in 2024, so as of October 2026 the New Amsterdam is where you see it in the United States.
The theater itself dates to 1903, housed the Ziegfeld Follies from 1913 to 1927, and was restored by Disney in 1997. It is a New York City landmark and Broadway's oldest operating theater.
When Aladdin seats go fastest
Demand for a Disney family musical tracks the school year. The tightest stretches are Thanksgiving week, the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the February midwinter recess, spring break and the summer months. Within those weeks, weekend matinees go first.
- Widest choice: Tuesday through Thursday evenings in January, early February, late April and September.
- Large groups: buy early, because blocks of adjacent seats in the center orchestra and front mezzanine thin out before singles do.
- Day-of programs: lottery and rush terms change; check the production's site for the current setup.
Every Reserved Seat order includes guaranteed entry. For more Disney on stage, see The Lion King, or browse Broadway and New York City for the rest of the Theater District.
Frequently asked questions
Which seats give the best view of the flying carpet in Aladdin?
The center front mezzanine. The carpet ride is a stage illusion, and a slightly raised, centered seat shows it against the full stage picture.
Can a toddler sit on my lap at Aladdin?
No. Every guest needs a ticket regardless of age, and the production recommends the show for ages 6 and up.
Are there columns blocking the view at the New Amsterdam Theatre?
No. The balconies are cantilevered, so there are no support posts in the sightlines on any level.
What is the running time of Aladdin on Broadway?
About 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission.
Where is Aladdin playing in New York?
As of October 2026, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street, its home since the March 2014 opening.
Who wrote the music for Aladdin the musical?
Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin. Beguelin also wrote the book.