Telly Leung, seen on Broadway earlier this year in the new musical In Transit, joined the cast of Broadway's Aladdin in the title role June 13. In a June 27 interview with New York Live on NBC, the actor discussed playing the lead role in the Disney favorite as well as his history with Tony winner Lea Salonga, who provided the singing voice for the role of Jasmine in the 1992 Aladdin film.
Leung, who made his Broadway debut opposite Salonga in Flower Drum Song, said, “When I found out about the [Aladdin] job, she was actually one of the first people that I called to tell. I've known Lea for a very long time.”
He continued, “I recently got to work with her again on Broadway in Allegiance, and she played my older sister. In many ways that relationship that we had onstage as brother and sister has translated to be something offstage as well. She really is very much like my big Broadway sister.”
In the interview, Leung also reveals what song he and his former Flower Drum Song co-stars would often urge Salonga to sing for them.
Click here to watch the chat with the new Aladdin star.
Leung's other Broadway credits include the new musical Allegiance, the revival of Pacific Overtures, and the final Broadway company of Rent. He originated the role of Boq in the Chicago production of Wicked and played Dalton Academy Warbler Wes on Fox’s Glee.
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Check out photos of Leung in Aladdin below:
Telly Leung and Courtney Reed in Aladdin
The cast of Aladdin also currently features Courtney Reed as Jasmine, Major Attaway as Genie, and Tony nominee Jonathan Freeman as Jafar. Steel Burkhardt, Brian Gonzales, and Brad Weinstock play Aladdin’s sidekicks Kassim, Babkak, and Omar, Clifton Davis is Sultan, and Don Darryl Rivera is Iago. Juwan Crawley, James Moye, and Deonté L. Warren stand by for several principals.
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