'A million miles together': Married actors revel in 'Aladdin' roles

Angelina Mullins and Colt Prattes have already had a couple of wishes granted and dreams come true.

They met as cast members of the Broadway revival of "West Side Story" that ran from 2009-11. It was the Broadway debuts for both — so those were two dreams come true right there. There would be more good things happening. There was no Genie in a lamp in the show, but In 2013 Mullins and Prates were married.

When the national tour of tour of the musical Disney's "Aladdin" began in 2017, Mullins was cast as a member of the ensemble. Prattes was committed to a TV show but went to see his wife in Disney's "Aladdin" as often as he could. Then he got to join the tour (and Mullins), as Kassim, one of Aladdin's friends, from 2019-20 after the musical was revamped.

Disney's "Aladdin" was "re-imagined" prior to beginning touring again post-pandemic lockdown this fall, and Mullins and Prattes are once again in the cast and still very much wife and husband.

"We're so fortunate we get to do this together. This is a dream come true. We certainly couldn't ask for anything more," Prattes said.

Disney's "Aladdin" will be at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester March 15-19 as part of The Hanover Theatre's 2022-23 Broadway Series.

The show was originally scheduled to be in Worcester Nov. 3 to 6., but was postponed.

"We had so much family that was going to come," said Mullins, who is originally from Marshfield, during a phone interview in November. So maybe there was something the couple could have asked for. But no worries — it would be all's well that ends well. The producers said the show would be coming to Worcester. And lo and behold, it is. Friends and family have March dates to circle. Currently, the show is doing a nice winter warm weather run through Florida in December and January.

When it comes to taking their work home with them, Mullins and Prattes are all for it when it comes to Disney's "Aladdin."

"If we take it home with us, it's a positive thing," Mullins said. "Your heart is full when you leave (the theater) ... It's such a gorgeous show to be part of every night. It brings you joy. It's not one of those shows where you leave with a heavy heart."

Prattes said, "You don't need to separate that joy you get from doing the show. That transfers into life and being in the show together."

Set in the fictional Arabian city of Agrabah, the story of Aladdin, based on centuries-old folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," follows a poor young man who is granted three wishes by a Genie  in a lamp. Two of those wishes have to do with wooing the lovely Princess Jasmine and thwarting the Sultan's evil Grand Vizier.

Disney's "Aladdin" the musical is based on the 1992 Academy Award-winning animated Disney film and features favorite songs from the film as well as new music written by  Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and book writer Chad Beguelin. The musical opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim in 2014, and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records. Worldwide it has been seen by more than 14 million people.

Disney's "Aladdin" reopened on Broadway in September, 2021. The new tour launched in Schenectady, N.Y. in October this year, marking the first time Disney's "Aladdin" was seen anywhere in North America outside New York since March, 2020. The lavish-sounding "re-imagined" production boasts a renowned design team, with sets, costumes and lighting from Tony Award winners Bob Crowley ("Mary Poppins"), Gregg Barnes ("Kinky Boots") and Natasha Katz ("An American in Paris").

"If you want some Disney magic in your life go and see 'Aladdin,'" Mullins said.

"We've been in this business for a long time and I have never seen anything like this show. There are layers on layers," added Prattes. "They've done so many things with this. There are still things that blow me away every time I see them."

Mullins trained at the Boston Ballet beginning at the age of nine and danced the role of Clara in “The Nutcracker” and in productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Paquita,” “Cinderella,” and “Sleeping Beauty.” At 17-years-old she began touring the world in the Broadway musical "Fosse." She was also in the national tour of "Spamalot" before joining the Broadway revival of "West Side Story."

Prattes, who is originally from Atlanta, has toured with "High School Musical" and like Mullins made his Broadway debut in "West Side Story." It wasn't long before there was another story happening - they were falling in love.

They were married in New York and moved to Los Angeles. Mullins has been a recurring dancer on NBC's series "Smash," while Prattes has had TV roles that include Johnny Castle in a remake of "Dirty Dancing" that aired on ABC, and Ryan in the groundbreaking dramedy "This Close" on the Sundance Channel. He was also seen on Broadway again in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Mullins auditioned for the first national tour of Disney's "Aladdin" in 2016 and the show hit the road in 2017.

Prattes was tied up with "This Close" at the beginning, but recalled that his favorite song on the numerous times when he went to see Disney's "Aladdin" is "A Million Miles Away."

"I'd see her (Mullins) in the show and that was my favorite number. And now we're a million miles together. It's incredible. We get to see so much of the country and share this beautiful story," Prattes said.

Prattes and Mullins toured together from 2019 into 2020 until the COVID shutdown. They were recast in their roles for the new tour.

Disney's "Aladdin" has dates well into 2023. "We'll see from there. We have high hopes for this," Mullins said.

"I could stay in this show for a long time. Even if you don't feel overflowing, when you walk out and see everyone smiling, see couples our age, (you say) 'Oh, this so amazing,'" Prattes said.

Mullins and Prattes were asked if, looking further ahead, could they see themselves in a two-person show given that they are a couple.

However, they already have their own YouTube channel "Part of Love." The channel was developed during the pandemic lockdown with Mullins and Prattes talking about their relationship and offering advice.

"We are absolutely obsessed with love. We have a YouTube channel that is all about love," Prattes said.

"We love telling our story. It's a big part of our life. Our motto is 'We're helping you find the love you deserve,' " said Mullins.

"Thirteen years together and 10 years married. That is our two-person show, or at least the beginning of it," Prattes said.

Disney's 'Aladdin'

When: 7:30 p.m. March 15 and 16; 8 p.m. March 17; 2 and 8 p.m. March 18; 1 p.m. March 19

Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester

How much:  $28, $45, $63, $83 and $93 depending on seat location. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Hanover Theatre-bound Disney's 'Aladdin' making dreams come true