‘Aladdin Jr.’ brings magic to a younger audience

Welcome to Agrabah, city of enchantment, where every beggar has a story … and all 76 young performers in the Christian Youth Theater’s production of “Aladdin Jr.” have parts to play.

Adapted from Disney’s “Aladdin” for younger actors and viewers, the musical – starting tonight at the Bing Crosby Theater – takes a flying-carpet ride through the fictional Arabian world populated by Princess Jasmine, street urchin Aladdin, villainous Jafar, a couple of genies, and slews of narrators, townspeople, street rats and others.

The production features the 1992 animated film’s showstoppers, including the Oscar-winning “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me,” along with some new elements.

Upgrades at the Bing will let the show incorporate projected backdrops, said Kristine Lyons, Christian Youth Theater’s executive artistic director. The show offers a chance for youths 8 to 18 to learn some stagecraft and for their peers to experience theater from the seats.

“Many families, especially with young children, may have not had a full theater experience,” Lyons said. “And it is a beautiful theater.”

Adrian Rogers

When: Tonight through June 2. 7 p.m. Fridays; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 3 p.m. show June 2.

Where: Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave.

Tickets: At www.cytspokane.com: $12 general, $11 seniors and children 12, $10 in groups of 10 or more; at the door: $14.