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Trevor Dion nicholas, the Genie (right) in the Disney musical production of aladdin, which runs at the Prince edward Theatre from May 27 with a grand opening night set for June 9.

Mr nicholas was understudy on Broadway to c hi e f Genie J a mes Monroe iglehart and is now making his West end debut. he’s the first actor to be cast in aladdin, though others — mostly British — will be named soon.

The musical, based on the Disney animated film that featured the voice of robin Williams as Genie, is a jolly romp directed by casey nicholaw and designed by Bob crowley.

When i saw it on Broadway i was amused to see grown men and women in the audience, some dressed in aladdin costumes, singing along to the songs written by alan Menken, howard ashman, Tim rice and chad Beguelin. how absurd, i thought. But what have i been humming as i write this? a Whole new World.

Get back in the lamp! CLARE BURT, who will play the title role in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, a musical based on the Paul Gallico novel about a charlady who has designs on changing her life.

Ms Burt has appeared in shows such as Company and Into The Woods at the Donmar, and London Road at the National. Daniel Evans will direct the production, created by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff, at the Crucible in Sheffield from May 18. MARTIN KEMP, who will play the child catcher in a tour of the musical chitty chitty Bang Bang, which starts at the Mayflower Theatre in southampton on February 10. Kemp (right) will join Jason Manford, who plays caractacus Potts (both will leave the show on april 24.) lee Mead will assume the part of Potts from May 4. Phill Jupitus and Michelle collins also star.

chitty will first have a nineweek run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse (from December 10), with James Brining and stephen Mear directing and choreographing. ALAN COX, who will portray controversial psychiatrist R.D. Laing in a new play by Patrick Marmion called The Divided Laing, which runs at the Arcola in East London from November 18. Laing wrote about and discussed the ‘politics of madness’ and Marmion’s play focuses on comic incidents in 1970. Oscar Pearce, Ameira Darwish, Laura-Kate Gordon, Kevin McMonagle, James Russell and Michael Kingsbury are also in the production. ASHLEY ZHANGAZHA and LLEWELLA GIDEON, who star in a revival of lorraine hansberry’s classic play a raisin in The sun, about a mother, her feckless son, her daughter and daughter-in-law, all dreaming of having enough money to move to a better neighbourhood. it will run at sheffield Theatres studio from January 28 until February 13. JOANNE FROGGATT, so good as Lady Mary’s maid Anna in Downton Abbey, has joined the cast of A Street Cat Named Bob. The film, which starts shooting this month, is based on James Bowen’s memoir about his life on the streets as a heroin addict and how a stray cat helped him wean himself off drugs.

Joanne (right) will play Val, Bowen’s counsellor. Anthony Head has been contracted to play his father, and Luke Treadaway is set to portray Bowen, who will make a cameo appearance with Bob. Joanne has just finished filming the ITV murder drama Dark Angel.

Her involvement in the new film means she will delay plans to work in the U.S. until next year.