«Grease» (opening July 4, 2026) hasn't even premiered yet, and the Thunerseespiele are already announcing their next production. In 2027, they will present Disney's «Aladdin» – for the first time in Switzerland, set against the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
«We are delighted to announce that we have secured the rights to Disney’s Aladdin», says Kristina Lindenlaub, CEO of the Thunerseespiele and FBM Entertainment. «The story is magical, the songs are award-winning, and Disney is a guarantee of top-notch entertainment.»
«Aladdin», the musical adventure from One Thousand and One Nights, is based on the 1992 animated film. The musical has been running on Broadway virtually without interruption since 2014. The fact that it’s now being performed outdoors is something of a sensation. Oliver Burger, owner of the Thunerseespiele and FBM Entertainment, comments: «The fact that Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ is being performed ‘open air’ – and that its staging has been adapted accordingly – is a special privilege for the Thunerseespiele, one that Disney has not previously granted to any other producer outside the U.S..»
Aladdin is a street thief from Agrabah. He falls in love with Princess Jasmine, who wants to escape from the palace. Jafar wants to seize power over the kingdom. And then there’s the magic lamp: the genie, Dschinni, grants Aladdin three wishes. What follows is more than just magic: it’s about true strength born of courage and honesty.
Legendary: Music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Begueli. The most famous song is «A Dream Comes True» (originally «A Whole New World»), the duet between Aladdin and Jasmine on the flying carpet. On Broadway, “Aladdin” earned five Tony nominations in 2014. In Thun, the show is performed in German.
The production is directed by Simon Eichenberger, who has already staged «Gotthelf», «Titanic», Dürrenmatt’s «The Visit», and «Dällebach Kari» in Thun. The set design is by British designer Charles Quiggin, who also worked on «Dällebach Kari». Costumes are by Czech designer Aleš Valášek, who previously worked on «Mary Poppins» and «Dällebach Kari.»
«Ideas are flowing, and we’ll soon be able to submit our first drafts to the rights holders», says executive producer Denis Jenni. He promises: «Thanks to its multi-layered humor, plenty of suspense, and multifaceted roles, Disney’s Aladdin will be a delight for audiences of all ages.»
«Aladdin» will run from July 7 to August 21, 2027. Advance ticket sales begin now, in the summer of the previous year. “We want to give the audience of *Grease* the opportunity to secure the best seats for 2027 right after seeing this year’s production,” says Kristina Lindenlaub.