{"id":311716,"date":"2026-08-01T23:28:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/311716\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T23:28:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:28:46","slug":"caleb-a-barnett-says-doing-aladdin-helps-him-stay-grounded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/311716\/","title":{"rendered":"Caleb A. Barnett Says Doing Aladdin Helps Him ‘Stay Grounded’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Broadway production of the long-running Disney\u00a0musical\u00a0Aladdin<\/a>\u2014which just celebrated its 4,500th performance\u2014has a new friend in\u00a0Caleb A. Barnett<\/a>, who stepped into the role of the\u00a0Genie in May at the New Amsterdam Theatre.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old actor, who\u00a0had made his Broadway debut in the company as the Genie standby in summer 2023, succeeded long-time Genie\u00a0Michael James Scott<\/a>.\u00a0The current cast of the hit production, based on the blockbuster animated film of the same name, also includes\u00a0Rodney Ingram<\/a> in the title role, Sonya Balsara<\/a> as
\nJasmine, and Dennis Stowe<\/a> as Jafar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Barnett has also performed in regional theatres throughout the country, including productions of\u00a0Kinky Boots and The\u00a0Rocky Horror Show\u00a0at the\u00a0Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Sweeney Todd and Rock of Ages\u00a0at\u00a0Casa Manana. He also joined\u00a0Michael Bubl\u00e9 for his\u00a02022\u00a0Higher Tour.<\/p>\n

In the interview below for the Playbill series How Did I Get
\nHere\u2014spotlighting not only actors, but directors, designers, musicians,
\nand others who work on and off the stage to create the magic that
\nis live theatre\u2014Barnett expresses his gratitude to the\u00a0professor who helped him succeed, and explains why it’s\u00a0important to warm up and cool down.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Caleb A. Barnett
\n (Matthew Murphy)<\/p>\n

Where did you train\/study?
Caleb A. Barnett:\u00a0I studied Musical Theatre at the University of Central Oklahoma. Roll \u2018Chos!<\/p>\n

Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful\/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
Dr.
\n Sandra Thompson! We call her Dr. T! She was my music theory\/sight singing professor and one of the main people who was real with me when I
\n didn\u2019t know something. She pushed and allowed me to fail so I could
\nunderstand the mistakes I was making. Because of her persistence and
\ntenacity to ensure I succeeded, I get to live my dream eight times a week. I
\n don\u2019t get here without her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What are the challenges\/rewards of stepping into an already running show like Aladdin? Did Michael James Scott offer any advice about playing the role?
This
\n show is a physical beast. “Friend Like Me” is an eight-minute number. Once
\nI\u2019m on stage, I\u2019m going full tilt and will be nonstop talking the entire
\n time. So pacing was a big adjustment to get used to. But Michael James
\n Scott gave me some very helpful tips about strategically placing your
\nbreaths in the music, among other tips, that can only come from a 20-plus year veteran like him. I\u2019m extremely thankful and honored to have
\nlearned under him.<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite moment in the show for the Genie?
Oh absolutely. I get the opportunity to improvise just a tad.
\n So I love to change things up a lot. No show is the same. I feel like it
\n keeps everyone on their toes and helps me stay present in the story
\nthat we\u2019re telling. I\u2019m chronically online, so thankfully I can put that
\nto good use, haha. There\u2019s a particular bit that I do at the end of the
\nshow that absolutely hits\u00a0with the kids. The student matinee reactions
\nare always the best!<\/p>\n

Below, watch Barnett and previous Aladdin\u00a0Ainsley Melham\u00a0perform “Friend Like Me” on The View:<\/p>\n

Why do you think\u00a0Aladdin has been such a hit on Broadway and around the world? What does the show mean to you?
This
\n show is rooted in joy. Broadway began at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and
\nwe get the opportunity to bring escapism and joy to everyone. Whether
\nEnglish is their first language or not, the audience understands the
\nmagic that happens up on that stage. It\u2019s really cool to see.<\/p>\n

Do you have any dream stage roles or actors you would like to share the stage with?
You
\n know, a lot of my theatre icons have unfortunately passed on (Ken Page<\/a>
\nand Adrian Bailey<\/a>). But in the present tense, I\u2019d love to do a show with
\n Jasmine Amy Rogers<\/a> and be directed by Kenny Leon<\/a>. I\u2019d break down the
\ndoor for them.<\/p>\n

What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
I
\n would tell him it was okay to slow down and take in the process. I had
\nthese habits where I kept thinking, \u201cWhat\u2019s next? What\u2019s the next
\nproject?\u201d I was never really being present or enjoying being where my
\nfeet were at the time. Genie, for sure, forces you to be present, stay
\ngrounded, and grateful\u2014one of the many gifts this role has given me.<\/p>\n

What do you consider your big break?
This show for sure. This being my Broadway debut and all, it only feels right to say this one.<\/p>\n

Tell me about a time you almost gave up but didn\u2019t.
Towards
\n the end of my time in school. I was really struggling and didn\u2019t feel
\nadequate to the work I wanted to do. I felt like I couldn\u2019t measure up.
\nAbout a week or so later, I did my school\u2019s showcase and met my current
\nagent, which led me to Aladdin less than three\u00a0months later. Crazy world.<\/p>\n

What do you wish you knew starting out that you know now?
To
\n warm up\u00a0and cool down! A car can\u2019t just keep running while it\u2019s
\nresting; it\u2019ll burn out or damage something internally, so it cools down
\n after you turn it off. Our bodies are the same. We can get away with it
\n now while we\u2019re young, but it\u2019ll catch up with you later. I\u2019ve seen
\nwith my own eyes. Your body really does keep the score.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is your proudest achievement as an actor?
In
\n my first year in the company, my mother organized a group of about 100
\nfamily members and friends (including Dr.\u00a0T) from the DFW area in Texas
\nto come and see me in the show. It was one of the most electric nights
\nof my life. It felt good to be able to do the role in front of so many
\nwho invested time and effort into my growth as a person. It made it all
\n worth it.<\/p>\n

\"Aladdin<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Aladdin\"\/<\/p>\n

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