On Broadway, two stars of ‘Aladdin’ trace their roles all the way to middle school

BY MARK KENNEDY

NEW YORK (AP) — Some years ago, when Sonya Balsara and Adi Roy were in middle school, they were cast in kiddie versions of the musical “Aladdin.” Little did they know it would be very good preparation — for the same roles on Broadway.

More than a decade after hitting their marks in the show as pre-teens, Balsara is playing plucky Princess Jasmine and Roy is the show’s urchin-turned-titular hero now on Broadway as the Disney hit musical celebrates its 10th anniversary.

“I think about that little girl who had a little speck of a dream to do all of this,” says Balsara. “If she could see what we did now, I think that she would be just beyond elated.”

Both actors are of Indian heritage and in their 20s. They both grew up in music-filled homes, attended New York University and put in long hours to