The musical was to have been staged at the school's theatre in Waratah from June 16-20, before the coronavirus pandemic led to its postponement.

However, rehearsals for the show continued at the school. When the limitations appeared set to be eased in August, a September season looked like going ahead.

But just before the show was ready to open, the NSW Government placed restrictions on adults attending school gatherings.

As Aladdin JR features 168 actors drawn from years 5 to 8, the staging team were keen to give them the chance to further develop their theatre skills.

So, when they found that restrictions on crowds at venues such as the Civic Theatre had eased, they made arrangements to present the musical there.

Aladdin JR, which runs for 70 minutes, will have six shows at the Civic Theatre between Tuesday, November 3, and Thursday, November 5.

A lot of school groups have begun to make bookings.

Aladdin JR was adapted for young performers from a musical that has been popular worldwide.

The musical is drawn from the 1992 Academy Award-winning animated Disney film Aladdin and a 2014 hit Broadway musical adaptation of that movie, with the show including songs that were written for the film but not used.

The songs were composed by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and the script adaptation was written by Jim Luigs.

They include numbers that often have people swinging in their seats like the famous duet A Whole New World.

The song features Aladdin - a beggar boy whose actions have led to him being proclaimed a prince with the name Little Ali - taking princess Jasmine on a flying carpet ride above the town of Agrabah to experience life outside the luxuriant and pampered environment of the royal palace.

Another popular song, Friend Like Me, is delivered by an all-powerful Genie.

The character, who was famously voiced by Robin Williams, is a fun-loving, fast-talking wise-cracker who emerges from a magic lamp which Aladdin rubs while trapped in the Cave of Wonders.

The story is set in colourful venues including the town's markets, a palace, and mountains around Agrabah, with Aladdin initially seen as a poor street urchin who longs to make his mother proud of him, but sometimes loses his way.

He sees himself as a thief with a heart of gold, trying to help his penniless pals, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. When a shop-owner berates the hungry Aladdin for stealing a loaf of bread, he is pursued by the commanding and aggressive head of the palace guards, leading him to head everywhere around the kingdom and meet Jasmine.

The show's staging team are performing arts teachers at St Philip's whose talents have been confirmed by earning many CONDA Award nominations and trophies for musicals featuring the students that have mainly been presented at the Civic Theatre.

In 2017 the school's production of Mary Poppins won five trophies, including Best Musical Production.

Robert Stuart, the head of the school's performing arts department, was awarded Best Director of a Musical, the choreography trophy went to Eva-Maria Irwin and Natalie Baker, Lyndon Buckley the lighting and visual award trophy, and the school also received the best ensemble award.

The production had the title character flying on a broomstick across the stage, something that is rarely seen in productions of the musical.

In 2018 Stuart again received the CONDA for Best Director of a Musical for The Drowsy Chaperone, the first production from High Street Productions, a company formed by teachers at the school.

Stuart directs Aladdin JR, with the musical direction by Lindy Connett and choreography by Natalie Baker and Eva-Marie Irwin.

The show, like many other current ventures, has recorded music and the young cast members are certainly enjoying it.

Angus Jewell, 13, who is the Genie, says it's a fun character who comes across as crazy when he is first heard talking.

Gilbert Jones, 14, plays the villainous Jafar and said it's an enjoyable role, with something unusual happening to the character at the end.

Aladdin JR has performances on Tuesday, November 3, at 6.30pm; Wednesday, November 4, at 10am, 1pm and 6.30pm, and Thursday, November 5, at 1pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets are $28 and $22 for concession. For bookings call 4929 1977.

THIS production of the popular musical centres on a dancer, Charity Hope Valentine.

Charity engages in affairs with men, who are far from charitable in their treatment of her, and amusingly brings out the natures of the characters and their relationships with members of the opposite sex.

It had two alternating casts, and I'm sure the one I didn't see was just as engaging as the one I watched.

While the plot moved to many different places in New York, including Central Park, a dance hall, and a lift that breaks down, with only colourful backdrop curtains and bright lighting as the settings.

However, the actors' performances had watchers imagining the venue differences.