Disney Theatrical Productions has confirmed that Melbourne’s Gareth Jacobs, current standby Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, will continue in his role as the Genie in Queensland from February 25.
Helpmann® award-winner Michael James Scott originated the role in the Australian production and has passed on the magic lamp after almost 18 months as the show-stopping Genie.
Frankston-born Gareth Jacobs has been understudying Genie, Sultan and Babkak in Disney’s Aladdin since the Australian premiere in August 2016.
"To play the Genie in this phenomenal production really is a wish come true. I’m a huge fan of the original animated Disney film and to learn the musical ropes from the magical Michael James Scott has been an added blessing. I can’t wait to move into the lamp permanently and get granting those wishes full-time – you ain’t never had a friend like me,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs joins Ainsley Melham as Aladdin, Hiba Elchikhe as Jasmine, Adam Murphy as Jafar, Aljin Abella as Iago, George Henare as the Sultan, Adam Jon Fiorentino as Kassim, Troy Sussman as Babkak and Robert Tripolino as Omar. The Australian production boasts a cast of 34 and 337 costumes, featuring 1,225 different fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and more than 500,000 Swarovski crystals.
The dazzling new production from the producers of The Lion King and Mary Poppins takes a magic carpet ride to QPAC from February 25.
Based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, Aladdin made its world premiere to critical acclaim at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre in 2014, establishing itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 12 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming more than five million people worldwide. Its global footprint has expanded to include productions in Tokyo, Hamburg, London and a tour across North America.
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).
The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing more than $500m worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.
The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song A Whole New World, which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.
Tickets for the Brisbane season in QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, are available from aladdinthemusical.com.au, qpac.com.au or phone 136-246.
