Brisbane Theatre Graduate Set To Soar As Princess Jasmine in ALADDIN

Disney Theatrical Productions is delighted to confirm Perth-born, Brisbane-based performer Shubshri Kandiah will take over the role of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin from Wednesday 23 May 2018.

The role will mark Shubshri's professional musical theatre debut, having only graduated from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in December last year. She will play Princess Jasmine for the final two weeks of the Brisbane run at QPAC's Lyric Theatre, before taking flight for her hometown of Perth with performances from 19 July at Crown Theatre.

Shubshri succeeds Hiba Elchikhe, who has played the feisty Disney Princess for the past 18 months, in the dazzling new production from the makers of The Lion King and Mary Poppins.

Born in Perth, Shubshri began performing at a young age, learning classical Indian dance, ballet and violin. She moved to Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Music Theatre at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Prior to graduation she performed the role of Ayah in Opera Queensland's The Pearlfishers and featured in Queensland Performing Arts Centre's An Evening with Liz Callaway, chosen to sing a duet with the Broadway legend.

Broadway Director Casey Nicholaw said; "It's a thrill to welcome a new Princess Jasmine to the Aladdin family. Shubshri is a singular, young talent and we're delighted that she will be making her music theatre debut in Agrabah!"

Shubshri said; "To call this a dream role is an understatement. Jasmine was the first Disney princess I saw onscreen who looked like me; now as an adult her strength and self-confidence is something I aspire to. I'm incredibly thankful and beyond excited to play such an iconic role in one of the largest shows ever staged in Australia. This really is a whole new world for me - I can't wait to Take That magic carpet for a spin."

Shubshri joins Gareth Jacobs in the role of Genie, Ainsley Melham as Aladdin, 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 a staggering 337 glittering costumes, which feature 1,225 different fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and almost 500,000 Swarovski crystals.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, Aladdin made its world premiere to critical acclaim at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20th, 2014. It quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming over six 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 Lion King, Mary Poppins in Australia), Aladdin features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors), 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).

Aladdin, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including "One Thousand and One Nights," is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin's journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.

This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, grossing over $500 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) 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. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.

Tickets for the Brisbane and Perth seasons are available from aladdinthemusical.com.au.

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