Gareth Jacobs Takes On the Genie in ALADDIN

Disney Theatrical Productions confirms that Melbourne's Gareth Jacobs, current standby Genie in Disney's Aladdin, will take over the role full-time from Tuesday 19 December 2017. Queensland audiences will conjure this new Genie from 25 February 2018.

Helpmann award-winner Michael James Scott originated the role in the Australian production and will pass on the magic lamp after almost 18 months as the show-stopping Genie.

Frankston-born Gareth Jacobs trained in musical theatre at the University of Ballarat in country Victoria and honed his skills on the high seas as lead vocalist and vocal captain for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. He was a Top 24 contestant on The X Factor and played the role of Jimmy Early in StageArt's Dreamgirls. He has been understudying Genie, Sultan and Babkak in Disney's Aladdin since the Australian premiere in August 2016.

Gareth said; "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!"

Gareth 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 dazzling new production from the producers of The Lion King and Mary Poppins is now playing at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre where it will remain until 28 January 2018 before the magic carpet takes flight on 25 February 2018 in Queensland Performing Arts Centre's (QPAC's) Lyric Theatre, Brisbane.

The Australian production boasts a cast of 34 and a staggering 337 glittering costumes, featuring 1,225 different fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and more than 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 12 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and welcoming over 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).

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.

The musical made its Australian premiere in Sydney on 11 August 2016. Tickets for the Brisbane season in QPAC's Lyric Theatre are available from aladdinthemusical.com.au, qpac.com.au or phone 136-246.

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