Beauty and the Beast
The two lead roles for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast have just been introduced and Box Hill resident Brendan Xavier will star alongside Shubshri Kandiah within the iconic manufacturing which may have its Australian premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre subsequent 12 months.
Brendan, a former student at Marian College Kenthurst, is currently performing in Frozen the Musical. Brisbane-based Shubshri is greatest known for her position as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and is presently enjoying the title role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
It’s the first main function for Brendan who stated: “I discovered that I gained the role on my approach to work and I needed to simply cease strolling. My agent just said you have booked the Beast …. It was probably one of the best moments of my life.”
Brendan graduated from Marian College in 2014 and was on the Board of Studies NSW Distinguished Achievers List due to his music results.
After faculty he studied a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Musical Theatre on the Australian Institute of Music. During his time there Brendan appeared in numerous musicals, most notably playing Jack in Into the Woods directed by Tyran Parke.
Beauty And The Beast Brendan Xavier And Shubshri Kandiah Beauty And The BeastHis earlier theatre credits include The Original Grease (Squabbalogic) as Danny Zuko and within the sixtieth Anniversary live performance of the Australian musical Lola Montez.
He has been performing in Disney’s Frozen for the previous two years and is at present in Perth.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is being staged by the producers of Frozen, Aladdin, The Lion King and Mary Poppins and makes its Australian premiere on the Capitol Theatre in June 2023.
Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Matt West, the reimagined stage show will characteristic an all-star team that features unique composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz. The staff collectively acquired 5 Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 28 years ago.
Director and choreographer Matt West mentioned: “The excitement we felt within the audition room when Brendan and Shubshri carried out for us was electric. These two extraordinary younger performers bring contemporary life to those iconic roles, and we're thrilled that an entire new era of Australian audiences will have the pleasure of witnessing their interpretation on this new production.”
Some of Australia’s most excellent musical theatre performers and exciting fresh faces have also been assembled and might be introduced at a later date together with the roles of Lumiere, Gaston, Cogsworth, Mrs Potts, Le Fou, Maurice, Babette and Madame.
General public tickets went on sale this week (Thursday 3rd November 2022) via www.beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au.
The Australian premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is supported by the NSW Government by way of its tourism and main occasions company Destination NSW.