The two lead roles for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast have just been announced and Box Hill resident Brendan Xavier will star alongside Shubshri Kandiah in the iconic production which could have its Australian premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre next year.

Brendan, a former student at Marian College Kenthurst, is currently performing in Frozen the Musical. Brisbane-based Shubshri is finest recognized for her position as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and is currently taking part in the title role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

It’s the first leading position for Brendan who said: “I came upon that I won the function on my way to work and I had to just cease walking. My agent just said you’ve booked the Beast …. It was most likely probably the greatest 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 college he studied a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Musical Theatre at 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 credit embrace The Original Grease (Squabbalogic) as Danny Zuko and in the sixtieth Anniversary concert of the Australian musical Lola Montez.

He has been performing in Disney’s Frozen for the past two years and is currently 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 at the Capitol Theatre in June 2023.

Directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Matt West, the reimagined stage present will characteristic an all-star group that includes authentic composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, guide author 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 in the past.

Director and choreographer Matt West said: “The pleasure we felt in the audition room when Brendan and Shubshri carried out for us was electric. These two extraordinary young performers convey contemporary life to these iconic roles, and we are thrilled that an entire new generation of Australian audiences will have the pleasure of witnessing their interpretation in this new manufacturing.”

Some of Australia’s most outstanding musical theatre performers and thrilling contemporary faces have also been assembled and shall be announced 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 third November 2022) through http://www.beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au.

The Australian premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.