GEELONG ACTOR’S MAGIC CARPET RIDE
GEELONG triple threat Robert Tripolino did not need three wishes from a genie to make his musical theatre dreams come true.
The 27-year-old has been working towards a stage career since his days at Geelong College and is wowing audiences in the role of Omar in Disney’s Aladdin.
“I’m a big Disney geek any- way, I grew up with Aladdin, I was so familiar with all the songs already so to get the show was a treat,” Tripolino said.
“I’d seen the Lion King and Mary Poppins (productions) and I knew what Disney was all about, I knew they were about creating magic and spectacle on stage live for an audience.”
Omar is one of three of Aladdin’s friends in the original cartoon but were replaced with pet monkey Abu.
They are being brought back to life for the musical, which opened in Melbourne in April after a successful run in Sydney.
Tripolino’s talent was fostered in high school shows and at Geelong’s Sandra Clack Ballet Centre before he learnt how to sing and play guitar.
Originally auditioning for the Victorian College of the Arts dance school, a bout of glandular fever pushed him into a musical theatre course instead.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be working since I graduated from the three-year course,” he said.
“My first job was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum where I understudied Hugh Sheridan and got to work with Jeffery Rush.”
Tripolino has also starred in the production of The Addams Family, The Pirates of Penzance and West Side Story and was BJ in the ABC’s Upper Middle Bogan.
Aladdin is showing at Her Majesty’s Theatre. For tickets visit aladdinthemusical.com.au