Jacob 'Jazzy' Brent (born August 14, 1973) is an American stage actor who is best known for his portrayal of Magical Mr. Mistoffelees in the video production of ''

Cats The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...

'' which was filmed in 1998. Brent graduated from the

North Carolina School of the Arts The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is a public art school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants a high school diploma, in addition to both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina Sc ...

in 1991. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts from

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...

. He worked with the ALICE workshop, a musical based on

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

, as well as his own showcase at the Sadlers Wells Theatre. In 2002, he worked on choreography for the Elan Awards and the Dance with Dancers Millennium Gala for the New York City Ballet. At Children's Musical Theater San Jose, he directed a 2008 production of ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical ...

'' as well as a 2009 Spring Production of Leonard Bernstein's ''

Candide ( , ) is a French satire written by Voltaire, a philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment, first published in 1759. The novella has been widely translated, with English versions titled ''Candide: or, All for the Best'' (1759); ''Candide: or, The ...

''. In 2016, he was appointed assistant professor of dance at

Shenandoah University Shenandoah University is a private university in Winchester, Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students across more than 200 areas of study in six schools and colleges. Shenandoah University is one of five Unit ...

, where he taught until 2019. Brent then moved on to become the head of Musical Theatre at

James Madison University James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public university, public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1908, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the ...

until 2021, when he became interim Musical Theatre Head at The University of the Arts. Starting in 2024, he will be joining the faculty of Elon University.

Career highlights

* ''

Starlight Express '' Starlight Express'' is a 1984 musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It tells the story of a young but obsolete steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against modern locomotives of diesel and el ...

'' Las Vegas (

Turnov Turnov (; ) is a town in Semily District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 15,000 inhabitants. It is a traditional centre for gemstone polishing, glass craftsmanship and arts. The historic town centre is well preserved and ...

) 1993–94 * Broadway ''

'' production ( Pouncival) 1994–1996 * Broadway ''Cats'' production (

Mr. Mistoffelees Mr. Mistoffelees is a character in T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry book ''Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'' and its 1981 musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines son ...

) 1996–1999 * ''Cats'' and ''Making of Cats'' (

) 1998 * "The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular" cast member December 2000 and 2001 * London ''Cats'' production (

) April 2001 – October 2001 * Directed and choreographed ''Cats'' production at Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Auburn, N.Y.), August 21, 2013 – September 11, 2013

References

External links

Jacob Brent: Biography

Broadway Dance Center: Jacob Brent
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brent, Jacob American male musical theatre actors Living people 1973 births