Disney’s magical musical BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is live on stage May 12 – June 5 at Ocala Civic Theatre.
Once upon a time in long-ago France, a selfish prince (Christian Gonzales) lived in a magnificent castle and had everything his heart desired – until an ugly old beggar woman came seeking shelter. When the prince turned her away, she was revealed to be an beautiful enchantress, who cursed him for his heartless ways and turned him into a hideous beast. She also put a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there, transforming the prince’s servants into household objects.
Leaving behind an enchanted rose, the enchantress proclaimed that the curse must be broken by true love before the last petal falls. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed back into his former self. If not, the Beast and his household will be doomed for all eternity. But the magic truly begins a decade later when Belle (Adrienne Hebert), a young woman from a nearby village, enters the Beast’s spellbound world…
The spirited, book-loving Belle laments her life in this “poor provincial town” and dreams of something grander. She certainly wants a better life for herself than as the wife of pompous village ladies’ man Gaston (Caleb Spivey), whose unwanted affections toward her are cheered on by his dimwitted sidekick LeFou (Joel Hunt). But although Belle seeks “adventure in the great wide somewhere,” she gets more than she hoped for when she discovers that her beloved father, eccentric inventor Maurice (Wayne Dilts), has gone missing. She goes in search and finds him a prisoner in the Beast’s castle, having accidentally trespassed there after a wolf attack in the forest. The furious Beast agrees to let him go if Belle will take her father’s place.
Out of her deep love for her father, Belle agrees to stay. She is warmly welcomed by the servants, now enchanted “objects,” of the Beast’s castle, who all want her to “be our guest.” To name a few, there’s Lumiere the candelabra (James R. Taylor III), the suave French maître d’, and Cogsworth the mantel clock (Patrick Stanley), the stuffy English major-domo of the castle. The kindhearted cook, Mrs. Potts the teapot (Terry LeCompte), and her adorable young son Chip (Conley Todd) the teacup provide a comforting presence. Former opera diva Madame de la Grande Bouche, the wardrobe (Ashlyn Gibbs), doles out good-natured advice. And saucy French maid Babette, the feather duster (Stephanie Dezelin), enjoys a mutual flirtation with Lumiere.
During Belle’s stay at the castle, she comes to know the Beast for who he is beneath his gruff and frightening exterior, in time discovering that “there may be something there that wasn’t there before” – a gentle soul. And the Beast is slowly learning how to show kindness – such as when he allows Belle to return to her father in an attempt to save Maurice from the clutches of Gaston and Monsieur D’Arque (Joshua Plante), the unsavory proprietor of the lunatic asylum.
But time is running out as both the Beast and his household are slowly losing their humanity. Can Belle and the Beast learn the lesson at the heart of this fable – to not judge a book by its cover? Will true love work its magic, and will Belle return in time to save the Beast and his household before the last petal falls?
The amazing ensemble (Gregg Bleam, Aubrey Bush, Melissa Cabrera, Angelina Canter, John Corneilson, Alex Dagg, Grace DeClerk, Cheyenne Dever, Tom Ferreira, Emily Goode, Shannon Guinn, Ainsley Harker, Jonathan Leppert, Melissa Nadenik, Scott Nadenik, John Mark Todd, McKenzie Todd, Mario Villella, Megan Wager) provides all the other characters in this fairytale: villagers, wolves, enchanted objects in the Beast’s castle, and many more.
Based on the beloved 1991 Disney film, this “tale as old as time” is brought to life in a spectacular stage version of the classic fairytale. All the songs from the movie are here, plus half a dozen new hits written for the stage musical. This gorgeous production is perfect for the whole family, delighting and dazzling all ages. With a storybook romance, glorious songs, incredibly elaborate costumes, a stunning set, and magical special effects, the enchantment never ends!
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is directed and choreographed by Katrina Ploof. Music director is Philip King. Assistant choreographer is Sarah Ganey. Scenic designer is William Spratt. Costume designer is Eryn Brooks Brewer. Lighting designer is David Castaneda. Sound designer is Jesse Munro. Props designer is Joey Coombs. Dialect coach is Lori Engler. Stage manager is Kim Wise.
The show runs May 12 – June 5. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets go on sale April 11 at $30 for adults and $15 for ages 18 and younger. Purchase tickets over the phone at (352) 236-2274 or in person at the box office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets online at any time, visit ocalacivictheatre.com.
Ticketholders to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST also may visit the FINDING BEAUTY exhibit at the Appleton Museum of the Arts free of charge. The ornate costumes and opulent set for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST were inspired by pieces in the Appleton’s permanent collection, leading to a unique collaboration between the two local arts icons.
The exhibit features costume and set photos and sketches, a gallery of fabrics and embellishments, video of the costume construction process, the objects of inspiration from the Appleton’s permanent collection, and interactive experiences for even the youngest visitors. After OCT’s production closes on June 5, many of the costumes will be transferred to the exhibit. FINDING BEAUTY will run through the winter of 2022.
The Appleton Museum of the Arts, a campus of the College of Central Florida, is located next door to Ocala Civic Theatre. For more information on FINDING BEAUTY, visit ocalacivictheatre.com or appletonmuseum.org.
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