Interview: Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek Serenades Audiences with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
By: Courtnee Miles Jan. 25, 2016
We're taking you on a journey to the magical world of Beast, Belle, Gaston, and friends as we travel through time. Taking place in 18th century France, Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast is making it's way to Atlanta's Fox Theatre. I had the chance to sit down with Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek (Gaston) to talk about bringing this great book, turned film, and now theatrical play to life.
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Broadway World: I'm sure everyone is familiar with Disney's film adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, but could you tell me a little about the Broadway production? Christiaan Smith- Kotlarek: It's the movie brought to life. This touring production is put on by Networks and the original broadway creative team including Rob Roth, Matt West, and Rick Sordelet and includes most of the lines from Linda Woolverton's Oscar-Nominated screenplay. Alan Menken, Tim Rice, and Howard Ashman's screenplay music remains with the addition of a few extra numbers, including Gaston's solo "Me" where he proposes to Belle. In short, the show is fun for the whole family. Broadway World: What would you like the audience to take away from it? Christiaan Smith- Kotlarek: I hope people leave the theater having laughed a lot, cried a little, and held their breath a few times. There are some moments in the play where you can hear a pin drop in the audience, and to me that means we've taken people on a journey and perhaps given them a small respite from their daily concerns. Broadway World: For you, what was the most gratifying part of being a part of this production? What is the most challenging? Christiaan Smith- Kotlarek: Working with the original creative team has been such a dream. They know exactly what they want, since the show has been around long enough to develop some traditions. That's also part of the challenge - there a lot of expectations that already exist when it comes to who Gaston is. I'm happy I can fill such large boots, at least for now. Broadway World: If you could sum up Beauty in the Beast in 5 words, what would they be? Christiaan Smith- Kotlarek: Dealing With Being An Outsider |
A Wisconsin native, Christiaan has sung on concerts which also featured six-time Grammy Award Nominee Frederica von Stade as well as Tony Award Winners Alice Ripley and Randy Graff. He has performed with NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis. Christiaan's songwriting was featured when he opened for one of the President's campaign speeches, and he has sung opera across the US and in Italy. Christiaan is thrilled to join Disney's Beauty and the Beast National Tour in the role of Gaston through July of 2016 (taken from http://www.christiaansmithkotlarek.com).
Beauty and the Beast will be showing at the Fox Theatre February 2-7, 2016. Tickets are available at www.foxtheatre.org/tickets.
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