DreamWrights Stages Original BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Now thru 5/19

Beauty and the Beast is a tale almost as old as time. The first origins of the story can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Countless subsequent versions have been created in every country ... to this day. How then can DreamWrights claim theirs as an original? Because it is an original adaptation which was written, for them, in 2001. This is the second time it is being performed anywhere in the world.

Why create a new adaptation? Well, there are many reasons. First of all, DreamWrights needs a large cast and the story itself has just a handful of characters. Secondly, it appears to be a simple story of the power of love, however, there are many unanswered questions. Why is the Prince enchanted in the first place? Who enchants him? Since Disney and dancing dishes were not around in the 1500s when the story was first recorded, who did take care of the Beast? If it's a fairy tale, where are the fairies?

Does this original retelling answer all of these questions? Yes, from our storyteller's point of view. Fortunately, there will always be more questions and as many possible answers as there are people!

DreamWrights' two casts number 30 each, with two crews numbering 36, and a staff of 26. Thus the Production Company numbers 122 wonderful and talented volunteers. The most familiar characters are being played by the following: Beauty ... Monica Toren 16 and Michaela Wagner 14, of York - Prince Kalanos/Beast ...Chris Brown 17, New Oxford and Noah Conway 15, York. There are many new characters to enjoy as well. Two of the ten Fairies are: Dawnilda ... Mandy Bentzel and Paige Hoke, both 24 and from York - Faunalin ... Georgia Brown 12, Dover and Anna Fraser 11, York. Beauty comes from a large family: her father, Bertrum ... Matt Redmond 48, Camp Hill and Bryan Rizzo 44, Mt. Wolf and her older brother Bartholomew... Brice Leidy 12, Red Lion and Nathaniel Tyson 14, Dallastown. There are 24 more new characters played by community actors ranging in age from 7 to 54. Do come join them for this enjoyable retelling of this universal tale.

Beauty and the Beast opens today, May 3rd and runs thru Sunday, May 19th. Show Dates & Times: May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 at 6:30 PM; May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18,19 at 2:30 PM; Plus May 18 9:00 AM - Playlet & Breakfast. The May 11, 2:30 performance will be Audio Described with a 1:30 Touch Tour prior to the show.*

*Tickets must be purchased in advance for the Audio Description & Playlet & Breakfast performances. Advance ticket purchase is recommended for all performances.

Reserved Seating $12; General Admission $8 by phone with a credit card 717-848-8623 x1, or at DreamWrights 9-4:30 Monday-Friday, or online at www.dreamwrights.org and follow the link.

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