CASA 0101 Theater Presents Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Next Month

A "tale as old as time" will be making its way to Boyle Heights, CA on the Main Stage at CASA 0101 Theater when a young woman named Belle, from a provincial town meets up with a Beast, who is actually a handsome young Prince under the magic spell of an Enchantress.

Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo, CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina López, Artistic Director, and TNH Productions, Rigo Tejeda, Artistic Director and Abel Alvarado, Associate Artistic Director, and Producers Felipe Agredano, Emmanuel Deleage, Edward Padilla, Executive Producer Conrado Terrazas and Sandra Figueroa Villa and El Centro Del Pueblo will present The Broadway Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast with Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton, Originally Directed by Robert Jess Roth and Originally Produced Disney Theatrical Productions. This production is directed by directed by Rigo Tejeda, musically directed by Caroline Benzon and choreographed Lia Metz.

The production will be presented on CASA 0101 Theater's Main Stage, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street directly across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Station), Boyle Heights, CA 90033. A Discounted Preview performance will be presented on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. The musical will be presented for a Six-Week Run from December 8, 2017 (Press Opening Night) - January 21, 2018 on Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 4:00 p.m.

Rigo Tejeda said, "Our production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast will be a visual and aural feast for the eyes and ears for theatergoers of all ages and backgrounds. Our extremely talented cast will bring musical holiday cheer to families throughout the Southland through their spirited singing and dancing with boundless joy."

Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo said: "Following the huge success of our presentation of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition, we are honored to bring you Disney's Beauty and the Beast, in partnership with CASA 0101 Theater, TNH Production and El Centro Del Pueblo. Our production consists of a multicultural cast, offering a great opportunity to bring out entire community together for family theatre at its best."

Disney's Beauty and the Beast follows Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and a Beast, who is actually a handsome young Prince who lives in a luxurious castle in France. When an Old Beggar Woman, who is actually an Enchantress, asks the Prince for shelter from the freezing cold, the Prince shuns the beggar for her repulsive appearance, at which time the Enchantress appears transforming the Prince into a Beast for his cold-hearted and selfish ways. The Enchantress casts a magic spell upon the Prince's entire castle, including his good-natured servants, who are transformed into household objects to reflect their different personalities. Ashamed of his new appearance, the Beast conceals himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world, and an enchanted rose, which will bloom until he turns 21 years of age. Time is running out. If the Beast can learn to love a woman and earn her love in return before the final petal falls off the rose, the curse will be broken and he will return to his original self as a Prince. But, if not, he will remain a Beast forever, and all the members of his household will be doomed as well for all eternity.

Beauty and the Beast (French: La Belle et la Bête) is a traditional fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve which was published in 1740 in La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins (The Young American and Marine Tales). The score of Disney's Broadway Musical, Beauty and the Beast includes iconic songs like: the Academy Award-winning song, "Beauty and the Beast," and the Academy Award-nominated songs, "Be Our Guest" and "Belle." The musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway on April 18, 1994 starring Susan Egan as Belle and Terrence Mann as The Beast.

Production sponsors of Disney's Beauty and the Beast include: The office of Councilmember Gilbert A. Cedillo, City of Los Angeles, 1st District and El Centro Del Pueblo.

CASA 0101 Theater's sponsors include: The California Endowment, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Herb Alpert Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and The Parsons Foundation.

Tickets for the Discounted Preview on December 7th are $15 each. Tickets during the Six-Week run are $35 per person for General Admission; $30 per person for Students and Seniors; and $25 per person for Boyle Heights residents with ID and Children 10 and Under. Special Discounts are available for Groups as well; please call the Box Office to inquire. This show is recommended for families. Advance reservations are highly encouraged.

Dinner and Theater Packages are available as well at CASA Fina Restaurant and Cantina, located at 1842 E. First Street, Boyle Heights, CA 90033, just a few block away from CASA 0101 Theater. Premium Dinners are an additional $25 to your ticket price; Regular Dinners are an additional $15 to your ticket price; and Deserts are an additional $5 to your ticket price. Please visit www.casa0101.org for menu options and choices.

Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Free Parking is also available on Fridays and Saturdays only at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street; the lot is closed on Sundays. Metro Gold Line train stations are located on First Street in Boyle Heights at both Soto Street, and at Boyle Street (Mariachi Plaza), within a short walking distance to the theater. For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org. Group Discounts are available by calling the Box Office. To view rehearsal footage of the production, please visit: https://youtu.be/el36Uc8pF4E
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Under the direction of Rigo Tejeda, Andrea Somera (Belle) and Omar Mata (Beast) lead a cast of 25. The Cast includes: As Belle, a smart, plucky young woman from a provincial town: Andrea Somera (of Buena Park) (Dec. 7, 8, 9 at 3:00 p.m. 9 at 8:00 p.m., 10, 16 at 3:00 p.m., 16 at 8:00 p.m., 17, 22, 23 at 3:00 p.m., 23 at 8:00 p.m., 29, 30 at 3:00 p.m., 30 at 8:00 p.m., Jan. 6 at 3:00 p.m., 12, 13 at 3:00 p.m., 13 at 8:00 p.m., 14, 19, 20 at 3:00 p.m., 20 at 8:00 p.m., 21 and Sarah Kennedy (Understudy for Belle) (of Long Beach) (Jan. 6, 7); As Young Man, a selfish prince and The Beast, monster of the castle who used to be a prince: Omar Mata (of Montebello); As LeFou, a dim-witted lackey to Gaston: Max Peters (of Sherman Oaks) (Dec. 7, 8, 9 at 3:00 p.m., 9 at 8:00 p.m., 10, 16 at 3:00 p.m., 16 at 8:00 p.m., 17, 22, 23 at 3:00 p.m., 23 at 8:00 p.m., 29, 30 at 3:00 p.m., 30 at 8:00 p.m., Jan. 5, 6 at 3:00 p.m., 6 at 8:00 p.m., 7, 13 at 3:00 p.m., 14, 19, 20 at 3:00 p.m., 20 at 8:00 p.m., 21 and Sebastian Gonzalez (Understudy for LeFou/Ensemble) (of Boyle Heights) (Jan. 12, 13 at 8:00 p.m.); As Gaston, a pompous and dim-witted "ladies man": Andreas Pantazis (of Pasadena); As Maurice, an inventor and Belle's father: Luis Marquez (of Hollywood); As Cogsworth, an English major-domo of the castle who is becoming a mantle clock: Jeremy Saje (of Encino) (Dec. 7, 8, 9 at 3:00 p.m., 9 at 8:00 p.m., 10, 16 at 3:00 p.m., 16 at 8:00 p.m., 17, 22, 23 at 3:00 p.m., 23 at 8:00 p.m., 29, 30 at 3:00 p.m., 30 at 8:00 p.m., Jan. 5, 6 at 3:00 p.m., 6 at 8:00 p.m., 7, 13 at 3:00 p.m., 14, 19, 20 at 3:00 p.m., 20 at 8:00 p.m., 21 and Henry Alex Kelly (Understudy for Cogsworth/Ensemble) (of Alhambra) (Jan. 12, 13 at 8:00 p.m.); As Lumiere, a French mâitre d' who is becoming a candelabra: Caleb Green (of Santa Ana); Babette, a maid who is becoming a feather duster: Rosa Navarrete (of El Sereno); As Madame de la Grande Bouche, an opera singer who is becoming a wardrobe: Allison Flanagan (of Los Feliz); As Chip, Mrs. Pott's son, who is becoming a teacup: Noah Dobson (of Cherry Valley) (Dec. 9 at 3:00 p.m., 10, 16 at 3:00 p.m., 22, 23 at 3:00 p.m., 30 at 3:00 p.m., Jan. 6 at 3:00 p.m., 6 at 8:00 p.m., 7, 12, 13 at 3:00 p.m., 19, 20 at 3:00 p.m., 20 at 8:00 p.m. and Sean Vargas (of Glendale) (Dec. 7, 8, 9 at 8:00 p.m., 16 at 8:00 p.m., 17, 23 at 8:00 p.m., 29 at 8:00 p.m., 30 at 8:00 p.m., Jan 5, 13 at 8:00 p.m., 14, 19, 21; As Mrs. Potts, a cook who is becoming a teapot: Jacquelin Schofield (of Sherman Oaks); As Old Beggar Woman, an Enchantress in disguise/Ensemble: Andrea Ramirez (of Inglewood); As Ensemble Members, playing Townspeople, including Aristocratic Lady played Allison Flanagan; Sausage Curl Girl played by Gabrielle Maldonado (of Lakewood); Baker, Fish Man, Wolf and Pepper Grinder played by Jesse Maldonado (of Los Angeles); Lady with Baby played by Judith Mercado (of Redondo Beach); Milkmaids played by Brisia Rivera (of Los Angeles) and Heather Forte (of Los Angeles); Shepherd Boy, Wolf and Salt Grinder played by Adrian Ochoa (of Bell Gardens); Bookseller played by Henry Alex Kelly; Silly Girls played by Judith Mercado, Michael Gallardo (of Anaheim) and Heather Forte (of Los Angeles); Gaston's Cronies played by Jesse Maldonado and Sebastian Gonzalez; Monsieur D'Arque played by Matthew Noah (of Lincoln Heights) and Angelina Rangel (of Pasadena).

The production team for Disney's Beauty and the Beast includes: Josefina López (of Silverlake) Founding Artistic Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Rigo Tejeda (of Whittier) Director of the Musical and Founding Artistic Director, TNH Productions; Abel Alvarado (of Silverlake) Associate Artistic Director, TNH Productions and Costume Designer; Emmanuel Deleague (of Silverlake) Show Producer and Executive Director, CASA 0101 Theater; Edward Padilla (of Boyle Heights) Show Producer, Casting Director and Board President, CASA 0101 Theater; Conrado Terrazas (of Echo Park) Show Executive Producer and Chief Financial Officer for TNH Productions; Felipe Agredano (of Boyle Heights) Show Producer and Government Relations Director for TNH Productions; Caroline Benzon (of Los Angeles) Music Director; Lia Metz (of Alhambra) Choreographer; Marco De Leon (of Los Angeles) Set Designer; Sohail j. Najafi (of Culver City) Lighting Designer and CASA 0101 Theater Technical Director; Vincent A. Sanchez (of Commerce) Sound Designer and Assistant Lighting Designer; Sheila Khalily (of Los Angeles) Projection Designer; Jerry A. Blackburn (of Winnetka) Production Stage Manager; Jules Bronola (of Los Angeles), Costume Assistant; Roxanne De Ment (of Los Angeles) Costume Assistant; Jermaine Alvarado (of Silver Lake) Costume Assistant; Gilbert Valenzuela (of Los Angeles) TNH Productions Ambassador; Miguel "Michael" Carachure (of Huntington Park) Stage Manager; J.P. Torres (of San Dimas) Stage Crew; Angelique Enos (of Los Angeles) Stage Crew; "Jorge" Ely Herrera (of Los Angeles) Social Media; Lupe Arrelanes (of Los Angeles) CASA 0101 Communication and Outreach Coordinator; Gabriela López de Dennis, Soap Studio Inc. (of Los Angeles), Key Artwork Design and Program; Ed Krieger (of La Crescena) Production Photographer, and Steve Moyer Public Relations (of Los Angeles), Press Representative.

Concurrently with the run of Josefina López's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the first Art Exhibition in the new Boyle Heights Museum co-founded by Josefina López and Dr. George J. Sanchez, a USC Professor of History and American Studies. The exhibit, curated by Dr. Sanchez, is entitled, "Aqui Estamos Y No Nos Vamos (We Are Here and We Won't Leave): Fighting Mexican Removal Since the 1930s." The Art Exhibit is in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery in the lobby of CASA 0101 Theater. The exhibit can be viewed Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Saturdays from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. All other times are by appointment only. To learn more please visit https://www.boyleheightsmuseum.org

About The Director:
Rigo Tejeda (Director of the musical and Artistic Director and Founder, TNH Productions) began his career in the theatrical arts over 20 years ago. Raised and trained as a musician, his endeavors as a pianist and accompanist developed his love for music early on. Along with this came his introduction to amateur theatre and acting. His directorial debut came soon after as Music Director of his local church community. Starring in various community theatre productions, Tejeda delved into directing with his first theatrical production, Esperar, in 1994. Soon after, his self-taught skills, schooling and inclination for direction, landed several projects, including American Icon at Disneyland Resort, Un Triste Amanecer and Cats en Español. Being recognized for his passion and talent he was then asked to develop and teach workshops and classes in acting, pantomime, musical theatre and theatre 101 at Telacu, a program for inner-city students aspiring in the theatrical arts and higher education. With his strong accolades as a business owner, theatrical director and founder of a theatre company, he has become a well-recognized and respected artist in his own right. He is on the forefront of the Latino Theatre Movement in Los Angeles. Rigo Tejeda was the director of CASA 0101 and TNH Productions 2013 presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights which received great critical acclaim, including a Critic's Choice in the Los Angeles Times and "Pick of the Week" in LA Weekly.

About CASA 0101 Theater:
CASA 0101, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded by Josefina López, author of "Real Women Have Curves," in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. From its humble beginnings in a former bridal shop, CASA 0101 has established itself as a leading arts venue for Los Angeles' East Side, currently offering year round theatrical productions and classes in dramatic writing and acting for youth and adults. CASA 0101 is dedicated to providing vital arts, cultural, and educations programs in theatre, digital filmmaking, art and dance - to Boyle Heights, thereby nurturing the future storytellers of Los Angeles. CASA 0101 is named such, as casa means house or home in Spanish. 0's and 1's are the binary language computers use to operate. CASA 0101 was founded at the dawn of the digital age, when digital cameras started appearing and moviemaking became accessible to more people. Early on Josefina López taught a few digital video classes. Though the organization subsequently focused its energies on theatre and not digital filmmaking, the name stuck. 0 and 1 can also mean nothing and everything, Yin and Yang, male and female, and many more dual opposites. Through storytelling and theatre and other art forms, CASA 0101 is committed to exploring the world and oneself, the good and the bad, the light and the darkness of our world to the point where there are no borders and "0" and "1" are one.

About TNH Productions:
The mission of TNH Productions (Teatro Nuevos Horizontes) is to produce musical live theater that tells the stories by and for underserved audiences. The company strives to hire individuals onstage and backstage that reflect the diversity of our country. The company's production of In the Heights in 2012 and 2013 enjoyed many sold out performances and excellent reviews in La Opiníon, named "Pick of the Week" by LA Weekly, "Critic's Choice" in the Los Angeles Times and was featured on ABC's American Latino TV. In The Heights is composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda's first show. His latest show, Hamilton, currently on Broadway, received 11 Tony Awards. In 2017, TNH Productions had two successful runs of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition, with most of the 67 performances sold out at CASA 0101 Theater and the Los Angeles Theater Center. Brooklyn & Boyle (September 2017) in its' review, "Bilingual Aladdin Electrifies DTLA" described the production as "...electrifying reprisal of a show...uniquely visionary take on Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition to deafening applause, unabashed laughter and screams of delight from children and grown-ups alike."

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