Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to Open 2016-17 at Theatre Memphis

Theatre Memphis is presenting the Disney family classic musical, Beauty and the Beast, September 2 - 25, 2016, on the Lohrey Stage.

This fun and family friendly musical, adapted from the original Disney film, brings to life the timeless story of a selfish and hot tempered prince who is turned into a hideous monster and must win the affection of a beautiful, young girl in order to regain his humanity. This musical includes the classic scores of "Be Our Guest", "If I Can't Love Her", "A Change in Me", the title song "Beauty and the Beast" and many more. The exuberant musical offers humor, romance, and excitement for all ages.

Director Amy Hanford says, "This is my favorite musical ... and then again I love all things Disney. The irony here is that I see this as a real story and that is how I am approaching it." With the fantastical love story being so prominent in the storyline, Hanford's realistic approach, she believes, will only make it more universal. "I really want the entire audience to have fun but walk away knowing what it is like to have a real change of heart and that love can win," Hanford proclaims. "This is a show for everybody with a message for everybody, children and adults. As is implied by the script, don't judge a book by its cover. A great message for today's world."

The cast features TM veterans like Charles K. Hodges (Beast), Jude Knight (Mrs. Potts), Kevar Maffitt (Cogsworth), Caiden Britt (Lumiere) and Phillip Himebook (Gaston), but making her much anticipated Theatre Memphis debut is Ashley McCormack (Belle) who has performed on almost every stage in the MidSouth. The remainder of the large cast is rounded out by the talents of a score of actors ranging from ages 7 to 87 featuring, relatively, Josie Todd (Chip) and Barry Fuller (Maurice). Other principals include Edna Dinwiddie (Madame la Grande Bouche), Nicole Hale (Babette), Charles McGowan (D'Arque), Tyler Vernon (Prince), Jason Eschhofen (La Fou), Jacquelyn Skoog, Courtney Tucker and Ellen Inghram (Silly Girls).

Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch has had Beauty and the Beast on the Theatre Memphis bucket list for almost eight years. "I knew this was the perfect show that Theatre Memphis could do with the designers and talent we have available to us as staff and volunteers. The "across-the-board" appeal this show has is a PERFECT fit for our season opener and Amy was the perfect fit to direct it. And we have the perfect Musical Director in Jeff Brewer and Choreographer in Travis Bradley. It's perfectly cast ... I don't want to jinx myself, but how can this show NOT be perfect?"

IF YOU GO:

Beauty and the Beast

MUSIC BY: Alan Menken

LYRICS BY: Howard Ashman and Tim Rice

BOOK BY: Linda Woolverton

DIRECTOR: Amy Hanford

MUSIC DIRECTOR: Jeff Brewer

CHOREOGRAPHER: Travis Bradley

VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis on the Lohrey Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117

RUN DATES: September 2 - September 25, 2016

TIMES OF SHOWS: Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays and Saturdays 9/10, 9/17 and 9/24

TICKETS: $30 adults, $15 students, $25 seniors 62 and above and military personnel

BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323

WEB: www.theatrememphis.org

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