Copeland's New Version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Opens at NCT 2/28

Debuting February 28 at Nashville Children's Theatre-where it will continue through March 18-is producing artistic director Scot Copeland's original adaptation of The Beauty and the  Beast (La Belle et la Bête), described as "an exquisitely theatrical adaptation of the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont.

When adapting the timeless tale, Copeland said he took time to study the original in order to discover the story's essence so that it might be the basis for the new work: "Particularly if you are adapting a fairy tale, something that has been around for a few centuries,  you've got to try to figure out why it's important," says Copeland. "I try to dig into that and do the only, absolutely true adaptation that has ever been done."

Directed by Copeland, the show features Marin Miller as Belle and Eric D. Pasto-Crosby as the Beast. Additional cast members include Chip Arnold, Peter Vann, Cori Anne Laemmel and Jamie Farmer.

According to NCT press spokesperson Steve Bianchi, "Inside an exotic, forbidding palace a mysterious beast awaits, imprisoned by his own selfishness. Meanwhile, in the palace garden a ruined merchant plucks a flower for his daughter and unwittingly binds her in servitude to the beast. As Belle's sacrifice saves her father, she discovers beauty in the heart of the beast, for only her kindness can save him and only her love can redeem him.

The play is recommended for families and children age seven and up. Set design is by Scott Boyd with lighting design by Scott Leathers, sound design by Dan Brewer and costume design by Patricia Taber. Originial music is composed by Paul Carrol Binkley.

The Beauty and the Beast opens with a Preview performance on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the preview performance are specially priced at $6/child and $12/adult. Additional public performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 3, March 10 and 11, and March 17 and 18.

NCT will offer a special access performance on Saturday, March 17 at 11 a.m. While NCT welcomes all kids and families to any performance, on that particular morning, they will welcome families who have children with special needs to enjoy this performance as a community. Tickets for this access performance are general admission, $12 per person.

Other special events scheduled include:

• Saturday,  March 3 is NCT's Opening Saturday event, during which NCT invites the audience to come to the theatre a little earlier than normal and enjoy free preshow entertainment and activities, which begin at 1 p.m.

• Saturday, March 10 is NCT's free After-words event, and the audience can stay after the performance for a Q-and-A session with the cast.

All performances are open to the public, and reservations are recommended. Individual ticket  prices are $12 per child (ages 2 to 17) or senior citizen, and $19 per adult. Group discounts are available.

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