Lambertville's Downtown Performing Arts Center Presents Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 4/26-27

Lambertville's Downtown Performing Arts Center presents one of Disney's most popular musicals for one weekend when Beauty and the Beasttakes the stage for 3 performances. Set for Saturday, April 26 at 3 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, April 27 at 3 pm, the musical will be performed at the Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theater located at the New Hope-Solebury High School, 180 West Bridge Street in New Hope, PA.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince under a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

The stage production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast is based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, and has been expanded into a full-length musical. It includes the same award-winning musical score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as several new songs, which did not appear in the film. The musical features dazzling production numbers and a full cast of young actors from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In the lead roles of Belle and the Beast are Rachel Mahar and Jason Schwartz. Doylestown, PA native Rachel Mahar, a senior at Central Bucks West, has been seen in numerous productions for the Downtown Performing Arts Center and Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre. Among Rachel's past roles are Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Jason Schwartz, from Richboro, PA, is a freshman at Council Rock South and will portray the Beast. Other area school districts represented in this production include Hunterdon Central, Hunterdon South, New Hope-Solebury, Hamilton High West, Pennsbury, Villa Joseph Marie, Germantown Academy and Holy Ghost Prep.

Supporting the cast is Ashley O'Connor of Flemington, NJ as Mrs. Potts, Lauren Silverstein of Richboro, PA as Chip, Zach Doimi of Flemington, NJ as Lumiere, Jeremy Barson of Newtown, PA as Cogsworth, Emily Cobb of Richboro, PA as Babette, Joey Maggio of Richboro, PA as Gaston, Gary Lumpkin of Doylestown, PA as LeFou and Alec Cenci of Hamilton, NJ as Maurice.

The Downtown Performing Arts Center production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast will be performed on Saturday, April 26 at 3 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, April 27 at 3 pm. Performances will take place at the Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theater at the New Hope-Solebury High School, 180 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and available for purchase prior to each show. For information, directions and more, visit www.downtownpac.com.

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