Photo Flash: Newtown Arts Company Presents Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Newtown Arts Company is bringing "Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST," a musical based on the beloved animated film, to the stage of the historic Newtown Theatre August 3 through 9. Check out photos of the cast below!

This "tale as old as time" delighted Broadway audiences for over 13 years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With all the wonderful songs by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, including "Be Our Guest" and "Human Again," along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice, this production is directed by husband-and-wife team Morgaine Ford-Workman and Wren Workman of Morrisville, with music direction by Susan den Outer of Newtown.

The classic story tells of Belle (Jordan Virgil of East Windsor, N.J.), a young woman who yearns for more than her provincial town offers and spurns the advances of arrogant Gaston (Tristan Takacs of Hamilton, N.J.), who is encouraged by his sidekick LeFou (Connor McDowell of Levittown). When Belle's father, eccentric inventor Maurice (Brent Monahan of Yardley), stumbles into the castle of the Beast (Patrick O'Leary of Southampton), who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress, Belle follows and takes his place as the Beast's captive.

If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into 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.

Members of the Beast's household, turned into enchanted objects, include Lumiere (Michael Gearty), Cogworth (Tim Costello), Mrs. Potts (Meg Waldowski), Chip (Agastya Sapru), Babette (Caroline Portner) and Madame De La Grande Bouche (Sarai Cole).

Rounding out the cast are the Prince (Dan Tomowicz), Silly Girls (Heather Corson, Olivia Schanbacher and Natalie Taptykoff), Monsieur D'Arque (Keith Grose), and ensemble (Christina Breeman, Tyler Brown, Sean Costello, Brianna Lynn Dearing, Emily DeMarinis, Stephanie DePasquale, Kitty Farling, Alexys Pulsinelli, Bobby Reiser, Emily Solomon, and Katrina Tammaro).

The production staff includes producers Marcia Wittmann and Eric Raymond, costume designer Ann Cole, stage managers Lauren Donahue and Megan Franco, and technical directors Seth Epstein and Charlie Santella.

Performances of "Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" are one week only, August 3 through 9 (no show Monday, August 7), at Newtown Theatre, 120 North State Street, Newtown, PA 18940: Thursday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets for Reserved Front Orchestra and Front Row Balcony seats are $25; Reserved Rear Orchestra and Balcony seats are $22. Extended legroom seating is available in Row I for an additional accommodation fee. Groups of 10 or more qualify for a $2 discount.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 800-838-3006, online at www.newtownartscompany.com, or at the box office beginning one hour before curtain on performance dates. For information call 215-860-7058 or email tickets@newtownartscompany.com.

Newtown Arts Company, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, has awarded almost $140,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing higher education in the arts since it was formed in 1983.

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Photos courtesy of Joe McKernan

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