BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Enchants Theatre By The Sea This Summer

The summer season continues at Bill Hanney's Theatre By The Sea (TBTS) with one of the most popular family musicals of all time, a brand new production of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST playing for the first time at the historic barn theatre. The beloved tale will enchant audiences of all ages starting Wednesday, July 19 and ending Saturday, August 12.

"When I announced the 2017 Season, I stressed that Disney's Beauty and the Beast was a show I have wanted to produce since reopening the theatre back in 2007," said Bill Hanney, TBTS owner and producer. "We were finally given permission to do the show this year, and we are working very hard to create a magical show to delight audiences and make more memories to last a lifetime."

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was nominated for nine 1994 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and won London's Olivier Award for Best Musical. This eye-popping spectacle, based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, will be filled with technical wizardry, special effects and illusions, as well as dazzling production numbers.

The score, by Alan Menken, Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman, features such memorable songs as "Be Our Guest," "Belle," and "Beauty and the Beast." Original screenplay author, Linda Woolverton, wrote the book for Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which opened at the Palace Theatre April 18, 1994, and now played 5,461 performances before closing on July 29, 2007. It is the tenth longest running show in Broadway history.

The cast of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be led by Lauren Weinberg as Belle and Philip Bryan as the Beast. The cast will also feature Stacey Greer (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Jeffrey Johnson II (Cogsworth), Josh Houghton (Lumiere), Wayne Hu (Gaston), Melissa Jones (Babette), Ellen Peterson (Mrs. Potts), Josh Walker (Lefou), Thom Warren (Maurice), and Reid Taylor (Chip).

The ensemble of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST includes Justin Campbell, Marie Eifee, Julia Feeley (Silly Girl), Austin Iovanna, Matthew Pashley Roland, Michael Perrie, Jr. (Monsieur D'arque), Emma Pittman, Tony Pracek, Michael Pugliese, Isaac Reynolds, Rodney Souza, Jr., Avery Stump, Sarah Warrick (Silly Girl), and Janelle Yull (Silly Girl).

The creative team for Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST includes Bob Richard (Director), Diane Laurenson (Choreographer), Jesse Warkentin (Music Direction), Kyle Dixon (Scenic Design), Miguel Angel Huidor (Original Costume Design), Jose Santiago (Lighting Design), Danny Erdberg (Sound Design), Michael Dates (Wig & Hair Design), James O. Hansen (Production Stage Manager), and Nicole Wiegert (Assistant Stage Manager). Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is produced for Theatre By The Sea by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director), and Thom Warren (Associate Producer).

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST runs July 19 thru August 12. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays. Performance times vary week to week, check the TBTS website for exact dates and show times. Tickets are $46 - $72. Tickets are available to purchase by phone (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879.

Theatre By The Sea continues its popular Friday morning Children's Festival in 2017. Shows include Jack and the Beanstalk (July 7), Li Liu (July 14), Seussical Jr. (July 28), Rapunzel (August 4), and Keith Michael Johnson's Bubbleology (August 11). All shows at 10am & 12 Noon and all tickets are $12.

Theatre By The Sea has had many incarnations since opening in 1933. Tommy Brent saved the theater from demolition in 1967 and ran it successfully until FourQuest Entertainment took over the lease in 1988. Following extensive renovations that fall and winter, FourQuest reopened the theater in the spring of 1989 and continued producing Summer Theater at the seaside playhouse until the fall of 2003. Bill Hanney purchased the property in 2007 and successfully mounted a production of 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,' just six weeks later, reopening the historic theatre on August 8, 2007. Since then, Theatre By The Sea has continued to annually produce a successful four-musical subscription season as well as a children's theatre festival, and a summer theatre camp program.

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