Be Belle's Backstage Guest at Lehi Arts Council's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!

Little princes and princesses will have the opportunity to meet Belle an hour before curtain on select nights of Lehi Arts Council's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (running Aug 12-20 at 7 PM; tickets at www.showtix4u.com).

To take pictures and speak with Belle (Erica Glenn), young royalty should arrive between 6 and 6:30 PM on any of the following dates: Fri, Aug 12; Sat, Aug 13; Mon, Aug 15; Fri, Aug 19; or Sat, Aug 20. Tickets to the show are $10/students and $12/adults, and there is no additional charge for the meet-and-greet. Before a special matinee on Aug 20 featuring the lead understudies (Rachael Thompson, Belle; Benjamin Jones, Beast), there will also be a 12:30 PM Tea with Belle ($15; includes a ticket to the understudy matinee at 2 PM).

Lehi Arts Council exists to provide quality arts experiences to both the novice and the experienced artist and has been serving the community for over a decade-and-a-half. In addition to its primary show season, the organization runs several youth camps culminating in performances of full-length musicals.

This year's big summer production of Beauty and the Beast features David Peterson Henry as the Beast, Erica Glenn as Belle, Kyle Fotheringham as Gaston, Brandtley Henderson as Maurice, Julie Jensen Hill as Mrs. Potts, Luke Elison as Chip, Chris Jones as Lumiere, Jonathan Biesinger as Cogsworth, Stephen Miner as Lefou, Heather Robins Christensen as Babette, and Mikayla Batschi as Madame De La Grande Bouche. The cast features over 50 performers from across Utah and Salt Lake Counties. Kurt Elison directs with Cali Wilkes assistant-directing and Jeanna Cunningham Bronson as choreographer.

David Peterson Henry (Beast) was most recently seen in productions of Tarzan, The Addams Family, and Bonnie and Clyde. "I've never seen a show come together so fast," he says. "The cast is amazing."

Mikayla Batschi (Madame) agrees. "I've never been in a show that is so well-cast."

Erica Glenn (Belle) has played Mary in Mary Poppins (Covey Center), Maria in Sound of Music (Franklin Performing Arts Company), and Belle in a previous production of Beauty and the Beast (among other roles). "I'm thrilled share the stage with these people," she says. "Everyone has thought carefully about their character arcs, and the relationships feel authentic. Since I last played Belle, my understanding of her has deepened and matured. I'm excited to share that 'change in me' with our audience and pull them into the magic of this classic story. I'm going to be cheesy and invite you to 'be our guest!' I promise you won't be sorry!"

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