American Musical Theatre of San Jose Presents 'Beauty'

Experience the magic when American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast, perfect entertainment for the entire family. The enchantment begins on May 13 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts where the show runs through May 25. The production is sponsored by Comerica Bank. Single tickets are now on sale. 

Adapted from beloved Academy Award®-winning animated film, Disney's Beauty and the Beast is perfect entertainment for the entire family. The heart-warming musical with a book by Linda Woolverton tells the classic tale of Belle, an intelligent beauty who is imprisoned in a forbidding castle, where she forms an unlikely friendship with her captor, a hideous beast. The stage show features all the enchanted characters from the popular film including Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip and Cogsworth. The unforgettable score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice includes the show-stopping "Be Our Guest," the rousing "Gaston" and the romantic "Beauty and the Beast," the Academy Award®-winning Best Song plus additional songs not heard in the film. This wonderful stage adaptation was Disney's Theatricals first show on Broadway where it ran for more than 13 years.

Nikki Renée Daniels makes her AMTSJ debut as Belle. Daniels has appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables (Fantine u/s), Nine, Aida (Aida u/s) and Little Shop of Horrors. She appeared as Clara in the New York City Opera production of Porgy and Bess. Brad Little, The Beast, has played the title role in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. He also appeared on the Great White Way in Cyrano the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik) and the Lincoln Center revival of Anything Goes (Billy, u/s). Edward Staudenmayer, Gaston, made his AMTSJ debut as Bruce Granit in On the 20th Century. He has performed a multitude of roles in New York's Forbidden Broadway and in the national tours of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) and The Scarlet Pimpernel (Fairleigh). Ron Wisniski, Lumiere, has been seen in the national tours of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere) and Annie (FDR). Jeanne Lehman, Mrs. Potts, has appeared on Broadway in The Sound of Music and Irene and in the L.A. Company of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Jeff Skowron, Lefou, has appeared on Broadway in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Disney's The Lion King, and High Society. Bay Area favorite Michael Ray Wisely, Cogsworth, has appeared in AMTSJ's On the 20th Century (Oliver) and West Side Story (Doc), and in Berkeley Rep's Heartbreak House. Stephen Pawley, Maurice, has appeared in AMTSJ's Guys and Dolls, Gypsy and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Marsha Mercant, Madame de la Grand Bouche, was seen in the national tours of Cats (Jennyanydots) and Les Miserables (Madame Thenardier u/s). Lindsey Bracco, Babette, was seen in AMTSJ's Guys and Dolls. Alternating in the role of Chip are Will Haubl of Campbell and Tony Sinclair of Woodside.

The ensemble includes Kikau Alvaro, Isaac Benelli, Joven Calloway, Renee DeWeese, Joshua Ekblom, Naomi Hubert, James Monroe Iglehart, Courtney Iventosch, Ashley Little, Lauren Masiello, Darya Maximovich, Nick Nakashima, Keith Parks, Rizza Quinio, Melissa Reinard, Peyton Royal, Michael Susko and Kari Yancy.

The production is directed by Glenn Casale who helmed the 1999 Tony Award®-nominated and Emmy Award®-winning Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby and its tour which played at AMTSJ in 2004. His production of Camelot starring Michael York played at AMTSJ in 2007. He recently staged a new production of Dragapella, nominated for Drama Desk® and Lucille Lortel® Awards. For L.A.'s Reprise! Series, he directed The Threepenny Opera with Theodore Bikel, Fiorello! with Tony Danza, and Anything Goes with Rachel York. His first LA production was Wrestlers with George Clooney and Mark Harmon. For television, he has directed The Wayans Brothers Show and The Faculty starring Meredith Baxter. The musical numbers are staged by John MacInnis whose varied choreography assignments include The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Olympic Medals Plaza at the 2002 Winter Olympics and Disney's Beauty and the Beast for North Shore Music Theatre. As a dancer he has appeared on Broadway in Curtains, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me, Kate and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Musical Director Craig Barna has conducted Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby on Broadway as well as national tours of Camelot with Michael York, Singin' in the Rain and Grease. His television musical assignments include the A&E Network's Emmy Award®-winning version of Peter Pan, The Today Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and the 1999 Tony Awards. 

The production features scenery designed by J. Branson and costume design by Tiia Torchia and Shawn Adrian DeCou provided by Music Theatre of Wichita with additional costumes designed by Miguel Angel Huidor. Additional credits include lighting designed by Pamela Gray, sound design by Hage van Dijk, hair and make-up design by Sharon Ridge. The production stage manager is Stephanie Schliemann. Casting was handled by Gayle Seay and Scott Wojcik of Rosen and Wojcik Casting.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast will play the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd. May 13-25. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Saturday evenings at 8pm, Sunday evening at 6:30pm, Saturday matinee at 2pm and Sunday matinee at 1pm.

Single tickets for Disney's Beauty and the Beast range in price from $14.75-$74.00. For tickets call 1.888.455.SHOW or purchase online at www.amtsj.org. Group Sales (10 or more) are available by calling 408.453.1523 or 408.453.1574 or by e-mail: groupsales@amtsj.org.

Now in its 73rd year, AMTSJ's 2007/2008 season concludes with the pop music phenomenon Disney's High School Musical (June 10-15). For ticket information call toll free 1.888.455.SHOW or visit the AMTSJ website at www.amtsj.org. 

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