PCPA Presents an Enchanted BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents a tale as old as time, Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It plays November 3 - December 23 in Santa Maria's Marian Theatre, then under the stars in the Solvang Festival Theater June 15 - July 2.

Be swept away into this enchanted musical where Belle feels trapped in a provincial town and a prince is trapped in the body of a hideous beast. If the beast can learn to love and be loved, the spell will be broken and he will be transformed to his former princely self. If not, he and his household will be doomed for all time. This classical musical love story is a magical tale that comes to life with unforgettable characters, astonishing sets and costumes, and a stunning score including, "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," "Human Again," and the Tony-winning title song, "Beauty and the Beast."

As Director Mark Booher said, "This story hopes for and believes things that I hope for and believe... that beauty is found within. That who you are inside is more important than your appearance. It's also a story that says redemption is possible, even when you've made a horrible mistake. I think this story is supposed to change us. To make us more likely to look at someone's heart before their hairdo, to see if a smile is a mask for malevolence, to see if a roar is a danger sign or a lonely cry. And, it reminds us that it's almost never too late to say 'I love you.'"

Beauty and the Beast cast includes Acting Intern Annali Fuchs as Belle, along with Resident Artists Matt Koenig as Beast, George Walker as Gaston, Peter S. Hadres* as Maurice, Michael Jenkinson* as Cogsworth, Andrew Philpot* as Lumiere, Erik Stein* as Baker/Msr. D'Arque, Kitty Balay* as Mrs. Potts, and Guest Artists Katie Wackowski and Bree Murphy as Babette, and Wardrobe respectively.

The creative team, under the direction of Mark Booher, includes Choreographer Michael Jenkinson, Associate Choreographer Katie Wackowski, Music Director Brad Carroll, Scenic Designer Jason Bolen, Costume Designer Judith A. Ryerson, Lighting Designer Elisabeth Weidner, Sound Engineer Andrew Mark Wilhelm, and Equity Production Stage Manager Ellen Beltramo.

The Disney animated feature film from which the play is based premiered in 1991 and won the Academy Award for Best Song and Best Original Score and made history for being the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture. The Broadway production opened in 1994 and ran for 13 years and 5,461 performances, closing in 2007 to make way for a production of The Little Mermaid. PCPA alumnus Jeff McCarthy played the Beast on Broadway from 1995 - 1997 and again in 2004. The Broadway production expanded upon the animated version with seven new songs. The new numbers with the help of Tim Rice were intended to bring out the sensitive side of the Beast and to underscore Belle's courage. The play was nominated for nine Tony Awards. In London, the play won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has been performed in more than 30 countries reaching over 35 million theatergoers.

While a U.S. touring production of Beauty and the Beast just concluded this past summer, Disney is nearing the release date of a live action version of the story in March of 2017 featuring Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Stanley Tucci in the newly created role of Cadenza.
Just the Facts - Santa Maria
What Beauty and the Beast
When November 3 - December 23
Where Marian Theatre
800 S. College Dr.
Santa Maria, CA - GPS: 870 S. Bradley
tickets $31.50 - $41.50
Box Office (805) 922-8313
Internet http://www.pcpa.org

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