Last updated August 28, 2010   

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton

Directed by Barbara Osterholm

Performances: Jan. 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31(m), Feb. 4, 5, 6, 7(m), 10*, 11, 12, 13, 2010

* Wednesday, Feb. 10 is a special performance in conjunction with the Albany Kiwanis.

PLEASE NOTE: Both ticket outlets have sold out of tickets for all performances of this production. A small number of tickets for each performance are available at the theater box office starting at 7:15, on a first-come, first-served basis to those waiting in line. If reserved seats are unclaimed within 15 minutes of curtain time, they are sold just before the show begins. We cannot take ticket reservations over the theater telephone, nor can the box office sell you tickets for another performance date.

On a cold winter night, an old beggar woman comes upon a glorious castle belonging to a young prince, seeking lodging. When the uncaring prince orders her away, the beggar woman reveals herself as an enchantress and transforms the prince into a hideous beast. The only way to break the spell, she says, is to learn to love another by the time the last petal falls from an enchanted rose.

Years later, the lovely young Belle finds her way to the town, yearning for a world of adventure and beauty ...

Based on the Academy-Award winning animated feature, the stage musical version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast transports audiences to a lovely French town with Belle, the Beast, and the rest of the beloved movie characters. Family theater at its best.

Cast of characters

• Narrator - Tim Kelley, Sr.
• Belle - Kayla Wilkens
• Beast - Ryan Emry
• Gaston - Dan Rayfield
• Cogsworth - Tim Kelley, II
• Lumiere - John Kish
• Mrs. Potts - Stephanie Long
• Wardrobe - Tabitha Seeley
• LeFou - William Whitley
• Chip - Hallie Coleman
• Maurice - Douglas Hambley
• Babette - Monica Rodrigues
• D'Arque - Zachary Mink
• Silly Girls - Victoria Hamilton, Melissa Simpson, Emery Atwood

Ensemble (fantastical characters and townspeople):

• John Beck
• Kevin Christensen
• Kaylie Chytraus
• Matthew Emry
• Bernadette Feyerherm
• Bonnie Griffin
• Mathew Huerta-Enochian
• Jo Judge
• Shauna Kiefiuk
• Karen Kumley
• Danelle LeGault
• Kim Mainord
• Robin Maldonado
• Shannon McInally
• Aimee Parker
• Clare Rhine
• Cole Smith

Director

Barbara Osterholm, one of ACT's veteran directors, returns to our stage for the first time since 2007. Involved with ACT since the 1970s, Barbara has directed such productions as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Godspell, Pippin, The Sound of Music and On Golden Pond. A retired school librarian, she lives in Albany.

Web links

• Beauty and the Beast (wikipedia)