a few comments from our audience...
"Even
better than last year!"
"Amazing show"
"Oh my gosh, what a spectacular performance!!! Bravo!!! My daughter
and boyfriend loved it so much we are going to try and get tickets to
go see it a second time!! My daughter could not stop talking about the
play"
"Congrats on B & B ... It's a beautiful production"
"spectacular"
"I was blown away"
"The Beck Center is an awesome place to introduce children to the
arts as well as to enjoy as adults. Our Brownie troop saw "Beauty
and the Beast" last year and it was an incredible performance with
an incredible cast. Now my daughter is involved in the Youth Theater and
will be on that same stage later this month. It's an awesome asset to
the west side and I am so glad my sister-in-law encouraged me to get my
daughter involved there."
"We went to the show Sunday, and enjoyed it very much! What a great
production! Thanks for the holiday fun!"
"Saw it on Broadway...you guys are better"
"I did not have a chance to tell Dan, Tracee and others whom I know,
how much I enjoyed this production.
It is easy to get lost in "local" productions, where provincial
audiences often think they are seeing the best theater, so why go "downtown,"
or outside of the city. Obviously, Cleveland, our region, and our world
for that matter, offer excellent and important theatrical experiences.
However;
having seen a lot, and resisting the provincial view, I can honestly say
that these performances were so magnetic and alive, that I know they would
be a yardstick for others to emulate, regardless of where "Beauty
and the Beast" was performed."
"You guys were amazing ... thank you for this ... we will be back!"
"Congratulations on a GREAT show last night! I was with a group of
about 8 people who all really enjoyed the evening. Best Wishes for a successful
run - you're off to a great start."
"better than the touring production"
"We THOROUGHLY enjoyed the play. Some
of the performances were breathtaking. Literally. Thanks for a great,
moving and entertaining evening."
"As I told you at Beck Center, your production of B&B was amazing.
It was so special to watch it through my kids' eyes...they were mesmerized!"
"I can't believe you guys topped last year's"
Dan Folino as "The Beast" and Natalie Green as "Belle"
view
the company list and biographies, pictures, reviews and features of
the
Beck
Center '05 original production
Beck Center '07 encore production
Dan Folino as "The Beast"
Honors, Awards and Kudos ...
"The
'07, '06 and '05 productions of Beauty and the Beast are the #1, #2 &
#3 best selling shows in Beck Center's history"
Scott
Spence, Beck Center Artistic Director
"stand out" "record-making" "special" "truly
notable achievement"
Best of 2006 recap in The Free Times
The Box-office Bowl
Area Theaters Rack Up More Profits Than Profundities
by James Damico
"Last year, amid myriad disappointing and mildly interesting stagings,
just Beck's Urinetown and Beauty qualified as anything
particularly special."
"Likewise,
at midpoint of 2006-'07, only a pair of pure entertainments - (Great Lakes
Theatre Festival's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the) Forum
and the Beauty revival - stand out as truly notable achievements."
view
complete article
"memorable"
Best of 2006 recap in The Cleveland Scene
Cleanup in Aisle '06
Saluting a fabulous and miserable year on the stage
by Christine Howey
view
complete article
Winner
of 8 'Times Newspaper Tribute Awards - Outstanding Theatre 06'
Roy Berko, Times Theatre Critic
Production - The Company
Direction - Fred Sternfeld
Choreography - Martin Cespedes
Music Direction - Larry Goodpaster
Set Design - Ben Needham
Costume Design - Aimee Kluiber
Acting - Natalie Green
Acting - Dan Folino
Dan Folino
"commanded the stage while burnishing his songs with his rich baritone
voice"
Cleveland Scene - Best of Cleveland 2007
"Best
Blue Collar Actor - Dan Folino"
"He was fully clothed and frontally naked. He was a human and an
animal. He was himself and his creepy alter ego. And Dan Folino accomplished
all these theatrical tasks with his usual professional aplomb. As the
hardest-working actor and singer in Cleveland theater, Folino takes on
iconic roles and turns them into small wonderments. As the Beast in Beauty
and the Beast, he commanded the stage while burnishing his
songs with his rich baritone voice..."
view
complete article
Natalie Green as "Belle"
by Christine Howey
“splendid”
“a spectacular stage experience”
“should be required viewing for two groups of people: children under the age of 12, and everyone else. While you probably won't be convicted of child abuse if you don't take a young person to see this production, the trial could be long and nasty”
“solidly professional”
“performers
in the major roles who excel in virtually every aspect”
“an admirably well-conceived show performed to near perfection.
Hard to ask for more on a holiday evening”
view
the complete Cleveland Scene review
Josh R. Noble as "Gaston," and Kathleen Culler, Sara Carnes & Katie Carr as "Silly Girls"
by Tony Brown
"polished"
"directed with discipline and detail"
"largely a replication of last season’s acclaimed production"
view the complete Plain Dealer review
Bob Abelman as "Maurice"
Excerpts
from the Cool Cleveland review ...
by Marcus Bales
“10 + 666 = gr8 fun 4 u”
“expertly constructed”
“marvelously well-produced”
“sinuous staging”
“theater magic”
“Everyone
is obviously having a great time on stage, and the audience is wholly
in their hands”
“huge fun"
"a memorable evening of laughter and song and a few tears”
“Oh, just go see it. You’ll be glad you did, even if you want
to think you’re a hard old ironist”
view
the complete Cool Cleveland Review
Tracee Patterson as "Mrs. Potts" and Miles Sternfeld as "Chip"
Cast
of Characters
(in
order of appearance)
Young Prince –
Adam Shimko
Old Woman / Enchantress - Kathleen Culler
Beast - Dan Folino
Belle - Natalie Green
Aristocratic
Lady - Annie Meyer-Steinheiser
Fish
Man – David Malinowski
Egg Man - W.
Lee Domenick
Sausage
Curl Girl – Lauren Skirbunt
Baker
- John A. Doyle
Lady
w/ Cane – Susan Wagner
Lady w/ Baby - Julia Joyce Domenick
Candle
Man – Tim Anderson
Hat Seller – Adam Kapis
Milkmaid - Erin R. diLauro
Shepherder - Brandon
Fleming
Bookseller - Kris Hebble
Other
Townspeople - Melissa Smith-Beudert, Susan Kobylinski,
Assad Khaishgi, Mark W. Goins, Adam Shimko, Lindsay
Kostelnik,
Megan DePetro, Rachel Gerard, Caroline Hatch, Megan Green,
AJ Abelman, Jose Ayala III, Devon Shriver, Kate Buddenhagen & Michael
A. Green
Lefou
- Zac Hudak
Gaston - Josh
R. Noble
Silly Girls - Kathleen Culler, Katie Carr,
Sara Carnes
Maurice
- Bob Abelman
Wolves - David Malinowski, Jose Ayala III,
Brandon Fleming,
Michael Green, John A. Doyle
Cogsworth
- Douglas Collier
Lumiere - Larry
Nehring*
Babette
- Kristin Netzband
Mrs.
Potts - Tracee
Patterson*
Chip - Miles Sternfeld
Madame de la Grande Bouche - Beth
O. Cubbison
Fork
- Zac Hudak
Spoon
- Sara Carnes
Knife - Brandon Fleming
Corkscrew - Tim Anderson
Cake server - John A. Doyle
Dinner bell - Adam Kapis, Assad Khaishgi
Wooden spoon - Michael
A. Green
Whisk - Susan Wagner
Broom - Julia Joyce Domenick
Measuring spoons - Lauren Skirbunt
Vase of Flowers - AJ Abelman
Plates - Rachel
Gerard,
Megan DePetro,
Kate Buddenhagen,
Erin R. diLauro & Megan Green
Doormat – Jose Ayala III
Salt - Devon Shriver
Pepper - David Malinowski
Napkins - Melissa
Smith-Beudert, Susan Kobylinski, Katie Carr,
Kathleen Culler & Lindsay
Kostelnik
Monsieur
D'Arque - Adam Kapis
*member - Actors Equity Association
Understudies
Belle - Kathleen Culler
Silly Girls - Erin R. diLauro
The Orchestra
Conductor
– Larry Goodpaster
Keyboards
– Larry Goodpaster, Heidi Herczeg
Flute
– Melanie Beck, Gretchen Bailey
Woodwinds
– Karen Langenwalter, David Nelson
Trumpets
– Don T. Day, Matt Wirfel
Trombone
– Kevin Wenner
French
Horn
– Meredith Evans
Violin
– Marianne Stott
String
Bass
– Kevin Aylward, Bruce Amsel
Percussion
– Don Safranek
view
complete biographies of the '06 cast and production staff
Zac Hudac as "Lefou" and Josh R. Noble as "Gaston"
with Lauren Skirbunt, David Malinowski and Adam Shimko as "Villagers"
Production
Staff
Artistic Director - Scott Spence
Director - Fred Sternfeld
Musical Staging & Choreography - Martín
Céspedes
Musical Director - Larry Goodpaster
Scenic Designer - Ben
Needham
Costume Designers - Aimee Kluiber &
Theatrix Costume House, Toronto
Lighting Designer - Luke Kritzeck
Sound Designer - Richard
Ingraham
Technical Director - Joe Carmola
Magic & Special Effects Designer -
Vincent
Polowy
Associate Magic & Special Effects Designer
- Dan Folino
Wig & Hair Designer - Aimee Kluiber
Special Beast Make-up Designer & Creator
- Scott Gamble
Beast
Wig Construction - Laurel Held-Posey
Special Effects Consultant - Woodie Anderson
Technical Assistants - Clint Felker, Chris
Young
Properties - Sharon Epstein
Scenic Artist - Don McBride
Stage Manager - Tod Huffman
Assistant Stage Managers - Deanna Caudill,
Steven Shack
Wardrobe - Sarah Wozniak
Rehearsal Assistants - Darcy Lindner, Josh
Morgan, Rosemary Masterson,
Sharon Epstein
Light Board Operator - Ray Gould, Brian
Schmiedlin
Prop Running Crew / Dresser - Kate George
Follow Spot Operators - Steven Shack, Mary
Kahelin, Mark Schmiedlin,
Anna Verbiak
Floor Crew - Mark Sprouse, Liz Metelsky,
Kristin Benner, Tracie R. Shockley, Raymond Wellington
Production Intern - Hayley Tupaz
Tracee Patterson as "Mrs. Potts," Larry Nehring as "Lumiere," Douglas Collier as "Cogsworth," Dan Folino as "The Beast" and Natalie Green as "Belle"
by Keith A. Joseph
“a return engagement of last year's nearly terrific staging”
“it's an answered prayer”
“glorious professionalism”
“pure
bliss”
“On Broadway and on tour, Beauty and the Beast played with the synchronized
sophistication of an ice show and spectacle that Disney usually reserves
for its Caribbean cruises. At Beck, it's played with a lot less budget,
but a lot more humanity”
“this production might be just the live lure to entice the kiddies
away from their video games”
view
complete Free Times review
Larry Nehring as "Lumiere"
by Roy Berko, member, American Theatre Critics Association
"a beaut"
"Fred Sternfeld has proven that he is a master at directing mass crowd musicals and scripts of high quality (e.g., ‘MAN OF LAMANCHA’ and ‘RAGTIME’). He has a knack for involving the entire cast, working with the leads to fine-tune the show, and getting audiences emotionally involved."
”a
delightful production”
“see it!”
view
complete Times Newspaper review
by Justine Cooper
“magical” “amazing’
"there is nothing like live theater. When done well, it transforms you onto the stage and into the story. It evokes emotion. It makes your heart beat faster and makes you forget work, home and obligations. The cast at the Beck did all of the above. When my five year old daughter leaned over with tears in her eyes after the Beast took Belle's father, I have to admit that I, too, had tears. And I am sure I laughed at least as much as the kids, but glancing over and watching their mouths hang open and hearing their belly laughs were priceless.”
“It
is impossible to single out one favorite performer - every cast member
performed superbly and with humor”
view
complete Lakewood Observer review
Natalie Green as "Belle" and Bob Abelman as "Maurice"
Up Close and Personal With the Beast
Zen and The Art of Dancing Dinnerware
Seamless Shifts Add to Show’s Quality
Making Memories for Star-Struck Little Girls
Larry Nehring as "Lumiere" and Douglas Collier as "Cogsworth"
view
the company list and biographies, pictures, reviews and features of the
Beck
Center '05 original production
Beck Center '07 encore production
Kristin Netzband as "Babette" and Bob Abelman as "Maurice"
by Shane Gleason
“told masterfully”
“revives childhood memories”
“Last year I wrote that "A Christmas Story" on stage was better than the movie, and I will add this production to that illustrious list”
“…the Beck Center has, once again, impressed me immensely”
Beth O. Cubbison as "Madame de la Grande Bouche"
ABOUT THE PLAY: Disney's first musical brings to life the beloved "tale as old as time" with a burst of theatrical magic. Already a legend as the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, "Beauty and the Beast" was nominated for nine 1994 Tony® Awards including Best Musical. For a synopsis of the story go to this link: http://disney.go.com/disneytheatrical/beautyandthebeast/story.html