Beck Center for the Arts
Scott Spence, artistic director
presents
the '07 production of
December, 2007
"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
Dan Folino as "The Beast"
by Christine Howey
"memorable" "a superlative production"
by Christine Howey
"hasn't lost any of it's charm"
"the small fry stay glued to their seats"
"lively staging"
"bright choreography"
"can still bring a tear"
view complete review
Natalie Welch as "The Little Girl" and Natalie Green as "Belle"
Some
comments from our audience ...
I saw this Sunday's performance and I have to say that it was amazing!!!
Well done by all of you. This was my first theater experience and you
exceeded my expectations.
Great job on the preview! So goooood.
I loved the production the first two years and this year was even better.
How did you do that?
Is this a professional touring production? These actors can't possibly
be local.
Stunning! My children were mesmerized the entire time. I've never seen
that happen before.
I thought I was coming to a children's show and it was so much more. It
was hilarious and so moving!
I want to tell you how much we enjoyed the show. It was an amazing performance.
Honestly -- I thought it was unbelievable! The
sets, the costumes, the talent --- It was FANTASTIC. Thank
you so very much!!!! Have a great holiday season.
…went last Sunday—we took our niece. Our intention was to
go for her—after all, it’s a kid’s show right? I couldn’t
wait to stand for the final ovation. What a show—the voices, acting,
staging—everything was phenomenal.
It was fantastic!!!!! I would go back there for a show anytime. We loved it.
view
the '05 & '06 company lists and biographies, pictures,
reviews and features at these links ...
the Beck Center
'05 original production
the
Beck Center '06 encore production
Ron Cuirle as "The Bookseller" and Natalie Green as "Belle"
& the Townspeople
"wonderfully polished"
view complete article
Bernadette Hisey, John Riddle & the Townspeople
Cast of Characters
(in order of appearance)
Young Prince – John Riddle
Old Woman / Enchantress - Shaina Vencel
Beast - Dan Folino
Belle - Natalie Green
Aristocratic Lady - Bernadette Hisey
Fish Man – Jose Ayala, III
The Candle Man - Joe Fornadel
Egg Man - W. Lee Domenick
Sausage Curl Girl – Shaina Vencel
Baker - Bill DePetro
Lady w/ Cane – Frances Prusha
Lady w/ Baby - Lesley Dohrn
Hat Seller - John Riddle
Milkmaid - Erin R. diLauro
Shepherder - Brandon Fleming
Bookseller - Ron Cuirle
Other Townspeople - Assad Khaishgi, Dane Michael Urban, Devon Shriver,
Jacqueline Cummins, John Riddle, Justin Brenis,
Kate Buddenhagen, Kayla Deuland, Kelsey Smith, Megan DePetro, Natalie Welch,
Persis A. Sosiak, Rachel Gerard
Silly Girls - Rachel Fichter, Anna Register, Kelly Smith
Lefou - Zac Hudak
Gaston - Josh R. Noble
Maurice - Bob Abelman
Wolves - Dane Michael Urban, Jose Ayala III, Brandon Fleming,
John Riddle, Bill DePetro
Cogsworth - Douglas Collier
Lumiere - Larry Nehring*
Babette - Aubrey Kristen Fisher
Mrs. Potts - Tracee Patterson*
Chip - Miles Sternfeld
Madame de la Grande Bouche - Amy Christina Hall
Fork - John Riddle, Joe Fornadel
Spoon - Persis A. Sosiak
Knife - Brandon Fleming
Cake Server - Bill DePetro
Dinner Bell - Assad Khaishgi
Wooden Spoon - Dane Michael Urban
Whisk - Frances Prusha
Corkscrew - Ron Cuirle
Broom & Dustpan - Lesley Dohrn
Measuring Spoons - Bernadette Hisey
Vase of Flowers - Kelly Smith
Egg Timer - Jacqueline Cummins
Plates - Shaina Vencel, Kate Buddenhagen, Anna Register,
Erin R. diLauro, Rachel Fichter
Doormat – Jose Ayala III
Salt - Rachel Gerard
Pepper - John Riddle
Napkins - Megan DePetro, Devon Shriver,
Catherine Betts, Kelsey Smith, Kayla Dueland
Monsieur D'Arque - W. Lee Domenick
*member - Actors Equity Association
Understudies
Belle - Shaina Vencel
Mrs. Potts - Bernadette Hisey
Male Swing - Joe Fornadel
Zac Hudak as "Lefou" and Josh R. Noble as "Gaston"
by Marcus Bales
"a lot to love"
"so many fine performances"
"even stronger"
"crowd-pleasing"
view complete review
Josh
R. Noble as "Gaston" and Anna Register, Kelly Smith and Rachel
Fichter as "Silly Girls"
Jose Ayala, Persis Sosiak and Josh Cutting as "Townspeople"
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
Stage Manager / Properties -
Deanna Caudill
Scenic Artist - Don McBride
Assistant Stage Manager - Steven Shack
Dance Captain - Jose Ayala III
Light Board Operator - Ray Gould, Brian
Schmiedlin
Floor Crew - Raymond Wellington
Properties Run Crew - Kate George
Follow Spots - Mark Schmiedlin, Brian Schmiedlin,
Mary Kahelin, Anna Verbiak
Crew Swing - Darcy Lindner
VIEW
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COMPANY HERE
Bob Abelman as "Maurice"
"Best
of 2007" recap in The Free Times, 12/26/07
By
James Damico
"...holiday blockbusters, which according
to Free Times observers, continue to deliver their promised year-end
cheer & profits"
view
complete article
review excerpts from The Free Times, 12/19/07
by Jean Seitter Cummins
“Beloved”
“Broadway has come to the Beck Center in the shape of Disney's Beauty and the Beast”
“wonderful performances”
“The town scenes, for example, are spectacular and reminiscent in both scenery and staging of the years when the Metropolitan Opera used to come to town”
“the creative team of Fred Sternfeld, Larry Goodpaster and Martín Céspedes have made it a triumph”
“a sure crowd-pleaser”
“The young families were fully engaged throughout the nearly two-hour performance and rose to their feet unanimously at its end”
“Awesome
performances are turned in by all the principals”
view
complete preview
excerpts from a "Holiday Preview" in the Free Times, 11/21/07
by James Damico
"superlative cast"
"delighting fresh audiences"
"lushly colorful production and eye-popping special effects"
view
complete preview
excerpts from another Free Times preview,
11/28/07
by
Charles Cassady, Jr.
"all-star team ... put the show together"
view
complete preview
Aubrey Kristen-Fisher as "Babette" and Bob Abelman as "Maurice"
by Aaron Krause
"A triumphant final 'Beast'"
"splendid production"
"magical, jaw-dropping and breathtaking"
"talented, vivacious cast"
"directed with the right mix of humor, enchantment and sensitivity"
"tenderness prevails"
"you might start crying"
"If you take your child to see one show this holiday season, make it the Beck Center's 'Beauty'"
view complete review
Douglas Collier as "Cogsworth," Bob Abelman as "Maurice" and Larry Nehring as "Lumiere"
by Anastasia Pantsios, Associate Editor
"popular"
"spirited performances and powerful voices"
"perfect holiday fare"
view complete article
Amy
Christina Hall as "Madame de la Grande Bouche" and Natalie
Green as "Belle"
by Art Thomas
"captivates children and adults alike"
"significant show"
"complex demands ...meets all of them in spades"
"first-rate cast"
view complete review
Tracee Patterson as "Mrs. Potts" and Miles Sternfeld as "Chip"
more comments from our audience ...
What
a great evening!!!...The show was fabulous. All four of us enjoyed the
show, but it was great to watch it through my granddaughter's eyes. Thanks
for giving us a memory that will last a lifetime.
WOW! I simply wasn't prepared for the extraordinary show we saw tonight.
Absolutely a beautiful production in every respect. Please tell the cast
that we were blown away by the performance. Congratulations. You did a
brilliant job.
I LOVED the show!! So wonderful in every way...the performances, the special
effects, (especially that last one! how did you do that??) the spirited
cast...it was just great. I can see why it is such a huge success every
year.
The
thought of sitting in a theatre for that long was horrible, but I was
going to do it for the girls. The show started and I was as mesmerized
as they were. If this is what “theatre” is like, then I’m
definitely going to come to more shows, that was so cool.
We'll be back later in the month. My family wants to see it again.
Wow – I don’t know what else to say. Wow.
view
the '05 & '06 company lists and biographies, pictures,
reviews and features at these links ...
the Beck Center
'05 original production
the
Beck Center '06 encore production
This
year's production is presented in loving memory of
Natasha Rader
July 24, 2000 – June 24, 2007
Some of the '06 cast with Natasha
Last year, a little girl named Natasha Rader stole the hearts of the
Beauty and the Beast cast. She was one of the show’s
biggest fans having attended numerous performances.
Natasha suffered from a rare disease called Alagille Syndrome (AGS) which affects the liver, heart and other systems of the body. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disorder. Treatment for some patients includes life-saving organ transplants which Natasha received in August 2004. Once the cast learned of Natasha’s illness, an outpouring of support for her battle began. Several Beauty cast members went to Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital to perform for Natasha and the other patients.
Sadly, Natasha passed away this past summer. She is survived by her parents, Timothy Rader and Julie Metzger and younger brother, Joshua. Natasha’s father, Tim also suffers from the same genetic disease. He is still awaiting a liver transplant.
The
Beck Center would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Metzger/Rader
family and dedicate this performance in her memory.
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