Renaissance Players premiere Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Oct. 8-24
Release Date: 9/15/2004. Expired: 10/24/2004
“It’s a tale as old as time” but it’s being heard for the first time in a community production when the Renaissance Players present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on the stage of The Renaissance Center in Dickson Oct. 8-24.
The smash Broadway musical based on the 1991 animated film is being released for community productions for the first time ever starting in October and the Renaissance Players production is expected to be one of, if not the first in the country.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will be presented at 7 p.m. Oct. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 2 p.m. Oct. 10, 17 and 24. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children under 13.
The musical opened in New York in April 1994 and has already become the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history, with more than 4,000 shows for more than 5.7 million people. It has had record-breaking runs in New York, London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney and Tokyo.
Nominated for nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, the play is based on the 1991 Disney movie, which became the first animated feature film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Written by Linda Woolverton with music by Alan Menken and memorable songs by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tells a heart-warming “tale as old as time” about love conquering all.
A handsome prince with a cold heart is turned into a grotesque beast by a magic spell that also transforms the staff of his castle into dancing and singing objects such as a teapot, cup, clock, candelabra and more. The only chance to break the spell is for someone to learn to love the Beast.
In a nearby village, the lovely Belle is busy rebuffing the advances of the egotistical Gaston while taking care of her elderly father, Maurice. When Maurice gets lost in the woods and stumbles upon the castle, he is taken prisoner by the reclusive Beast. After Belle learns what has happened to her father, she offers to exchange herself for her father’s freedom.
A great and fearless hunter, Gaston tries to rescue Belle and an epic battle ensues with the Beast victorious and Belle fears that she is to be a prisoner for the rest of her life. But with prodding from the curious castle staff, Belle opens her heart to the Beast and the spell is broken for a glorious Disney happy ending.
Amy Scott, managing director of the Renaissance Players, and Tracy Nichols are co-directing the show with Ned and Kay Mann as musical directors, leading the Renaissance Players Orchestra.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to be one of the first community theatre companies in the world to present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” said Scott. “Following the tremendous success of The Wizard of Oz is a daunting task, but I believe this is just the show to do it. It’s a traditional love story with nontraditional characters and some of the most memorable songs to come out of Broadway in decades.
“More than 85 people auditioned for the 45-member cast. The production includes some of the most intricate costuming of any Renaissance Players show to date and, as always, our scenic design and carpentry shop is creating a phenomenal set for The Renaissance Center stage,” Scott said.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast kicks off the 2004-05 Renaissance Players season and marks the return of Sunday matinees.
“We tried Saturday matinees for the last two seasons but our patrons told us they prefer afternoon shows on Sundays,” Scott said. “It’s also easier on the cast and crew of a show this size to not have two shows in the same day.”
The Renaissance Players will follow Disney’s Beauty and the Beast with A Christmas Carol in December, Jesus Christ Superstar in March, Faith County in May and Fiddler on the Roof in July.
For more information on the Renaissance Players production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, contact Scott at (615)740-5551 or . To purchase tickets call 740-5570.
The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.
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