Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Musical

Available for children ages 6 and up.

SYNOPSIS

Certain stories carry on from generation to generation and earn the designation "timeless" for good reason. Beauty and the Beast is one such story. Disney's Beauty and the Beast has been charming Broadway audiences for more than 10 years, and every year a whole new generation discovers the magic behind the castle walls. Brilliantly adapted from the Academy Award-winning animated film, this much-loved spectacle has thrilled more than 20 million people worldwide with show-stopping musical numbers, astonishing sets, lavish costumes and never-before-seen magic and special effects. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle, a young woman in a small, provincial town, meets the Beast, in reality a young prince whose lack of compassion has trapped him in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and to be loved, the spell will be broken and he will be transformed back to his former self. But time is running out, and if the Beast does not learn his lesson, he will be doomed for all eternity. Be our guest for a storybook theatrical experience your whole family will love!

Used with permission from https://www.broadway.com/shows/beauty-and-the-beast/

CAST

MEGAN STAPLETON: BELLE 

Megan Stapleton is regarded as “an artist of clarity, power, and much expressivity...” (Culture Map). Possessing a warm and agile voice that "shimmers like the moon" (The Boston Musical Intelligencer), Megan's versatility stretches from early music to Mozart, contemporary classical, and musical theater. Regarded for her comedic timing and “lyrical physicality” (BroadwayWorld.com), Megan has performed three leading roles with Houston’s G&S Society, and the Galveston Symphony Orchestra has welcomed Megan as their soloist on multiple occasions. Megan's professional career began in New England, where she sang with The Boston Early Music Festival, Boston Opera Collaborative, SoHIP, and Boston Metro Opera. She has recorded three new song cycles by Thomas Oboe Lee at WGBH, and has also premiered works by M.C. Warwick and Gregory Spears at Houston Grand Opera. Other credits include performances with Charlottesville Opera, GLOW Lyric Theatre, and BJU Symphony Orchestra. Megan’s versatility extends to contemporary commercial music (i.e. musical theater/pop/jazz), as well, crediting her with regular performances as the featured vocalist with jazz pianist Paul English.

ANDREW O'SHANICK: BEAST

Andrew grew up immersed in the arts and has dedicated the entirety of his life to pursuing any and every conceivable artistic opportunity within his reach.

After earning his Master’s Degree in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory, Andrew moved to New York City to pursue his newly minted dream of becoming a theater actor. He quickly realized he knew exactly nothing about acting and enrolled in the Matthew Corozine Studio where he would study with Matt for the next 4 years, finding his NYC homebase and building his foundation in a Meisner-based technique. Since then, Andrew has studied many wonderful techniques with many beloved teachers, including: Chekhov workshops with John McManus, On Camera Technique with the Matt Newton Studio, and ongoing class with the inimitable Lesly Kahn & Co through the magic of Zoom.

TONY MOWATT: LUMIERE 

Tony Mowatt is an outstanding, versatile performer whose vocal flexibility is wowing audiences all over the world. Heralded as a “tour de force” by The Westfield Leader and “superb” by Peter Filichia (MTI), Tony’s immaculately detailed work brings a fresh and gripping portrayal to each role he portrays. Upcoming engagements include returning to Bob Jones University as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast.

Tony’s exquisite musicianship and character development make him a favorite for developing new works in New York City. In addition to his vocal abilities, Tony is an accomplished musician with over twenty years of guitar and twelve years of piano experience under his belt. This puts him at a great advantage when it comes to learning new music, understanding composition, and accompanying himself on and off stage.

Tony earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Kean University, where he studied under Dr. E. Teresa Choate, Holly Logue, Ernest Wiggins, and was directed by Bill Bowers as the Stage Manager in Our Town. In 2013, HB Studio Summer Intensive accepted Tony where he received instruction from Marion McCorry, Ed Morehouse, Carol Goodheart, and Arthur French. He currently studies under Tony-nominee Patrick Page.

JONATHAN ARANA: COGSWORTH

Couldn’t be happier to be with such a talented cast and crew here at Bob Jones University! Some career highlights include the 1st National tour of On Your Feet! alongside the Miami Sound Machine, performing at Carnegie Hall in Take Me to the World, The Play That Goes Wrong (Fulton Theatre) On Your Feet! (Papermill Playhouse) The Drowsy Chaperone (Music Theatre Wichita) The Andrews Brothers (Musical Theatre West/ Cast recording) and a cameo in Lin Manuel Miranda’s 2020 film In The Heights. @jonaranathan 

DEVON GUTHRIE: MRS. POTTS 

Grammy nominated American soprano Devon Guthrie made an acclaimed debut as Susanna in a new production of Le nozze di Figaro at English National Opera when she was still a student at the Juilliard School. Guthrie has won several awards and prizes in competitions such as the Gerda Lissner Competition, Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, Licia Albanese Competition and Liederkranz. She was also an apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera and Tanglewood Music Festival.

A dedicated recitalist and contemporary music interpreter, she has appeared several times at the Opera America Salon and has performed pieces such as Lonely Child by Claude Vivier; 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Lukas Foss; Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915; Schubert Der Hirt auf dem Felsen; Orpheus and Euridice by Ricky Ian Gordon, and covered the role of Tatyana Bakst in the world premier of Great Scott.

ERIC SMEDSRUD: GASTON

Eric Smedsrud is a Singer-Actor based out of Minneapolis, MN. He has performed with various companies in his home state of Minnesota, as well as nationally with companies such Palm Beach Opera, Charlottesville Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Notable credits include Squash Bernstein in Victor/Victoria with Artistry MN, the title role in Eugene Onegin with Skylark Opera Theatre, Escamillio in The Tragedy of Carmen, and Sir Sagramore (Lancelot understudy) in Camelot, both with Charlottesville Opera. He’ll be returning to Charlottesville, performing the role of Sacristan in Tosca and understudying Sky Masterson in Guys And Dolls. He’s delighted to take on this dream role and bring you the man behind the muscles!