This September, Children's Theatre of Charlotte opens its 62nd season with an original staging of the spectacular family musical "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." Coming to the McColl Family Theatre from September 25 - October 25, this classic story of love and enchantment brings the beloved characters and songs of Disney's hit movie to life.
In 1991, "Beauty and the Beast" became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Prompted by the film's success, Disney developed a stage version with an eye toward Broadway. The resulting show was nominated for 9 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has thrilled audiences around the world.
While true to the spirit of the movie and show, Children's Theatre of Charlotte's production of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" features all-new costume and scenic designs, conceived specifically for this production. "It was very important to us to bring our own perspectives and thoughts about ‘Beauty and the Beast' to bear on the design process," says Artistic Director Alan Poindexter, who directs the production. "We want to honor the magic of this beautiful story with a production that creates new magic for our audience."
With much of the show's magic depending on its fantastic characters, such as the castle servants who have been transformed into household objects and the Beast, costumes are an especially important part of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." The Costume Shop assembled a team of 22 professionals to work on this production, including 4 costume crafts professionals to build specialty pieces such as Lumiere's waxy hands and head and prosthetics for the Beast. The Theatre also contracted with Imagination Las Vegas, a company that manufactures costumes for celebrity acts like Cher and Bette Midler, to work on many of the larger household objects, including making the entire costume for the Wardrobe.
The production features a strong lineup of professional actors, including Caroline Bower as Belle and Sean Watkins as the Beast. Talented student actors and singers round out the cast and chorus.
Performances will be held in the McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn, 300 East 7th Street. Front Orchestra tickets are $24.00; General Admission tickets are $18.00. For tickets to the productions, call The Children's Theatre Box Office at 704-973-2828 (10 am-5 pm, Mon.-Fri.) or visit our website: www.ctcharlotte.org. For ages 5+/Grades K+.
Children's Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, with an Operating Grant from the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc. and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
US Airways: the 2009-10 Official Airline of Children's Theatre of Charlotte
