For the next two weekends, Newton County residents will be transported to a magical medieval France for the Newton Theatre Company’s production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at the Roxy Theater.
The musical, based on the Academy Award-winning 1991 animated film, first premiered on Broadway in April 1994 and has been performed more than 5,400 times. The story’s popularity is arguably at an all-time high after the live-action film adaptation was released in March and is still the highest grossing movie of 2017, grossing $1.26 billion worldwide.
“I was trying to come up with something that would draw people in, and I wanted to have something that included kids,” said the show’s director, Julie Rowzee. “This is a very popular musical with kids, with the movie coming out in the spring, so I thought it would draw a good crowd.”
The story involves a beautiful, bookish and independent girl named Belle, played by Kasey Logan, who is imprisoned by the Beast, played by Ethan Grisham. The Beast is actually a former prince who, along with his palace’s staff, was cursed by an enchantress because of his arrogance.
Over time Belle must begin to see past his appearance to his inner beauty in order break the curse, which is personified by a rose. If the Beast does not find true love by the time the last petal falls from the rose, he and his staff will remain in their forms forever.
Rounding out the cast is Belles’ father, Maurice, who will be portrayed by James Rowzee, the villain Gaston, who will be portrayed by Lane Fulton and his sidekick Lafou, who will be portrayed by Jonathan Thorne.
Also in the main cast will be Aaron Vega (Cosgworth), Nate Vega (Lemiere), Sharon Martinez (Babette), Katherine Grisham (Mrs. Potts), Justus Vega (Chip) Anne Mabry (Wardrobe) and a dozen others who will portray the townspeople and the wolves outside the palace.
The 30-member cast and the 10-member crew have been hard at work rehearsing and building sets since June 20, and Rowzee said that all of the props have been built from scratch or refashioned from backgrounds from earlier shows with the exception of the rose, which is being rented. There will also be light up roses sold at the show that the audience will use towards the end of the show. As with many of the shows, the sets will also be enhanced by rear projection.
Audiences will have four chances to see the show, which will be performed at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 10 and 17. Rowzee said she prefers spreading the performances over two weekends instead of performing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“It gives people enough time to get the word out and more people may come, and it gives the cast a break,” she said. “We advise people to get tickets ahead of time. This is going to be a really popular show. It always hurts me when somebody shows up and we don’t have a place for them to sit.”
Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at Kaleidoscopes, Dezignz by Nikki and Bank Fire. For more information, call the Roxy Theater at 601-683-0033.
