Full Casting Announced for Beauty and the Beast
Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart and Thomas Schumacher, proudly announces full casting for the eagerly-anticipated tour of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the first North American production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years. The tour will launch in Schenectady, NY on June 25, before its official opening in Chicago in July.
The production features Stephen Mark Lukas as Gaston, Danny Gardner as Lumiere, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts, Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Harry Francis as Le Fou, Kevin Ligon as Maurice, Holly Ann Butler as Madame, Cameron Monroe Thomas as Babette, and Beatrice Goddard Beggs and Levi Blaise Coleman alternating as Chip. They join previously announced stars Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle and Fergie L. Philippe as the Beast.
The Ensemble includes Vinny Andaloro, Benjamin Cheng, Spencer Dean, Julian Marcus De Guzman, Michael Dikegoros, Masumi Iwai, Darrell T. Joe, Emily Larger, Lena Matthews, Caleb McArthur, Sam Rose Pearson, Melaina Rairamo, Ellen Roberts, Grace Marie Rusnica, Ben Sears, Michael Seltzer, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel and Kate Wesler.
Based on the 1991 Academy Award-winning animated feature film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST premiered on Broadway in 1994 and still ranks as the 10th longest-running show in the industry's history. Nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning for Best Costume Design, Beauty remains one of the highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time. The title's visibility and success have expanded globally with productions of the stage show and the smash Oscar-nominated 2017 live-action film, which grossed over $1B worldwide.
Reuniting to create this new production are members of the original Tony Award-winning artistic team, including composer Alan Menken (who wrote the film's beloved score with the late lyricist Howard Ashman), Tim Rice, who wrote lyrics for the stage adaptation, book writer Linda Woolverton, director and choreographer Matt West, scenic designer Stanley A. Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz.