‘Beauty and the Beast’ comes to life on stage

Tonight and tomorrow the performances will begin at 7.30 pm. On Sunday, there will be two performances, a matin?e at 2 pm and an evening performance at 7 pm.

The same people who brought you the Cacique Award-winning Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music invite you to celebrate five years of musical production with five performances of the award-winning Broadway musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Based on the beloved French fairy tale of the same name, the authentic Broadway version tells of a handsome Prince who is changed into a beast by an enchantress. He is condemned to remain in this form until love breaks the spell. Into his castle full of enchanted objects comes Belle, a headstrong village girl who seeks to escape ordinary village life and the advances of the narcissistic Gaston, the village “macho-man”. Belle’s life takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself imprisoned by the brooding Beast, whose mysterious past holds the key to their future.

Featuring some of the most “hummable” of Disney’s music including the very famous love song Beauty and the Beast, and other songs such as Be Our Guest, Belle, and Human Again, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast promises again to be the highlight of the holiday season.

The Beast will be portrayed by newcomer Jonathan Morgan, while the experienced Tramaine Lamy (“Polly” in the Festival Arts Chorale Production of Crazy For You), and Marlon De Bique (Porgy and Bess) will play Belle and Gaston, respectively. Other talented and experienced actors include Maurice Rawlins (“Max” in the Festival Arts Chorale Production of The Sound of Music) as Lumi?re; and the “veteran” 12-year-old Allan Clelland-Goddard (Oliver! and The Sound of Music) as Chip.

Co-producer Jessel Murray volunteers: “I cannot believe that this is already our fifth production! It is a happy anniversary that so many of our on stage and offstage team are still together and loving the job of bringing Broadway magic to the Queen’s Hall Stage in their 50th Anniversary Year.”

He adds: “We are trying some different things this year and we hope to provide some surprises to our audiences!”

General admission tickets can be purchased at a cost of S150. Special reserved tickets and tickets for the children’s matinee, on Sunday at 2 pm, can be purchased for a cost of $200 and $100 respectively. Tickets can be purchased at the Queen’s Hall Box Office (868-624-1284) Department of Creative and Festival Arts (868) 662 2002 Ext 2510/3624 and Crosby’s North and South 622 7622 or 653 7622. Please note special reserve and children tickets are only available at the Queen’s Hall Box office.

For further information, contact the Festival Arts Chorale at 743-0841 or 398-8576, or uwi.festival.arts.chorale@gmail.com.