Photo Flash: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Comes to ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre is proud to announce the cast for the worldwide smash hit musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast featuring the animated film's Academy Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton. Disney's Beauty and the Beast plays ZACH's Topfer Stage from July 11-September 2, 2018 under the direction of Associate Artistic Director Abe Reybold with musical direction by Allen Robertson and choreography by Sara Burke.

Be Our Guest! This "tale as old as time" follows Belle, a book-smart and adventurous young woman and the Beast, a formerly dashing young prince cursed by an enchantress. If the Beast cannot learn to love and be loved in return, he and his household including Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip will be trapped forever under the spell. The Broadway smash hit showcases a merry, award-winning score with favorites such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Gaston," and "Be Our Guest." This delightful family musical enchants and transforms hearts of all generations.

With this timeless story, Director Abe Reybold expressed his enthusiasm on bringing Disney's Beauty and the Beast to the Topfer Stage this summer, "Sharing this story about the transformational power of love with a multi-generational audience fits beautifully within ZACH's mission to entertain, to inspire and to ignite the imagination. This may be the first stage show that many young people see, and I am creatively charged to make Beauty and the Beast magical, truthful and filled with laughter. The design team has done wonders and I am excited to work with the talented cast on this well-crafted Disney classic with its big melodic heart and so many wonderful lessons within."

The cast includes BRIANA BROOKS as Belle; Alexander Mendoza as Beast; MATTHEW REDDEN as Gaston; MARTIN BURKE as Lumiere; John Christopher as Cogsworth; MEREDITH McCALL as Mrs. Potts; JENNIFER BLAKENEY YOUNG as Babette; JUNE JULIAN as Madame de la Bouche; MICHAEL FERSTENFELD as Maurice; KEVIN PELLICONE as Lefou; WILKES GOODNER as Chip #1; LUCCA OSTROVICH as Chip #2; VICTORIA BROWN as Enchantress/Ensemble; ANTHONY VINCENT TOUDJAROV as Monsieur D'Arque/Ensemble; and SHANNON CONBOY, GRACE MUAWAD, and KHALI SYKES as Silly Girls/Ensemble.

A non-profit organization, ZACH creates intimate theatre experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. As Austin's leading professional producing theatre, ZACH employs more than 250 actors, musicians, and designers annually to create its own diverse array of nationally recognized plays and musicals under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Each year, ZACH serves nearly 128,000 Central Texans - 55,000 of which are children and youth who participate in our education and outreach programs, as well as inspiring camps and classes. ZACH Theatre is honored to host private and community events across the beautiful rental-ready spaces on our three-stage campus located in the heart of Austin. Founded in 1932 and in its 85th Anniversary season, ZACH is the longest continuously running theatre company in the state of Texas, and one of the ten oldest in the country.

Visit zachtheatre.org for more information.

Photo Credit: Kirk Tuck