A traditional fairy tale published in France in the mid 18th-century, Beauty and the Beast, is an enduring story of love and friendship that has been translated into hundreds of versions worldwide. When Walt Disney Pictures released the animated feature film in 1991 with a score by composer Alan Menken and the late lyricist Howard Ashman, it was hailed as an instant classic with critics calling the music “worthy of a Broadway musical.”

The film went on to win Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Original Score and it made history as the only animated feature to ever be nominated for Best Picture. Given the power of the film’s story and music, the decision was made to bring Beauty and the Beast to the Broadway stage.

Disney Theatrical Productions assembled their creative team and worked hard to combine the strengths of the beloved film with the possibilities that only live theatre can offer. Linda Woolverton adapted her screenplay to the stage, adding new scenes to fill out the story. The Oscar-winning score was expanded to include several new songs by Menken and veteran lyricist Tim Rice. Beauty and the Beast opened at the Palace Theatre on April 18, 1994, played on Broadway for over 13 years, totaling 5,461 performances. Finishing its run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, it ultimately became the seventh longest running musical in Broadway history.

The story revolves around a Prince living in a shining castle, who is visited one night by an old beggar woman who offers him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Prince turns the old woman away. The old woman’s ugliness melts away to reveal a beautiful enchantress who tells him he has no love in his heart.

Then in a flash, she turns him into a hideous beast and places a spell on the castle and all who live there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast conceals himself in his bewitched castle with his faithful staff: Lumiere, the love struck candlestick, Cogsworth the pompous clock, the kindly teapot, Mrs. Potts, and an inquisitive teacup named Chip.

To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal falls from the Enchanted Rose. If not, he will be doomed to remain a Beast for all time.

Belle is a beautiful and intelligent young woman who lives with her eccentric inventor father, Maurice, in a small provincial town. Belle longs for a life of adventure, like those that she reads of in her books, but she seems destined to be the oddball of her quiet village instead. It seems the only hope she has of ever fitting in is to marry the ill-mannered, pompous Gaston, who has decided that Belle is the prettiest girl in the village and is therefore fit to be his wife.

But Belle just wants someone who understands her dreams and rebuffs Gaston’s crude advances. Later, lost in the woods on the way to the city, Maurice stumbles across the Beast’s spellbound castle. Upon finding her father, Belle offers herself to the Beast in return for the release of her father. The Beast accepts Belle’s offer and soon she meets the other inhabitants of the enchanted castle. Lumiere and his staff decide that Belle is their last chance for the spell to be broken. Throughout the rest of the show, they conspire to have Belle and the Beast fall in love… and that is exactly what happens. As in most Disney shows, there is a happy ending of prince and princess falling in love and getting married.

Junior Alli Kanagy will portray Belle, the French country girl who everyone thinks is just simply odd. Kanagy, the daughter of Dr. David and Mikki Kanagy, has been seen on the West Branch stage many times, but most recently as the genie in Aladdin. As Belle in this show, she gives a flawless performance of the character and is able to mesmerize the audience with her singing and acting abilities-especially with the songs “Home” and “A Change in Me.”

Junior Gavin Clay, a veteran to the stage, has secured the part of the Beast. Clay, son of Corey and Krista Clay, is a veteran to the stage. His emotional portrayal of the Beast is apparent when he sings the ballad “If I Can’t Love Her,” which closes Act One, leaving the audience at an emotional high. Last seen as Aladdin in Aladdin, Gavin’s acting ability brings the many facets of the Beast’s personality to life alongside his wide range of singing ability.

The loving and motherly character of Mrs. Potts is played by junior Mollie McDorman. She has been seen on stage many times in fun character roles like Sven in Frozen and Iago in Aladdin. She is the daughter of John and Nikki Gossett. Her rendition of the ever popular song “Beauty and the Beast” is simply breathtaking and provides the right nuance to the scene where Belle and the Beast fall in love.

Abigail Janosik, a junior at WBHS, provides just the right amount of comedy to the fun-loving French candlestick, Lumiere. Abigail is the daughter of Dan & Stacey Janosik. She will dazzle the audience with her performance in the biggest spectacle in the show, “Be Our Guest.”

Sophomore Mason Brown, will portray Cogsworth, the nervous but delightfully funny head of the enchanted castle. Mason, the son of Chris and Christine Brown, has been in every show at West Branch since he was in elementary school. He was last seen as one of Aladdin’s sidekicks in Aladdin. His rapier wit and comedic line delivery makes him a perfect choice to play the part of Cogsworth.

Senior Ariana Aldridge, will be seen playing Babbette — the flirtatious French maid turned feather duster. She is the daughter of Earl and Stacey Aldridge and has a list of stage credits both at West Branch and many different community theaters.

Seventh graders Claire Bloss and Sutton Clay will be sharing the role of the adorable Chip. Claire is the daughter of Zach and Jessica Bloss, and Sutton is the daughter of Corey and Krista Clay. They portray Chip with the innocence and joyful nature of the little boy turned tea-cup. Both Claire and Sutton have been seen in many roles on our WB stage. This duo is probably best remembered for their portrayal of the young sisters Princesses Elsa and Anna in Frozen.

Rounding out the cast of the enchanted objects is Morgan Kurtz who portrays Madame De La Grande Bouche the famous opera singer- turned wardrobe. She is the daughter of Joseph and Jodi Kurtz. Morgan provides a lot of the comic relief in the show especially when she is seen on the stage with the other enchanted characters.

Junior, Jude Corallo, who will portray the overbearing but handsome Gaston, performs the role with the brawn and muscle that Gaston tries to use to gain the attention of Belle. Not only does he look and act like the character with precision, but his booming voice and meticulous staging convinces the audience of his diverse talents. Jude is the son of Marco and Janelle Corallo.

Freshman, Ashton Clay, the son of Corey and Krista Clay, will portray the nutty and hilarious role of Lefou. Ashton adds much of the energy needed for the large chorus numbers in the show. Ashton was last seen as Omar in Aladdin on the West Branch stage.

Senior Wyatt Meisenheimer, son of Ryan and Bobbi Hoffmeyer, will play the part of Belle’s doting father, Maurice. Wyatt really brings the tenderness and empathy of Maurice to life This is most apparent in his performance of the song “No Matter What.”

Zak Karlen, the son of David and Jennifer Karlen, brings to life the character Monsieur D’Arque, the dark and disturbed caretaker from the insane asylum in the French village. Zak will also be the voice of the narrator at the opening of the show. His incredibly low bass voice is the perfect part of both of these roles.

Rounding out the cast are the women playing the Silly Girls who add so much comedy to the scenes with Gaston and Lefou. They are Noelle Shutler, Kammie McDorman, Raelyn Walker, Lily Scofinksy, Neely Gillingham, Regan Daley, Cecilia Raga, Izzy Higgins and Stella Zippay. Finally, the cast has choruses of over 100 students in grades 3-12.

The cast and crew of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast includes over 150 students and volunteers. Audience members will love the large “glitzy” chorus numbers which include: “Belle,” “Gaston,” “Be Our Guest,” and “The Finale” just to name a few. Most of the characters that perform solos in the musical have been coached by local voice teacher Bill Ambert. Music director and artistic director Krista Clay has worked hard on the musical numbers. Choreographer and assistant director, Tessa (Wells) Murphy has transformed the stage into a whirlwind of stage movements, gymnastic feats and all styles of Broadway dance steps. This is most notable in the chorus number “Be Our Guest” — the show’s biggest production number where the cast members transform into dancing silverware, dinner plates, napkins and household kitchen objects. Clay is excited to have Tessa as part of this production. Her skill and vision can be seen throughout the movement on the stage. The last time West Branch did Beauty and the Beast, Tessa was Belle!

The set, designed and built by Scott Close, Bryan Hobbins, Adam Klemann, Marshall Klemann, David Kanagy, Zach Bloss and Andy Shutler is exquisite and fits the needs of the production’s scenes and musical numbers. The audience is taken to a French village, Belle’s country home, an Enchanted Castle, a scary forest, a French tavern. Painting crews have been working on the set for several months while many fathers and community members are working late into the evenings to finish what might be called a theatrical “work of art.”

The technical directors for the show are Corey Clay, Eric Waggoner, Adam Corallo and Aaron Brown. They will be running 36 wireless microphones and making sure all the special effects are executed as planned. Special effects include the use of fog machines, confetti cannons, flying equipment and a special florescent remote control rose. Over 50 hours was spent setting over 250 light cues that are required by the production.

Show dates and times for Beauty and the Beast are as follows: Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. An add-on to the Saturday matinee show is a Character Luncheon. The cost for the add-on ticket is $7.50. Children and adults alike can meet the characters, dance, create crafts and eat a yummy lunch. Reserved seating for the show is $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at wbmusic.ludus.com or by purchasing them at the door.