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This multi-Toni Award production recreates all the characters from the Disney movie, from Lumiere the living candlestick, to the clock, teapot, chest of drawers and the delightful rug. Wrapped up in Rob Roth’s direction and Matt West’s creative choreography, this fast-moving production will keep adults and kids in awe and wonder.
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Beauty and the Beast is a delightful presentation. Everyone knows the engaging tale in which Belle finds herself in an enchanted castle where the beast all the inhabitants are trapped in an animated state because of a witche’s cruel curse which only Belle can break. And as in all fairy tales, everyone lives happily ever after. But getting there is such fun.
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A talented cast features Sam Hartley as the Beast and Brooke Quintana as the spunky Belle, with Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek as the obnoxious Gaston and Matt Dasilva as his sidekick Lefeu and Stephanie Gray as Mrs. Potts. Ryan N. Phillips is the lovable Lumiere. All bring the fairy tale characters to life with pleasant voices.
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Alan Menken’s music and Howard Ashman and Tim Rice’s lyrics won Academy Awards for the movie and Tonys for the Broadway version with “Be Our Guest,” “Beauty and The Beast” and the melodic “Something There.”
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The backstage technical people make smooth transitions. Technical director Meg Parish gets her crew to move scenes with ease. Natasha Katz’s lighting and John Petrafesas Jr’s sound are well-done, and Ann Hould-Ward’s costumes are Broadway caliber.
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A great show for the kids to relive the fairy tale that teaches a lesson about good and evil.
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Beauty and The Beast
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Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street, San Francisco
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Performances through July 10
Information: 888-746-1799, or visit: www.shnsf.com
