Beauty and The Beast - Contra Costa Musical Theater Company
The Beast is not asleep in Walnut Creek
In Walnut Creek in the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, the Contra Costa Musical Theater Company is presenting an absolutely exquisite production of Walt Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, now through May 13th. Once again, Tim Rice contributes lyrics to this Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice production.
Director Scott Denison, along with musical director, Mark Hanson and Choreographer Jennifer Denison Perry have created a family theatrical production that is thrilling audiences and that will be remembered for a long time. Once again, the costumers, Melissa Anne Paterson and Michael Borg have delivered designs that have contributed in large part to this show’s success.
Nothing could contribute more to this production than the brilliant cast, the beautiful voices and the overall production team that has brought this wonderful show to fruition. The very attractive Megan Gallup plays Belle, the heroine, exceptionally well. She portrays this character with great comic and romantic style and has a beautiful voice. Nephi Speer, who plays the Beast, does it so well that I have to rave about his choice by the director for this role. I first saw Nephi locally in CTA Crossroad’s Theater’s wonderful musical about Johnny Mercer’s music, “Moon River”, and was blown away at that time. I am sure you will long remember this young man and hope to see him in other productions.
The supporting roles of Scott Strain (as Cogsworth, the clock) Joshua Hollister (as Gaston, the ego-centered villain), Joel Roster (as Lefou, Gaston’s friend and worshiper), Michael McCarty (as Lumiere, the candelabra-man), Jessica Magers-Rankin (as Mrs. Potts), Tiffany-Marie Austin (as Babette, the maid), Jeanine Perasso (as the wardrobe), Tom Flynn (Belle’s father, Maurice) and Grant Strain (as Chip, the tea-cup) were equally superb. There are far too many fine contributing talents to name in this article due to space restrictions, but the over-all production is a winner from every aspect.
This classic fairy-tale is about a young woman who meets a prince bewitched and turned into a beast, and who falls in love with him despite his outward appearance and bestial qualities. This is another wonderful family show that you ought to see, even if your children are grown. Take the kids and grandkids, you and they will love it! It is extremely funny, light-hearted and up-beat, with superb voices and orchestration.
Beauty and the Beast plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m., and one Sunday matinee on April 16th at 3 p.m., continuing now through May 13th. The Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts is located at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 943-7469 (SHOW) or the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts web-site at www.dlrca.org for ticket and reservation information or visit the Contra Costa Musical Theatre web-site for more information at www.ccmt.org/