Be Music Theatre Wichita’s guest as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ returns

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” has always been a special show for Music Theatre Wichita.

“When we did it in 2004, it changed our reputation at the national level,” said Wayne Bryan, longtime MTWichita producing artistic director, who will again be directing this new version 12 years later.

“We were one of only six regional theaters allowed by Disney to mount our own productions that year. The rules said we had to be at least 90 miles from Broadway, where it was still playing, and 90 miles from Orlando and Anaheim, where it was at the Disney theme parks. Where better than Wichita, Kansas, to be as far away as possible?” Bryan said.

“I’m not sure what Disney expected because we built our own sets and costumes, the largest we had done. But after they saw the show, they were very complimentary. That opened the door for Disney to give us first access to its other shows, like ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Aida’ and ‘High School Musical.’ And we’re going to get their new ‘Newsies’ next year (2017) for our finale,” Bryan said.

It also didn’t hurt that MTWichita’s original sets and costumes could be rented to smaller theaters throughout North America, Bryan said, because it gave Disney new markets to enter. “The original Broadway sets filled 20 trucks, later pared to 16. We could fit ours compactly into three,” he said.

Because of the show’s popularity, Bryan has been working to bring back “Beauty and the Beast” for several years, but he couldn’t get the rights because of ongoing tours. This year, everything fell into place and Bryan jumped at the chance.

“The first time around, frankly, we didn’t quite know what we were doing and it stretched all our resources,” Bryan said. “Fortunately, our major cast members had done their roles many times, including Broadway, so we had that built in. That production will always be very special.”

“Now, we know how it works and aren’t worried about the technicals quite so much. With our new cast, most of whom haven’t done the show before, we are able to find new beats and rhythms,” Bryan said.

Catherine Charlebois, who has been on Broadway in “Wicked” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” plays Belle, and Thaddeus Pearson, who was in the London production of “West Side Story” and played Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid,” is the Beast. Both are making their MTWichita debuts, heading a cast of 66.

Johnny Stellard (Broadway revival of “Evita”) is the vainglorious hunter and ladies man, Gaston, accompanied by Tanner Pflueger (third-year member of the resident company) as his fawning sidekick, Lefou. Local veterans Timothy Robu and John Boldenow are re-creating their 2004 roles as, respectively, Belle’s eccentric father, Maurice, and the evil Monsieur D’Arque, head of the local insane asylum, who conspires against Maurice.

Chief among the enchanted characters are Steve Hitchcock as Lumiere, the suave candelabra; James Beaman as the worrywart clock, Cogsworth; Katie Banks-Todd as Mrs. Potts, the kindly teapot, with little James Heinrichs as her son, Chip; Lexis Danca as the flighty, flirty feather duster, Babette; and Karen Robu, another local favorite, as the grand Madame de la Grande Bouche, the chest of drawers.

Music director Thomas W. Douglas is leading an orchestra of 19. Choreographer is Adam Cates, who is creating new patterns, including four numbers with more than 30 dancers each, notably “Be Our Guest.” Lights are by David Neville and sound by David Muehl. Set designer J Branson and costume designer Tiia E. Torchia, who created the look of the 2004 show, are returning to refurbish and rebuild the original sets and costumes. Taylor Malott is in charge of hair and exotic wigs.

New York-based Charlebois, a native of Andover, Mass., says she is a “book nerd” like her character, Belle, so it’s easy to relate to her.

“I’m very much like Belle. I was brought up loving to read books. I have strong opinions. I think I’m a tough cookie like her because she isn’t scared when she meets the Beast,” said Charlebois, who played the role in her high school production – the first in the country at that level.

“She’s spunky and feisty and true to herself and isn’t afraid to show her intelligence. She’s stubborn, like me, although I’m not sure that’s a flaw,” said the actress, who also does a remarkable parody of Lady Mary in the 10-minute “Downton Abbey” musical spoof available on YouTube (Downton Abbey at 54 Below).

Charlebois says it’s “a little scary” how familiar the show feels to step into again, even though it’s been years since her high school turn. “I hear the music, and it sort of fills you up.”

Florida native Pearson, as the hulking, bison-like Beast, doesn’t worry about connecting with the audience even though folks won’t be able to actually see his face until his final transformation back into a handsome prince.

“It’s definitely a challenge (behind a mask), but acting, at its core, is only as good as the writing,” said Pearson, who will be back later this summer in his “dream role” as the lead of MTWichita’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“The illusion of acting, the connecting with the audience, isn’t so much about whether they can see your eyebrows raise. That’s sort of immature acting. The Beast requires more subtlety,” Pearson said, noting body language and carriage as he evolves from arrogant and selfish loner into empathetic, compassionate companion.

“As a prince, he was young, well-to-do and spoiled until a witch turns him into a Beast to make him reflect on himself. I see him not as evil, but misguided. I see him as an idealist, a bit of a purist,” the actor said. “He discovers that he is able to change with Belle’s help.”

As Gaston, the swaggering macho narcissist who expects every girl to swoon over him, Stellard is having a blast re-creating the over-the-top role he also did in high school.

“I love being Gaston. He gets what he wants. He does what he wants. He looks like a great catch. He’s not dumb. He’s just never been told ‘no’ before, so he can’t understand why Belle rejects him,” said Stellard, a returning MTWichita alum. Stellard – a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. – has been off-Broadway in “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” in concert at Carnegie Hall with Kristin Chenoweth and on TV in the 66th annual Tony Awards.

Stellard jokes that Gaston might be from 18th-century France, but that he’d fit right in today – particularly evidenced in his song about his love affair with himself.

“If Gaston were in the age of Instagram, he’d have the best social media,” Stellard said with a laugh.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Be Music Theatre Wichita’s guest as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ returns."