Belmont University Musical Theatre Recently Presents: Beauty and the Beast
Do you remember the year 1991, when the Disney animated film version of Beauty and the Beast first came out? What about when the live stage musical version hit Broadway in 1994? With a score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, along with additional songs by Menken and Tim Rice, and a libretto by Linda Woolverton adapted from her own screenplay, Beauty and the Beast has become a beloved classic in the American musical theatre canon.
Since its debut, the musical has toured around the world and been performed by theatre companies of all stripes. Finally, in its 23rd year of musical theatre productions, Belmont University Musical Theatre (BUMT) offers audiences its own highly entertaining and wonderfully theatrical version of Beauty and the Beast.
Directed by David Shamburger, with musical direction by Nate Strasser and choreography by Anna Perry, BUMT’s Beauty and the Beast features a tremendously capable cast of actors who’ve honed their skills to deliver a fantastic show. With a cast featuring BUMT favorites, including Noah Sowalskie as the Beast, Patrick Dunbar as Gaston, Chamberlin Little as LeFou, and Josh Jordan as Lumiere, BUMT’s production impressively rivals that of any national touring company.
Sierra Fermin and Maya Kaempf alternate the role of Belle, but the performance reviewed by us featured the latter. Kaempf gave a picture-perfect visual of her character, while confidently singing the role like a genuine artist. Her chemistry with Sowalskie’s Beast was palpable, making the growing affection between them apparent to the audience. Sowalskie, easily claiming his leading man status, gave a powerful performance as the cursed young prince, who can only find lasting love to break the curse.
Dunbar’s Gaston portrayed an overbearing arrogance and drew all eyes toward him as he strutted about the stage, with his sidekick LeFou (played by Chamberlin Little) as understated comedy relief. Delaney Carrol, Elayna Sirrine, and Payton Tabb were all great as Les Filles de la Ville, the “silly girls.”
Simon Elliott as Belle’s father Maurice managed to effectively convey his character’s age and maturity, while every domestic staff at the Beast’s castle impressed, particularly Jordan’s Lumiere, Dylan Pearson’s Cogsworth, Maddie Heckler’s Babette, and Kathryn Crandall’s Madame de la Bouche. Leah Spurlock as Mrs. Potts was the perfect elegant retainer of the household, with her performance of the show’s title song delivering exactly what anyone could ever hope to hear, and her son, Chip, played by Simon Strasser, son of musical director Nate Strasser, proved equally excellent.
The large ensemble gave life to every scene, particularly during the big musical numbers that make Beauty and the Beast so appealing, guaranteeing we’ll look forward to more future seasons with Belmont University Musical Theatre. Anna Perry’s elaborate choreography was beautifully performed, providing much applause-worthy moments, and Nate Strasser’s musical direction of his 17-member orchestra lent an air of sophistication that is the trademark of BUMT shows.
Richard Davis’ extraordinary lighting design illuminated every scene effectively, ensuring audiences witnessed everything happening as demanded by the script, and Christopher Bangos and Ivan Sobek’s top-notch audio design and sound effects effectively complemented the production. Moreover, Melissa Durmon’s costumes were fantastic, providing a visual feast throughout.
In conclusion, Belmont University Musical Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast is a must-see for Disney fans and theatre-goers alike. With expert direction and spectacular performances, this Beauty and the Beast adaptation is sure to delight audiences and captivate them with its magic, wonder, and enchantment.
