Beauty and the BeAst

Charleston Light Opera Guild in collaboration with the Clay Center will bring the classis tale about a beautiful girl who becomes the companion of a brutish beast to save her father's life to the Maier Performance Hall stage at the Clay Center. The stage version of the popular animated Disney film, Beauty and the Beast, includes all the wonderful Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs from the Disney movie plus new songs written for the Broadway show by Menken and Tim Rice. These include Belle, No Matter What, Gaston, Be Our Guest, Something There, Human Again and Beauty and the Beast. The show features humor, style, magic, classic songs and beautiful sets and costumes with a few updated changes to the 2024 script. The Light Opera Guild previously presented the musical at the Clay Center in 2005 and 2016.

AVAILABLE ROLES

(Chip is portrayed by a small boy - ages 7-9 years old. All others in the production should be ages 14-adult. All characters sing. A large singing ensemble and dancing ensemble are also needed.)

Belle - beautiful, courageous, intelligent and strong-willed young woman; lyric soprano

Beast/Prince - a menacing character with a large temper; transforms to a charming prince; baritone

Gaston - handsome braggart who is determined to marry Belle; baritone with a low A

Maurice - Belle's dotty father who is an eccentric inventor; baritone

Lefou - Gaston's bumbling sidekick who displays physical comedy; high baritone

Lumiere - a flamboyant and love-struck enchanted candelabra; a showman and dancer; high baritone/tenor

Cogsworth - a tightly-wound pompous enchanted clock; baritone

Mrs. Potts - a kind and sweetly maternal enchanted teapot; mezzo soprano

Madame de la Grand Bouche - a comedic enchanted wardrobe; operatic soprano

Chip - an inquisitive little teacup and Mrs. Potts' son; boy soprano

Babette - a sexy French feather duster with movement or dance abilities; mezzo soprano

Les Filles De La Ville - 3 fanatical female followers of Gaston who are smitten with him; need dance or movement abilities; mixed vocal ranges from soprano to high alto (formerly called Silly Girls)

Monsieur D'Arque - slimy and calculating proprietor of the local asylum; baritone

Townspeople, Enchanted Objects - ensemble of singers and dancers to play the town folk (Shepherd, Marie, Tavern Master, Laundry Lady, Baker, Milkmaid, Flower Seller, Sausage Curl Lady, Candle Maker, Hat Seller, Book Seller, Cronies)

Castle Staff become various objects including kitchenware, flatware, napkins, can-can dancing plates

ALSO dancing wolves; Acrobatic doormat, Young Prince, and Enchantress