Hurricane Theatrical Revives ‘The Tale As Old As Time!’
– By Aleina Lister –
August 2nd through September 7th, 2024.
Leaving the biblical artistic freedom that is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hurricane Theatrical brings another “Tale as Old as Time” to life with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast! And while this show is no stranger to Southern Utah, being produced many times throughout the past five years, Hurricane Theatrical brings its own unique and stunning interpretation of this Disney classic.
Director of this magical production and founder of Hurricane Theatrical, Kyle Myrick, encourages loyal theatergoers and community members alike to come and see this beautiful show, filled with incredible talent, wonderful music, and a monumental setting! The set alone will take your breath away! Leading lady Haley-Shea Benoit describes part of what makes Hurricane Theatrical productions so special, which is that the sets are all cast-built. “There’s no building crew for these massive sets; it’s all us,” Benoit exclaims. “And knowing that the set is a product of our labor, it becomes a source of pride and love that we all just put back into the show.”
Our story follows not one but two characters. It begins with describing an arrogant prince cursed to become a Beast, which can be broken if he can change his ways and learn to love and care for another. The story then shifts to Belle, a girl lamenting her “provincial life,” where she is regarded as “odd” by everyone in her town. Everyone except the town favorite, Gaston (Andy Young), who, aided by his constant lackey LeFou (Reece Jacobsen), pursues Belle and intends to marry her. And Belle could not be less interested. Suddenly, Belle’s life becomes anything but provincial when the Beast imprisons her father, Maurice (Nathan Merrill), and Belle trades her life for her father’s. Through the efforts of the Beast’s enchanted staff, including the debonair Lumiere (Eric Humphries), the overstrung Cogsworth (Brad Serage), and the matronly Mrs. Potts (Kelsea Burton), Belle and the Beast overcome their initial prejudices and discover “perhaps there’s something there that wasn’t there before.”
While the show isn’t new for anyone who grew up on Disney films or stage adaptations, it nevertheless remains a classic for the immortal lesson of seeing and possibly loving past what seems and its connectivity. Caleb Christensen, who portrays the Beast, relates, “Everyone works with some Beast, whether it’s someone they know or they themselves.”
Come “Be Our Guest” at the Hurricane Fine Arts Center! Beauty and the Beast opens on August 2nd and closes on September 7th, with shows on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, including Saturday Matinees. For more information, go to www.hurricanetheatrical.com, or call 435-668-9753.
