The Theatre Company of Sun City’s production of Beauty and the Beast is back at Drendel Hall following an 18-month break due to COVID-19.
Linda Davis said, “We are happy that after a year and a half, all of our lead performers came back. We did have to find actors for the part of Chip. We have two grandchildren of the cast performing on alternate nights in that part. This group is a family, we have to work together, attend the rehearsals. There are so many parts and challenges to this play, but we have fun also.”
Ticket Sales
Thursday, Oct.7
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drendel Hall Breakout room, Prairie Lodge
Monday, Oct. 18
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cedar Room – Prairie Lodge
Monday, Nov. 8
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cedar Room – Prairie Lodge
Show dates:
Thurs. Nov.18 – 7 p.m. Drendel Ballroom
Friday, Nov. 19 – 7 p.m. Drendel Ballroom
Saturday, Nov. 20 3 p.m. Drendel Ballroom
Sunday, Nov. 21 – 1:30 p.m. Drendel Ballroom
Ticket prices:
Adults: $17
Children 12 years and younger: $12
In addition to the actors on stage, Beauty and the Beast needs a large crew, including music directors, choreographers, stage techs, make-up artists, costume crews, and more. It takes over 100 essential team members to put this feature story on stage.
Diane Scott worked with a huge team to sew and design the costumes for the play.
Scott said, “There are scenes that fast costume changes are required. That was a challenge. One of the skirts includes an equivalent of one-fifth of a mile of tulle or approximately 1050 feet of fabric.”
What was the most challenging costume?
Scott answered, “LeFou’s costume. His clothes are tailored. I used upholstery material for his pants and 1980s curtain material for his shirt cuffs.”
Costume designers work with the actors to bring the characters in the screenplay to life.
Val Stroud and May Wyatt are the choreographers for the dance routines.
Stroud said, “There is a lot of dancing. For example, for the song Be My Guest, we have six routines.”
Music Director Peter Davis is the Co-Founder of Sun City’s Theatre Company.
Davis said, “The first production we put on was Once Upon a Mattress about 20 years ago. Val and I have worked together for a long time, about 14 years. Due to Covid, this has been the most difficult time for the Club.”
For some back story, a woman authored the original story of Beauty and Beast. Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve was a successful novelist and fairytale writer in mid-eighteenth-century France. Her novels are rarely read today, but her fairytale has become universally recognized. Her version is much longer and more detailed than most of us are probably familiar with. In 1756, the story was edited and abridged by Madame de Beaumont, who created the version that’s most widely known today.
Be the Theatre Company’s guest and experience the romance and enchantment of Beauty and the Beast. Singing teapots and candlesticks, an evil spell…it’s an opportunity to enjoy the talent in our community.
