Beauty and the Beast Official Trailer #1 (2017) Emma Watson, Dan Stevens Fantasy Movie HD
Sing for America will seek to charm children and adults when it presents the musical "beauty and the beast" dec. 28 to jan. 8 at Symphony Hall in Allentown.
The Disney musical will be the 15th production for Sing for America, which is made up of five siblings from Palmer Township.
The musical features the Academy Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman from the animated 1991 Disney movie.
The film was adapted for the Broadway stage, debuting in 1994 and running for 13 years. The show was nominated for nine Tony awards including best musical and won for its elaborate costumes.
The musical tells the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his entire household will be doomed forever.
The show features eye-popping production numbers including "Be Our Guest," in which dishes and silverware take to the stage.
The costumes were made by the Gilbert family, including the full body costume of the beast, played by Tristan Shuler.
Belle is played by Tasia Gilbert, and her unwanted suitor, the arrogant Gaston, is played by Christopher Ryland. Leading the transformed household servants as Lumiere and Cogsworth are Jewel and Jorne Gilbert, while Ali Santos plays the kind Mrs. Potts.
Other actors include Brady Love, Jenna Atkinson, Madison Cerniglia and Andy Alulis.
The Gilbert family also includes Taryn and Teara. The siblings have been producing shows to raise money for Blue Star Mothers of Lehigh Valley"s emergency fund, which helps local military families with bills, travel expenses and other needs. The family"s first production was "Cinderella" in 2011.
Since then, Sing for America has raised $45,000, which has paid for rent, food, heating and electric bills, plane tickets to see a wounded soldier before surgery, and even Christmas presents for military families.
The group also will present a show 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at which members of Sing for America"s cast of "A Little Princess" will perform songs, and the Gilberts will present their 2015-2016 season donation. Tickets for this show are $10.
"Beauty and the Beast," 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28, 30, Jan. 4 and 5; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Jan. 6; 1 p.m. Dec. 31; 2 p.m. Jan. 8. Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. Tickets: $18; $12, seniors and students; $9, children age 6 and under. 610-432-6715, www.millersymphonyhall.org.
Bucks County Playhouse"s final phase of renovations
Bucks County Playhouse was renovated and reopened in 2012 after being closed for two years. Now it has started the final phase of renovations.
The playhouse"s expansion will transform the theater"s back deck into 3,750 square feet of lobby space. It will also serve as a bar and cafe that can host private groups up to 140 people. And the playhouse plans to offer post-show dessert performances showcasing young performers.
"Our growing audiences will now have adequate lobby and restroom facilities, in addition to expanded cafe services to welcome groups and patrons of the theater," says Alexander Fraser, producing director.
Only four seasons after reopening, the playhouse"s summer season broke box office records with Robert Harling"s "Steel Magnolias" directed by Marsha Mason, which was the highest-grossing play in Bucks County Playhouse history, and "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" directed by Hunter Foster, which became the playhouse"s highest-grossing musical.
The playhouse has continued its reputation as a place for out-of-town tryouts for Broadway. Its 2012 production of "Misery," based on the Stephen King novel, opened on Broadway with Bruce Willis in 2015; and its 2013 production of Terrence McNally"s "Mothers and Sons" opened on Broadway 2014 and received two Tony nominations.
Larry Keller, mayor of New Hope, says he has more visitors and increased revenue in the tourist town since the playhouse reopened. The playhouse is run by four Broadway producers Fraser; Robyn Goodman, executive producer; and Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler, producers.
"The playhouse"s return has revitalized New Hope, drawing new business investment in town including a new Riverhouse at Odette"s and Landmark Hospitality"s renovations of The Logan Inn and Hotel du Village," Keller says. "All these projects are proof of how dedicated and committed individuals can make a positive difference in our community."
A new nonprofit group, Playhouse Artists, was created to support Bucks County Playhouse and its mission to stimulate, support, inspire and celebrate the performing arts in the New Hope region.
The playhouse remains open during the renovations.
Currently on stage is "Murder for Two: Holiday Edition," an adaptation of the off-Broadway musical mystery hit, through Dec. 31.
In the two-man show, everyone is a suspect, but the twist is one actor investigates the crime and the other plays all the suspects. They both play the piano.
The book, music and lyrics are by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair. In this production, Kinosian plays all the supects. Brett Ryback, who was in the original off-Broadway cast of "Murder for Two," plays the investigator Marcus.
The holiday edition, directed by Jeremy Lapp, follows the basic story of the original but is reset and redressed in a holiday theme. With the action now set in rural New England on Christmas Eve, the creators have created some holiday back stories for characters and pepper the narrative with seasonal jokes.
"Murder for Two: Holiday Edition," 2 and 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 30; 2 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 26, 28, 31; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29. Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope. Tickets: $30-$69. 215-862-2121, buckscountyplayhouse.org.
kathy.lauer@mcall.com
610-778-2235
Source: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-theater-beauty-and-beast-allentown-20161221-story.html
