Hallie Racicot plays Belle in Missoula Community Theatre's production of Disney's epic musical, Beauty and the Beast.
Disney’s blockbuster classic, Beauty and the Beast, wraps up the Missoula Community Theatre’s 2023-2024 “Be Our Guest” season April 25-May 12 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts.
The original Broadway version ran for 13 years and earned nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, due to Alan Menken’s music, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice’s lyrics and the international “Tale as Old as Time” appeal. MCT’s live orchestra will enhance the experience for this G-rated production, which continues to be an audience favorite.
This is the second time MCT brings Beauty and the Beast to the stage, and with the same director, Joseph Martinez, who directed it in the 2004-2005 season. Martinez reflects on the additional experience he’s gained since then, directing MCT’s Rent being the most recent.
“This time the show feels less daunting, and the tech is coming together really well. The actors are having a great time making creative artistic choices, which makes it more fun for me,” he says. “We’re creating a completely different show than what we did in 2004.”
Not only is Beast set in a village, but it takes a village to mount a large production like this. Key talents include music director Gregory Boris, choreographers Christine Kowalchik and Annika Charlson and costume designer Sarah Sizemore, who will receive her degree in costume design this spring from the University of Montana.
Nathan Poukish (Beast/Prince) was Squidward in SpongeBob SquarePants and Inspector Hans Kemp in Young Frankenstein. Both were comedic caricatures, but Martinez notes that “Nathan’s amazing baritone voice and portrayal of the Beast and Prince show a new side of his work.”
Hallie Racicot (Belle) recently played the role of Alexi Darling in Rent, and also was in the ensemble of the production.
“She brings a different strength than we are normally used to. She’s more of a take-charge person, not only in the village but with the Beast also,” according to Martinez. Among the iconic characters are also Katherine Green (Mrs. Potts), Jack Broadway (Cogsworth), Jake Nachtigal (Gaston), Arielle Nachtigal (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Rachel Berger (Babette) and Andrew Fortunate (Lefou).
Actors Trent Taylor (Lumiere) and Jonah Campo (Chip) make their MCT debut along with some other members of the adult and youth ensemble.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays, April 25-May 12 (April 25 is Premiere Night with special offerings and pricing).
Tickets on sale now at www.MCTinc.org and the box office, open noon-5 p.m. weekdays at 406-728-7529.