Tale as old as time: Henegar enchants with 'Beauty and the Beast'

The Henegar Center hopes to enchant audiences as it starts its new season with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." The beloved musical, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, opens Friday, Aug. 16 for a run through Sept. 8.

"Beauty and the Beast" tells the story of Belle, a bright young woman trapped in a small provincial town, and the Beast, a prince cursed to live as a monstrous creature until he learns to love and be loved in return. Their journey is one of transformation, both literal and figurative, as they discover the true meaning of beauty, compassion and inner strength.

"'Beauty and the Beast' has long held a special place in my heart," said executive artistic director Dominic Del Brocco. "After working at Disney for 16 years, it was something I knew we needed to do."

This musical is not just about fairy tales, but about the transformative power of love and the beauty found within. Del Brocco believes the show will resonate with audiences of all ages.

"It is a story that is seen one way by adult audiences, and then very differently for the child patrons," he said.

"It shares a universal message of seeing people for who they are and not just for how they look. In other ways, it teaches understanding and patience. Belle, while beautiful, is still considered an outcast, and Beast must prove that people, no matter how wretched, can still change their ways."

Sharing the role of Belle, Kayla Canada and Julyette Vargas will alternate performances. Opposite them, Woodrow Helmes plays the menacing-but-sincere Beast. Nikolas Wendorf swaggers as Gaston, and Justin Scarlat plays enchanted clock Cogsworth. Del Brocco joins his cast onstage in the role of enchanted candlestick Lumiere.

The Henegar's production team has brought the fairy tale world to life, from the streets of a quaint French village to the halls of a mysterious, magical castle.

"This is one of our biggest, most gilded, and most opulent set designs," Del Brocco said. "I wanted to keep it storybook and childlike for the village, and then very real, regal and grand for the castle scenes."

"There are multiple moments we've recreated from the Disney film that will resonate with everyone," he said. "We have added dozens of theatrical effects and have worked with a professional illusionist for our Beast/Prince transformation."

"My favorite moment in the show is the way I staged the ballroom scene," Del Brocco added. "It is one of those rare times where the image I had in my imagination is exactly what it looks like on the stage."

Audience members who wish to extend the magical experience can do so from noon to 1 p.m. before all Saturday and Sunday matinee performances. The theater is offering a special tea party with Mrs. Potts, along with a meet-and-greet with Belle, food, beverages and a souvenir. The special add-on event costs $100 for a table for three, or $80 for a table for two.

Through the magic of storytelling and the power of live performance, Del Brocco hopes to remind audiences of the beauty that lies within us all.

"After my years working at Disney, I think we will deliver a high quality magical production that people have come to expect," he said.

"For me personally, it was a 'beast' of a show that I've wanted to direct my personal take on for quite some time and could not be happier with the results."

If you go

Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'

Where: Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne

When: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sept. 8

Tickets: $44

Call: 321-723-8698

Website: henegarcenter.com

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Tale as old as time: Henegar enchants with 'Beauty and the Beast'