Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR. Student Production

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Musicals at Richter’s 28^th Season Under the Stars Caps Off with Student Production of "Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. ” August 16-18

Danbury, Conn. – Musicals at Richter (MAR), now in its 28th season as the longest-running outdoor theater in Connecticut, closes out the summer with its Summer Youth Musical Theater Workshop production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.”, playing Thursday, August 16 through Saturday, August 18. Staged on the grounds of the Richter Arts Center in Danbury, performances take place outdoors under the stars at 8 p.m.

With a book by Linda Woolverton, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice,   “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” is based on the classic fairy tale and beloved Academy Award-winning animated film about a young woman who helps transform an unfortunate beast back into a handsome prince, ultimately showing how very different people find strength in one another and learn how to love.  This one-act, family-friendly production features familiar songs from the film and stage versions such as “Be Our Guest,” “Belle,” “Gaston,” and of course, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Directed and staged for Musicals at Richter by Donald Birely of New York City, the Richter production features a cast of more than 40 students from 11 area towns.  Katie Wolff (Newtown) portrays Belle, with Noah Matson (Danbury) as Beast.  Annabelle Curcio (Poughquag, NY) plays Belle’s father, Maurice, Miguel Lillo (Danbury) plays Gaston and Jack Armstrong (Newtown) is Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou. 

In the Beast’s castle, Kaitlin Soter (Danbury) is Mrs. Potts, with Tyler Altomari (Poughquag, NY) as Lumiere and Evan Smolin (Ridgefield) as Cogsworth.  Madison Lemone (Bethel) portrays Madame de la Grande Bouche, Sophia Pompilio (Danbury) plays Babette and Aidan Sears (Poughkeepsie, NY) portrays Chip.

Rounding out the sizable cast are Joseph Iorfino, Zoee Oliveira and Sarah Viebrock (Bethel); Sarah Baker, Haley Cronin, Dina Cui, Riley Duhamel, Vincent Fontenelli, Robert Fontenelli, Jamie Gherna, Lauren Gherna, Brandon Gottwals, Nathan Gottwals, Julia Heiden, Gabriela Lillo, Jacqueline Logsted, Hailey Postmantier, Alex Reitz, Paige Socol, Brooke Stillman, Emma Sullivan and Catrina Sullivan (Danbury); Anna Spendley (Lagrangeville, NY); Elena Mitzi (Mahopac, NY); Jerusha Wright (Newtown): Dominique Altomari and Kirby Sclafani (Poughquag, NY); Nicole Kearney (Redding); Spencer Hauspurg (Sherman); Brianna Almeida, Gabriella Bates, Haley Bates and Kayla Hammond (Southbury).

The production creative team also features Anna Damia of Stamford as musical director and Matthew Farina of Danbury as choreographer. 

Performances take place at the Richter Arts Center (next to the Richter Park Golf Course, I-84, Exit 2), 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury. Tickets for “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” are $12.  Ticket reservations may be made by phone and through the Musicals at Richter website.  Grounds for the student production open at 7 p.m. for picnicking, with curtain at 8 p.m. Chair rentals and soft drink/snack concessions are available on-site.  

Now in its 28^th season, Musicals at Richter is Connecticut’s longest-running outdoor theater. Performances are given on weekends at the Richter Arts Center (next to the Richter Park Golf Course), 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury. Nestled in the hills of Western Connecticut, the Arts Center stage has served as the scenic backdrop for over 75 musicals produced by Musicals at Richter, as well as a professional springboard for hundreds of up-and-coming performers. Musicals at Richter is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. For further information, visit the website at www.musicalsatrichter.org, leave a message at 203-748-6873 or e-mail info@musicalsatrichter.org.