Let me take you back to a time you'd rather forget, 2020. I was working at a school in Pennsylvania, directing and choreographing a production of Beauty and the Beast when, after countless hours of rehearsals, a week before we opened we entered lockdown. Initially thinking that it would be a short break we tried our best to stay positive and find a time to reschedule the show. Well... we all know how that turned out. Eventually we made the difficult decision to cancel the performances. Suddenly one of my favorite musicals was a source of a lot of heartache. I went into full blown anti-Beauty and the Beast mode. I couldn't listen to the soundtrack without getting emotional and I fully anticipated never doing the show again.
Flash forward two years and change to last December chatting with Kristen about what the summer show would be. I had it down to three shows with no inclination as to what we were going to pick. The moment when I hung up the phone I felt it in my bones that it was time to return to "the Beast!" I dusted off my staging notes and choreography from three years ago and got to work!
Working on this production has been so healing for me and I've come to understand the meaning of 'timing is everything.' I'm glad to have some of the pieces that were designed for that production in Pennsylvania as a way to honor what was accomplished but have it reimagined to be completely our own. Many thanks to the Board for saying yes to this monster of a show, my creative team for supporting my crazy ideas and this incredible cast who inspired me every day to accomplish more.
The original national tour of Beauty and the Beast was the first professional show I ever watched and I was captured by the magic of it all. Throughout this production I'm reminded of why I love this show so much, there is beauty in all of us, there is pain in healing, and we can get along with anyone as long as compassion is at the forefront, and that is true magic. I hope you enjoy this 'tale as old as time' and see how much love was poured into this production.
All the best,
Rachel
