by Kasey Kopp, dramaturg
In a few short weeks, one of the world’s greatest love stories is coming to BYU in a never-before-seen, unique way under the direction of George Nelson. The story is timeless (and some would argue a classic), powerful love story between a beautiful young girl and a hideous monster. For those that may be unfamiliar with the story, I would like to provide you with a brief introduction. A selfish, young prince falls under the curse of a powerful enchantress when he refuses to give her shelter from the cold in exchange for a single rose. He is transformed into a hideous monster and told that unless he can love another and earn their love in return, he will be doomed to remain a beast forever. Years later, a young, intelligent girl residing in a provincial French town is isolated from those around here. Desiring much more than the town and its inhabitants (including the boorish hunter attempting to woo her) have to offer, she yearns for a place to belong. When her father is taken captive by the beast, this spirited young woman agrees to stay In exchange for her father’s freedom. As time passes, we see the ways in which this initially cruel monster and this intellectual girl grow together and change for the better. But will she be able to look on the heart of this creature and break the spell before the last petal falls? For its BYU premiere, this classic musical will receive a non-traditional staging. Instead of a faithful recreation of the animated movie, a company of players will work together to create the story of Belle and Beast and immerse the audience in what is sure to be a groundbreaking and exciting new interpretation of this “tale as old as time.” As we move toward opening night, keep checking back often as we bring you more information about this classic musical, history and fun facts about the story of Beauty and the Beast, and a behind-the-scenes look at the work of our incredibly talented cast and crew! We can’t wait for you to be our guest starting November 19!
