DIRECTED BY AMBER MAK

Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Book by Linda Woolverton.

November 13, 2019-January 19, 2020

Be our guest this holiday season, as we step inside this classic storybook fairytale and discover that beauty isn’t always as it appears.

WHAT IS BEAUTY? Join us as we step inside this classic storybook fairytale and discover that beauty isn’t always as it appears.

Once upon a time on a bitter winter’s night, a young, selfish and vain prince finds a beggar woman asking for shelter. Disgusted by her appearance, he sends her away. The old woman transforms into a magical enchantress who places a curse upon the prince to
appear as hideous on the outside as he is on the inside. Given a magical rose, he must learn to love and find love in return before the last petal drops, or he is doomed to remain a beast forever. But who could ever learn to love a beast?

One of Disney’s most beloved animated films comes to life on stage with all the enchanted castle characters in a holiday extravaganza that will thrill, entertain and amaze young and old alike. Be our guest this holiday season, and celebrate the power and wonder of theater with us and our two-story Christmas tree in a lobby decorated to create memories that last a lifetime.

Paul-Jordan Jansen plays the Beast

(from left) Jackson Evans plays Lumiere, George Keating is Cogsworth, Jennie Sophia plays Mrs. Potts and Izzie Rose is Chip

Beth Stafford Laird (center) plays Belle and Jackson Evans is Lumiere the dancing candlestick

“Be Our Guest” featuring Beth Stafford Laird (center) making her Chicago debut as Belle

Beth Stafford Laird as Belle and Paul-Jordan Jansen as the Beast

Beth Stafford Laird as Belle and Paul-Jordan Jansen as the Beast

Gaston, played by Emmett O’Hanlon

Gaston, played by Emmett O’Hanlon (center)

Lefou (Nick Druzbanski, center front) leads the townspeople in a toast to Gaston (Emmett O’Hanlon, on table)

Beth Stafford Laird as Belle

Beth Stafford Laird as Belle and Paul-Jordan Jansen as the Beast

Beth Stafford Laird as Belle and Paul-Jordan Jansen as the Beast

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Meet the Team

Cast

Paul-Jordan Jansen

The Beast

Paul-Jordan Jansen serves as the Musical Theatre Administrator for PSA, as well as Associate Artistic Producer for Paramount Theatre. Jordan has been performing on stages across the world for over a decade. Aside from his career performing, Jordan has spent equal time becoming an educator. When he was 19, Jordan developed a program in North East, Ohio that focused on preparing students for their collegiate theatre auditions. Since then, he has worked at various different universities on Song Analysis while continuing to prepare students for their journey to the collegiate and professional world of theatre.

 

Beth Stafford Laird *

Belle

making Paramount Theatre debut

Paul-Jordan Jansen *

Beast

previously in The Wizard of Oz and Sweeney Todd

Katherine Lee Bourné *

Babette

previously in Newsies

Nick Druzbanski

Lefou

making Paramount Theatre debut

Jackson Evans *

Lumiere

making Paramount Theatre debut

George Keating *

Cogsworth

previously in Beauty and the Beast, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Les Misérables, Cats and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Becca McCoy *

Madame de la Grande Bouche

making Paramount Theatre debut

Emmett O’Hanlon *

Gaston (Nov 13-Jan 5)

making Paramount Theatre debut

Ron E. Rains *

Maurice

previously in The Producers and Cabaret

Jennie Sophia *

Mrs. Potts, Narrator

making Paramount Theatre debut

Trevor Vanderzee *

Gaston (Jan 8-19)

making Paramount Theatre debut

Aaliyah Montana

Chip (at select performances)

making Paramount Theatre debut

Izzie Rose

Chip (at select performances)

making Paramount Theatre debut

Brian Bandura

Ensemble

making Paramount Theatre debut

Danielle Davila *

Silly Girl, Ensemble, Dance Captain

previously in Legally Blonde, Elf and The Little Mermaid

Billy Dawson *

Ensemble, Young Prince, u/s Beast

making Paramount Theatre debut

Evan C. Dolan

Ensemble, u/s Lefou

previously in Newsies and Sweeney Todd

Timothy P. Foszcz

Ensemble, u/s Young Prince, u/s Gaston

making Paramount Theatre debut

Christopher John Kelley *

Ensemble, u/s Lumiere

previously in Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, The Producers and The Wizard of Oz

Taylor Lane

Ensemble, u/s Enchantress

making Paramount Theatre debut

Ashley Lanyon *

Ensemble, u/s Belle

making Paramount Theatre debut

Bernell Lassai III

Ensemble

previously in Beauty and the Beast and The Producers

Ivory Leonard IV

Ensemble, Swing, u/s Monsieur D’Arque

previously in Newsies and The Producers

Jenna Napolitano

Ensemble

making Paramount Theatre debut

Nich O’Neil

Ensemble

previously in Newsies and The Wizard of Oz

Sara Reinecke *

Silly Girl, Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Potts

previously in Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Legally Blonde, Elf and Mamma Mia!

Elizabeth Romero

Silly Girl, Ensemble, u/s Babette

making Paramount Theatre debut

Aalon Smith

Ensemble, Swing, u/s Silly Girl

making Paramount Theatre debut

Darian Tene

Enchantress, Ensemble

making Paramount Theatre debut

Katherine Viviano

Ensemble, u/s Madame de la Grande Bouche

making Paramount Theatre debut

Charles Emery Ward

Monsieur D’Arque, Ensemble, u/s Maurice, u/s Lumiere

Previously in Beauty and the Beast, Elf and The Little Mermaid

Artistic Team

Amber Mak ‡

Director & Co-Choreographer

Todd Rhoades

Co-Choreographer

Kory Danielson

Music Director & Conductor

Jeffrey D. Kmiec †

Scenic Designer

Theresa Ham †

Costume Designer

Jesse Klug †

Lighting Designer

Adam Rosenthal

Sound Designer

Mike Tutaj †

Projection Designer

Katie Cordts

Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer

Jesse Gaffney

Properties Designer

Christopher Rose

Magic Designer

Ethan Deppe

Electronic Music Designer

Susan Gosdick

Dialect Coach

As a performer, Susan has appeared at Theatre at the Center, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Artists’ Ensemble, The Old …

Jerry Galante

Fight Choreograpgher

Jinni Pike *

Stage Manager

Kelly Montgomery *

Assistant Stage Manager

Landree Fleming

Assistant Director

Charlotte Rivard-Hoster

Assistant Music Director & Associate Conductor

* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

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Spectacular … 3.5 out of 4 stars

Chris Jones

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune

visually dazzling and magnificently sung … 3.5 out of 4 stars

Catey Sullivan

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Sun-Times

The best show that I’ve ever seen at Paramount … Highly, highly, highly recommending

Dean Richards

WGN Radio

most definitely a must-see show

Colin Douglas

Chicago Theatre Review

Chicago Theatre Review

a dazzling holiday confection … 4 stars

Marni Pyke

Daily Herald

Daily Herald

Extraordinary … sits in a class by itself

Ed Tracy

Conversations with Ed Tracy

Conversations with Ed Tracy

A holiday MUST SEE … I was truly blown away

Danielle Tufano

95.9 The River

95.9 The River

This was the best production we’ve seen so far! The talent is unbelievable! So good!!!

Betsy C.

Patron, Facebook

Even Scrooge would be hard pressed to find anything bad to say about this show.

Chris J.

Patron, Facebook

This production is one of the best the Paramount has ever done – maybe the best. If you haven’t seen it yet – GO!!!!

Joan S.

Patron, Facebook

This production was mind blowing! Everything and everyone was perfect ! I wish I could attend every performance!

Lisa S.

Patron, Facebook

An excellent production. We loved it from start to finish!

Char R.

Patron, Facebook

Was so unbelievably good… from the voices to the costumes and scenery. We had 9 from ages 10 to 75 and everyone was in awe. Best musical!

Sandra L.

Patron, Facebook

Best of all the great productions we have seen at the Paramount

Patron, Survey

The singing and acting of the actors was phenomenal. I believe they were the most talented cast I have seen at the Paramount.

Patron, Survey

As someone who has been to scores of plays, and a season ticket holder for 5+ years at the Paramount, this play was the best I have seen.

Patron, Survey

The music, singing, dancing and acting were better than anything I have seen on Broadway or Chicago! What an outstanding performance; the music, singing, acting, stage design, dancing. It was one of the best that we have seen!

Patron, Survey

It was a lovely production. Entertaining for adults as well as children.

Patron, Survey

This was the best show I have seen at the Paramount. The set, costumes and performance was excellent. The orchestra was amazing as always.

Patron, Survey

One of the best plays I have seen – sets were magical and the actors/orchestra were fantastic!

Patron, Survey

Absolutely wonderful performance by the entire cast! So enjoyable – I’m coming back in January to see it again and I can’t wait!

Patron, Survey

Beauty and the Beast was outstanding! We could not have been more impressed with the overall performance!

Patron, Survey

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Behind the Scenes

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