INDIANAPOLIS — Footlite Musicals, Indianapolis’ oldest continuing community theatre, continues to celebrate the holiday season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, running four weekends, Nov. 22, 23, 24, 29 and 30 and Dec. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15, 2024.
Footlite presents its productions at its home theater, the Hedback Community Theater, 1847 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis. The curtain time for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances is 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee has a 2:30 p.m. curtain. Based on Disney’s Academy Award winning animated feature, this stage version includes all the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Menken and Tim Rice. The original Broadway production, with a book by Linda Woolverton, ran for over 13 years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. A treat for the entire family!
Produced by Jonna Kauffman, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is directed by Josh Vander Missen and choreographed by Trish Roberds. Kayvon Emtiaz serves as the production’s vocal director and musical conductor, Stephen Matters as scenic designer, Andy Stephens as lighting designer, and Vickie Tewes as costume designer.
Elizabeth Hutson as Belle and Drew Kempin as the Beast head the cast of 36. Also featured in the cast are Brett Edwards as Gaston, Chris Ritchie as Lumiere, Tara Cherry as Mrs. Potts, Zac Speer as Cogsworth, Alex Bast as LeFou, Jon Thuerbach as Maurice, Ellen Vander Missen as Babette, Dona Marie Rosenbaum as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Tallulah Salimeno as Chip, and Kyle Cherry as Monsieur D’arque.
Individual admission prices for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens (65 and older) and students (18 to 22, with an ID), and $15 for youth (17 and younger). The Thursday and first Sunday performances are $15 for all seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.footlite.org or by phone at the box office number, 317-926-6630. Questions and concerns may be directed to the Footlite box office at its phone number or at boxoffice@footlite.org. Individual show tickets are also on sale for the rest of Footlite’s 2024-2025 main stage season of “Next to Normal,” “Caroline or Change,” and “Kinky Boots.”
