I saw NC Theatre's production of BEAUTY & THE BEAST in Raleigh, NC last night. An OK show. Score and performances very good, I don't like the adaptation. And the costumes and set were not up to par, since BEAST is an expensive show, they had to make some sacrifices I am sure.
But Lauren Kennedy starred as "Belle" and her husband, Alan Campbell as "Beast." Also in the cast were Jeanna Lehman as "Mrs. Potts," Gregg Goodbrod as "Gaston," Jessica Leigh Brown, and SIX FEET UNDER'S Tim Maculan.
In the bio of Lauren Kennedy, it states:
"Lauren can be heard on the cast albums of Frank Wildhorn's DRACULA (soon to be released), The Ten Commandments (coming soon, DVD and CD), ..."
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle