ARROW ROCK, MO – Step into the enchanted world of Broadway’s modern classic, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, June 7 through June 18, 2017. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written for the film, along with new songs by Alan Menken and Tim Rice. Beauty and the Beast tells the classic story 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. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. This “tale as old as time” is spectacular fun for the entire family.

Len Pfluger returns to the Lyceum to direct Beauty and the Beast with choreography by Sam Hay. The production features  JOSEPH SPIELDENNER as the Beast, SHARON MALANE as Belle, DON RICHARD as Maurice, BEN CULLEN as Gaston, BOE WANK as Lefou, PERRY OJEDA as Lumiere, ALAN KNOLL as Cogsworth and JANE BROCKMAN as Mrs. Potts. The cast also includes BAILEY JORDAN REEVES as Babette, STEPHANIE GRAY as Madame De La Grande Bouche, and DANIEL RYAN as Chip. Featured in the ensemble are KATHYRN BRUNNER, HOLLY DAYTON, HANNAH RAE FAULK, ALEX HARTMAN, TYLER JIMENEZ, KOURTNEY KEITT, SPENCER LAWSON, KIRK LYDELL, GAGE MARTIN, MASON MCCLOUD, TREVOR MILES, BRENNA NOBLE, ISAAK OLSON, LESLIE WALKER, and MONICA WOODS.

Making his Lyceum debut as the Beast is Joseph Spieldenner. Joe was seen on Broadway as Grantaire in the 2014 Revival of Les Misérables and appeared in the National Tours of Les Misérables (25th Anniversary) and South Pacific. Regional credits include North Shore Music Theater, North Carolina Theater, PaperMill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus and many more. TV credits include “Iron Fist” (Netflix), “Redrum” (InvDiscovery). Playing Belle, Sharon Malane, returns to The Lyceum after having appeared recently as Denise in Sanders’ Family Christmas and Smoke on the Mountain. Other Lyceum productions include Hello Dolly (Minnie Fay) and Hairspray (Penny). Sharon appeared in the National Tour of Hairspray (Penny). Regional credits include Grease (Sandy), Legally Blonde (Chutney), Joseph…Dreamcoat (u/s Narrator), My Fair Lady and South Pacific (Lt.J.G.Yeager) at STONC; Leaving Iowa (Sis), Oystertown, and Vintage Hitchcock at the Dixie Theater.

Returning to the Lyceum to play Belle’s father Maurice is Don Richard. Lyceum audiences will remember Don from his previous performances as Fagin in Oliver!, Thernardier in Les Misérables, and Clem in Will Rogers Follies. Broadway credits include the original cast of Jane Eyre, Urinetown and the recent revival of Side Show. Don appeared for seven years in the National Tour of Wicked. Making his Lyceum debut, Ben Cullen will play Belle’s arrogant suitor, Gaston. Ben appeared in the National Tour of Beauty and the Beast and has been seen regionally in White Christmas (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Les Misérables (The Fulton), and Joseph…Dreamcoat (The Fulton). Boe Wank makes his debut at the Lyceum as Gaston’s sidekick and punching bag, Lefou. Boe was recently seen in the National Tour of Kathleen Marshall’s TONY Award-winning revival of Anything Goes.

Also making his Lyceum debut, Perry Ojeda plays servant turned candelabra, Lumiere. His Broadway credits include On The Town, Blood Brothers, and Imaginary Friends. In the West End he was seen in Dolly West’s Kitchen. Off-Broadway credits include Die, Mommie, Die!, Babes In Arms (City Center ENCORES!). National Tours include Blood Brothers, Camelot, and My One And Only. He has appeared regionally at Ogunquit Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Old Globe, Goodspeed Opera House, Cleveland Playhouse, Arena Stage, Orlando Shakespeare Festival and many others. Playing Cogsworth, the tightly wound servant, is Lyceum veteran, Alan Knoll. Alan’s most recently portrayed Bob Ewell in the Repertory Theater of St. Louis’ production of To Kill A Mockingbird. Previous Lyceum appearances include the Rev Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest, Victor Velasco in Barefoot In The Park, Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy, Gangster #1 in Kiss Me Kate, Stephen Hopkins in 1776, Gatch in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Renfield in Dracula and his favorite, Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey. Returning to the Lyceum to play Mrs. Potts, the head of the kitchen turned teapot, is Jane Brockman. Jane comes directly from Wicked on Broadway, and 3 &1/2 yrs. on the National Tour where she played the Midwife & Madame Morrible. Jane spent 6 years on Broadway in A Christmas Carol and was seen as Lady Anne in “Live From Lincoln Center” Camelot and in Abba’s Kristina at Carnegie Hall and at The Royal Albert Hall. Other National Tours include The Light In The Piazza, (U/S Margaret), The and Sound of Music (Sister Berthe). TV/Film: The Americans, Law And Order SVU, All My Children, The Producer’s movie and various commercials.

Bailey Jordan Reeves returns to the Lyceum to play the castle maid, Babette. Bailey recently appeared on the Lyceum Stage as Louise in Murder on the Nile and as Belle/Anne in A Christmas Carol. Making her Lyceum debut, Stephanie Gray plays Madame De La Grande Bouche. Her National Tour credits include Beauty and the Beast and Arts Power Nat. Touring Company. Playing Chip, Mrs. Potts’ son, is Daniel Ryan, returning to the Lyceum after appearing as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol last season. Daniel lives in Columbia where he has appeared in several TRYPS performances and attends Paxton Keeley.

Len Pfluger, a Lyceum regular, directs the production. For the Lyceum, Mr. Pfluger has directed and/or choreographed Funny Girl, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Nunsense Jamboree, Forever Plaid, Anything Goes, Nunsense, Nuncrackers, Annie, Big, How to Succeed… and Sugar. He made his Carnegie Hall debut directing Sue Mathys Sings Broadway and Piaf at Weill Concert Hall. He has worked around the country, most recently directing and choreographing Camelot for Lyric Stage in Dallas. Sam Hay is the Lyceum’s Resident Choreographer where his previous credits include Funny Girl, Oliver, Little Shop of Horrors, and The King and I.  His choreography has also been seen at Phoenix Theatre, Little Theatre on the Square, Webster Conservatory, and Grandstreet Theatre. Now in his 14th season, Lyceum Resident Musical director James Woodland will serve as Musical Director and Conductor for Beauty and the Beast. James retired as head of the BFA Acting Program at Missouri State University. In previous years, he was head of the Musical Theatre programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Miami. Professionally, James has musical directed at North Shore Music Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Brian C. Smith’s Off-Broadway at 26th Street Theatre, Florida Shakespeare Theatre, Maryland Shakespeare Festival, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, and Stages St. Louis.

Scenic design is by Lyceum Theatre Resident Scenic Designer Ryan J. Zirngibl. Mr. Zirngibl has designed many productions at The Lyceum including Les Misérables, A Christmas Carol, Million Dollar Quartet, Around the World in 80 Days, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof. Resident Costume Designer Garth Dunbar has been part of 10 previous seasons at The Lyceum where his many designs include Into the Woods, Hairspray, The Fantasticks, and Little Women the Musical. Resident Lighting Designer Randy B. Winder has designed close to 100 Lyceum productions including Cats, A Christmas Carol, Les Misérables, Million Dollar Quartet, and The Fantasticks. Resident Sound Designer Ryan Matthew Hall returns for his ninth season at The Lyceum where he has designed Les Misérables, The King and I, Spamalot, The Producers, To Kill A Mockingbird, Fiddler on the Roof, and many more. Tony Dearing is in his 25th year as Production Stage Manager and Ivan Dario Cano returns for his second year as Assistant Stage Manager.

Single Tickets for Beauty and the Beast are priced at $37.00 for adults. Senior, student and children discounts are available. Special Group Rates are available as well. Performances are June 7 – June 18, 2016, Evening performances are at 8pm and matinees are at 2pm. For tickets: www.lyceumtheatere.org, (660) 837-3311 x1, or in person at the Lyceum’s box office at 114 High Street, Arrow Rock, MO 65320.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)(3), professional theatre located in the unique village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, a 19th century National Historic Landmark. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences in the heart of Missouri for 57 years producing a variety of musicals, dramas and comedies. Each year, this 408 seat theatre attracts professional talent from across the country to produce an eight show season (June-December). Performers, designers, directors, and technicians take residence in Arrow Rock for five months to bring its patrons Broadway caliber productions throughout the summer. The Lyceum receives much needed support from the Missouri Arts Council.

The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

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