Theater News

Belinda Allyn and More to Star in Beauty and the Beast

Mark S. Hoebee directs a new production of the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman Disney musical at Paper Mill Playhouse.

Belinda Allyn will star in Beauty and the Beast at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Belinda Allyn will star in Beauty and the Beast at Paper Mill Playhouse.
(photo provided by Richard Hillman PR)

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast. The company has also added four performances to its schedule, and will now close on Wednesday, July 3. The production begins performances on Wednesday, May 29, and officially opens on Sunday, June 2.

The cast features Belinda Allyn (Paper Mill's West Side Story) as Belle, Joel Blum (Show Boat) as Maurice, Jenelle Chu (Bernhardt/Hamlet) as Babette, Kevin Curtis (Paper Mill's A Chorus Line) as Lefou, Donna English (Paper Mill's Lend Me a Tenor) as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Stacia Fernandez (Paper Mill's Bandstand) as Mrs. Potts, Gavin Lee (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Lumiere, Kevin Ligon (Hello, Dolly!) as Cogsworth, Stephen Mark Lukas (The Book of Mormon) as Gaston, Tally Sessions (Paper Mill's South Pacific) as The Beast, with Gianni David Faruolo (Fun Home) and Antonio Watson (This Ain't No Disco) alternating in the role of Chip.

They will be joined by Joe Bigelow, Monica Cioffi, Brittany Conigatti, Justin DeParis, Stephen DiBiase, Jennifer Evans, Annie Gagen, David Michael Garry, Leeds Hill, Brett Michael Lockley, Michael Milkanin, Corinne Munsch, Brett Pederson, Alexa Racioppi, Taylor Rosenberger, Molly Rushing, Bronwyn Tarboton, Matthew Vincent Taylor, and Cynthia Thorne.

The production team includes scenic design by Kelly James Tighe, costume design by Leon Dobkowski, lighting design by Charlie Morrison, sound design by Matt Kraus, hair and wig design by Leah J. Loukas, makeup design by Dena Olivieri, and fight direction by Rick Sordelet.