Tale As Old As Time: A Q&A with the Cast of Tiger Drama’s Beauty and the Beast

by Mara Bech

December is fast approaching, and so is Tiger Drama’s production of the classic Disney musical Beauty and the Beast. With this in mind, I asked cast members for their thoughts on their interpretation of this enchanting tale!

More information about ticketing and performance dates/times can be found at the end of this article.

What is your favorite song/scene in the show?

Definitely “Something There.” - Zach Moog, “Beast”

Be Our Guest. - Eli Wissing, “Lumiere”

Favorite song is Something There, it’s underrated and has really beautiful underscoring. - Asa Wadden, “Cogsworth”

My favorite song is definitely “Human Again.” It has some of the coolest harmonies in the show, breaking out into a five part split that was well worth the work that went into learning it. - Caty Childress, “Babette”

My favorite song in the show is either Gaston because it’s a classic and the “endless refrains” are hilarious or The Mob Song because it’s got such a powerful melody! - Vivian Read, “Madame de la Grande Bouche”

I think my favorite song in the show is “Be Our Guest.” It has been one of my favorites since I was a kid and it is so cool that I get to be a part of it now! It is one of the numbers we have had to put a lot of work into, which makes it more rewarding and fun when it’s finished and ready for an audience! - Maddie Sipes, “Les Filles de la Ville”

My favorite song is Human Again! - Siena Lotrario, “Les Filles de la Ville”

My favorite song in the show is Gaston! The dancing and mood is so fun! - Alex Read, “Les Filles de la Ville”

The Mob Song! I love the facials we get to do and the fun we get to have with it. It’s my favorite choreography because we get to interact with each other and go into the audience. Also it’s a super high song and it’s fun to shout. - Rai Barker, ensemble

I love Be Our Guest and Human Again. - Bella Jimenez, “Mrs. Potts”

My favorite song is probably Gaston or Human Again. - Avan Noland, ensemble

Human Again. - Maile Quisano, ensemble

“Kill The Beast (Mob Song).” - Charlie Duggan, ensemble

What has been your favorite part of the rehearsal process?

Meeting and working with new people. - Zach Moog

My favorite part of every rehearsal process at LC is watching the script that we all sit down and read on the first day come to life and become magic onstage. That process brings so many people together because we’re able to create an amazing piece and whether it’s a play or a musical, we all worked so hard for months and I love it! …The plays and the musicals are beautiful, beautiful stories and the work we do is great, but the relationships that we build along the way are so impactful. - Danny Post, “Gaston”

I’ve loved working with this incredible cast. - Eli Wissing

[My] favorite part of rehearsal has been getting to watch the ensemble numbers while I’m offstage and seeing how they evolve with everyone’s unique characters. - Asa Wadden

My favorite part of the rehearsal process has been spending time with friends backstage. I’ve made so many new friends and continued my goofiness with some of my besties! - Vivian Read

My favorite part of the rehearsal process is when we get to start adding in the rest of “the magic” such as props, lights, and the amazing costumes! It is always so fun and really starts to bring everything together! - Maddie Sipes

My favorite part of the process has been seeing all the technical elements come together. - Siena Lotrario

Getting to be such close friends with people on the cast, especially people I wouldn’t have gotten to know otherwise. - Bella Jimenez

My favorite part of the rehearsal process has been getting to know everyone. - Avan Noland

The people! - Charlie Duggan

What is your favorite line in the show?

My favorite line in the show is when I say “Take him to the crossroads!” - Zach Moog

My favorite Gaston line is probably “Ladies, ladies, I’m just getting married, don’t tell me a little thing like that is going to change your feelings for me!” - Danny Post

“There will be beautiful music, romantic candlelight - provided by myself - and when the moment is right —” - Eli Wissing

Favorite line is probably Gaston mispronouncing rendez-vous, it’s hilarious every time. - Asa Wadden

Off the top of my head, my favorite lines comes from my entrance, “Ooh la la, what have we here? Do my eyes deceive me or is this a real man?” Ever a bit of a flirt, Babette makes her entrance by leaping on the opportunity to make a move on someone other than her significant other. - Caty Childress

“Take whatever booty you can find, but remember, the Beast is mine!” - Siena Lotrario

Babette’s line, “No no no! I’ve been burnt by you before!”- Rai Barker

My favorite line is “Take whatever booty you can find…” technically, the rest of the line is the “but the Beast is mine,” but it’s funnier out of context. - Bella Jimenez

Favorite line just because it makes me uncomfortable/laugh is Babette’s “I just LOVE older men.” - Avan Noland

“Take all the booty you can find, but remember, the Beast is mine!” - Charlie Duggan

My favorite line in the show is in “Belle” when the candlemaker says “I’ll get the knife” and then Gaston says “Please let me through!” I don’t know why, it’s hilarious. - Rya Monroe, “Marie”

What are you most excited for audiences to see?

I am most excited for audiences to see the wolf fights. - Zach Moog

I’m most excited for them to see the incredible costuming. - Eli Wissing

I’m most excited for audiences to see numbers like The Mob Song with the immersive experience they give. - Asa Wadden

I’m really excited for audiences to see the tech for this show. The lighting already looks amazing, and it’s something I believe always pulls a piece together. - Caty Childress

I’m super excited for audiences to see how we’ve brought this show into the audience. We have some platforms that extend the stage further, lights in the house, and on several occasions our ensemble goes out into the aisles to dance and sing! It’s going to be so cool, especially for the little kids! - Vivian Read

I am most excited for the audience to see all the interactive moments and numbers in the show! There are so many moments we are bringing to life by bringing closer to the audience! We are using the theatre as the castle and truly using as much of the space as we can and hopefully it is just as magical for the audience as it is for us! - Maddie Sipes

I am most excited for the audience to see the costumes — and choreography by Angela Pierson! - Siena Lotrario

I’m so hyped for Be Our Guest! That number is a beast (hahaha) and we worked really hard on it. I can’t wait for the little kids who see this show to watch that scene. - Rai Barker

I’m really excited for how people will react to the iconic yellow ballgown and that whole beautiful dance scene. - Bella Jimenez

I am very excited for the audience to see the finished product of big scenes like Be Our Guest with costumes, props, and lights! - Avan Noland

The creative take [Mr. Pschirrer] has on the show. - Charlie Duggan

I’m most excited for the kids to see the ensemble coming out into the audience. It’ll be magical for them. - Rya Monroe

Describe your character in the show.

The beast is lonely and ashamed of his appearance, which fuels his anger and aggression, but all the beast really wants is to be loved. - Zach Moog

My character, Lumiere, was the first helper to the prince who was magically turned into a candlestick because he’s a little bit of a hothead. - Eli Wissing

Babette, the castle maid turned feather duster, is, in her simplest essence, flirtatious and French. Coming from a ballet background, I like to think she carries herself with some semblance of grace, but, considering her affections for the art of melodrama, that is not always the case. - Caty Childress

My character is Madame de la Grande Bouche. She is an opera singer who was transformed into a wardrobe. Although she may have lost her mobility, her presence is never unnoticed because of how loud and extravagant she is. Her French name literally translates to Madame of the Big Mouth. Playing this character has been super fun because I get to just be super over the top and weird! - Vivian Read

My character is one of the silly girls who fawns over Gaston and often has her perfume on hand for praising Gaston…or fighting. - Siena Lotrario

I play one of the silly girls in the show. My character is a ditzy village girl, obsessed with Gaston and her looks. She throws herself at Gaston whenever possible, even if it makes her look like a fool! - Alex Read

I am the Hat Seller, but the subtext we created is crazy. I’m canonically the town midwife and also arsonist. And I sell hats that are incredibly out of fashion. - Rai Barker

Mrs. Potts, a matronly figure who cares for her son and fellow castle staff, but still lightly scolds bad manners. - Bella Jimenez

[My character] likes to make candles and dance and sing. - Charlie Duggan

My character is someone who is shy but is up for anything they get dragged along to! - Maile Quisano

My character is Marie. She is the baker’s wife. And also low-key abusive. I get to hit Evan with a rolling pin, and I also angrily carry it around in The Mob Song. She’s a bitter woman. - Rya Monroe

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Tickets are currently available for purchase in the Business Office for Tiger Drama’s production of Beauty and the Beast. $8 for students, $10 for adults.

Performance Dates/Times:

Thursday, December 5 - 7:00pm

Friday, December 6 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 7 - 2:00pm

Thursday, December 12 - 7:00 pm

Friday, December 13 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 14 - 2:00 pm