May 29, 30 • June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19
Beauty and the Beast was scheduled to be our 2020 show. In 2020, it was cancelled after a single rehearsal. The original intention was that it would be the first show when we came back. So three KFT actors put up this 30 second video announcement. Because of public health restrictions, the theater ended up with a show with the a smaller cast. The bad news was the Beauty and the Beast had to wait another year. The good news was that we were able to put on 18 performances of Little Women and still do Beauty and the Beast with most of the people who had been cast who were at the first and last rehearsal of 2020.
Beauty and the Beast was last performed at KFT in 2008 and we were thrilled to have some key actors return from the earlier version.
This was a return performance in several ways. It was the second time that Craig Schieber directed, Guy Ciardi choreographed, Ila Faubion Dreessen played Beauty and Anthony Dreessen played the Beast. Walt and his daughter Valerie Foster also returned but in different roles.
Barbara Klingberg did an incredible job costuming. Interestingly enough in some the the costumes from the 2008 production were created by her for another theater.
Ila wrote a blog entry telling Anthony's and her story between their original performance in 2008 to this performance in 2022.
One of the highlights of the show was casting Anna Vizzare as Le Feu, the sycophantic sidekick of Gaston (Leif Layman). She was able to show off her incredible talents at both physical and character comedy. She too wrote a blog post about her experiences which is worth reading.
Production Staff
Director: Craig Schieber; Asst. Director: Jenny Dresseen; Choreographer: Guy Caridi; Music Director: Mark Press; Asst. Music Director: Nancy Press; Sets: Chris Stanley; Costumes: Barbara Klingberg; Stage Manager: Danette Lam; Props: Stewart Shusterman
