Tale as old as time
‘Beauty and the Beast’ debuts at the Tower Theater, features Liberty alumni
A beloved Disney classic has made it to the stage of the Liberty University Tower Theater with the help of Alluvion Stage Company.
“Beauty and the Beast” debuted at the Tower Theater April 29 at 7:30 p.m. This is the second time the musical has been shown at Liberty, but it is the first time it has been produced with Alluvion.
Break a leg — The Alluvion Stage Company helped bring “Beauty and the Beast” to life at the Tower Theater with a cast of both undergraduate and alumni performers. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
Directing the musical is Linda Cooper, chair of the department of theater arts. She believes the musical will speak to students and viewers because of its familiarity.
“They already connect to the characters, so I think it will be good for them to see this musical that they probably saw as a cartoon come to life on stage,” Cooper said.
“I think it just will be reliving a childhood memory and allowing themselves to be children again.”
Actors Timmy Williamson and Rachel Day-Hughes, both Liberty University alumni, perform as part of the Alluvion Stage Company. Together they play the lead roles — the Beast and Belle.
Williamson graduated with undergraduate degrees in worship and music studies and theater performance in spring 2014.
Since then, he has performed in six Alluvion showings, “Beauty and the Beast” being his seventh.
According to Williamson, the musical will have the same lovable characteristics as the Disney movie but will also include a few special additions.
“I think those who know the movie will see that all the things you love about the movie come to life on stage, but then there’s added songs and added lines, so there’s definitely some things you don’t recognize,” Williamson said.
“Our goal was to put our own feel on it … but still stay true to the characters that everybody loves.”
In preparation to play the role of the Beast, Williamson focused on harboring not just the angry and rough side. He aimed to appropriately capture the compassionate side of the Beast.
“The side I really tried to work on was his transformation … (and) the softening of his heart when Belle comes into his life and sort of the fact that she brings love and light back into his life,” Williamson said.
“So I think a lot of my character work was just finding places to bring humanity to him and not just anger or the animalistic side.”
Williamson believes the audience will enjoy the familiar characters and songs everyone attributes to “Beauty and the Beast”.
“You love characters that you grew up watching, like Mrs. Pots,” Williamson said. “Whenever you just say her name, it makes you happy.”
“Beauty and the Beast” is a story about true, genuine love and not superficial love based on looks, according to Williamson.
“It’s very much on a deeper level and almost explores the true meaning of love — what is love?” Williamson said. “It’s not just a feeling. It’s something much deeper, and true love should be based in truth.”
While Williamson plays the Beast, his friend and former colleague, Day-Hughes, plays the role of Belle.
SHOWTIME — “Beauty and the Beast” will run until May 15. Photo provided
After graduating from Liberty in spring 2013, Day-Hughes has performed in various shows in Georgia, Pennsylvania and most recently Kentucky. She returns to Liberty on occasion to perform in Alluvion shows.
“I absolutely adore Belle,” Day-Hughes said. “I love that she’s not a princess in the beginning, and I love that she’s … a little nerdy.”
Day-Hughes read the original French novel, “La Belle et la Bete” and used an English translation in order to prepare for her role in the musical. She would also write and journal in order to relate to the character.
“I think she wants badly to live in the world of books and fairytales, so even though she knows better, she sort of expects that for her life,” Day-Hughes said. “The Beast is what changes her to realize that life’s not a fairytale, but it can still be beautiful.”
Day-Hughes said the love story is her favorite part of the musical and is what makes it so special.
“I think I love most the arc of falling in love with the Beast,” Day-Hughes said. “That’s my favorite part to act.”
The show is easily relatable by all “90s kids,” according to Day-Hughes, since it is a childhood classic most students remember watching as kids.
“I think people are just going to love being swept back into it,” Day-Hughes said. “It’s different, for sure, but it is, at the core, the story from our childhood.”
Liberty University’s “Beauty and the Beast” will be opening May 4-7 at 7:30 p.m., with showings running until May 15. For ticket information and additional showtimes, visit https://www.liberty.edu/arts/theatre/current-season/.
Sweeney is a feature reporter.