PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — It’s a tale as old as time! Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is returning to the Academy of Music.
It’s the first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years, and it stars a Berks County native in an iconic role.
“This is really, really special that we’re able to come to Philly with this show,” says Danny Gardner, who plays the enchanted candelabra Lumiere.
“I saw it in 1991, and I wore out the cassette tape to specifically ‘Be Our Guest,” he says. “To have this full circle moment, to not only be playing this role that I’ve loved for so long, but to bring it close to my hometown, is really just a pinch-me moment.”
His wife, Emily Larger, is also in the show.
“I’m in the ensemble, so you might catch me as a dancing plate, or a townsperson,” Larger says. “I also understudy Mrs. Potts and Madame, who is the wardrobe, and I am also the assistant dance captain.”
And the couple is traveling the country for this tour with their infant son, and dog too!
“We actually found out that we were pregnant the same week that we got the auditions for the show,” Larger says. “We had been trying for a long time, so it was just two very good things all at once that we both ended up booking the show. That doesn’t happen a lot.”
Managing it all takes a bit of magic. The grandparents help out and travel along with the family.
“We’ve kind of pieced it together just within our family and our community, which is just incredible,” she says.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is on stage at the Academy of Music from February 11th to 22nd.
You can get more details at EnsembleArtsPhilly.org
Disney is the parent company of 6abc.
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