OnStage: It’s been twenty-one years since Beauty & the Beast opened on Broadway thus creating the mammoth that is Disney Theatrical Group. If you doubt their impact on Broadway, then you weren’t walking around Times Square and 8th Ave before they came along. Since 1994, three of their productions are ranked in the top ten highest grossing musicals of all time, won ten Tony Awards and have been performed by schools all over the world, every school year.
3 comments:
A couple things really stand out to me about this article. Firstly, the TRAINING. Yes, there were a couple pop stars sprinkled throughout Broadways Belles, but it was so relieving to see that so many of them had trained at leading Universities and conservatories. It makes me feel as if my training is that much more of a solid investment. Secondly, the diversity. Every Belle seemed, both in their past work and in their looks, to bring their own self to the role, which is what we need to do! Not only that, but it was such a pleasant surprise to see Toni Braxton!!! An African American woman! Who i didnt even know had played Belle on Broadway. Every year we become more open to diverse and cross-cultural casting, and to see that, during Toni Braxtons generation, it was already becoming a success is awesome. I love that. Lastly, its amazing to see the work these actresses have done. So many times you think of "one and done" actors, especially female actors to whom which the industry is especially brutal. To see these girls work, in many MANY different capacities, is awesome. It, again, gives me hope and faith in the industry and in my own career as an actor.
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This was actually a fascinating read. Firstly, how awesome that they included all of the training and the before-and-after work. That in itself really proves that the women who are getting this role have done the dirty work to get there. Really, really cool to hear. I found it so interesting to see that many of the Belles played many of the same roles in other productions. I found that the actresses often also played Eponine in Les Miserables, Penny in Hairspray, and a variety of roles in The Sound of Music. That really drives home the concept and reality of types--the people who have come before you certainly have a hand in paving your easiest path.
Playing Belle on Broadway is not an easy task at all. Actually, to broaden the topic, portraying any character from any other medium (film, TV, real life, book, etc.) on stage is not easy. It is some thing that is very daunting because so many people come in to see the production with pre-conceived ideas of all of the acting choices you are going to make. This is simply because they have seen the character before they are seeing you be that character. Many times people want these actors to simply recreate these other performances, which gets me thinking, “why hire someone new in the first place.” If you wanted the same take on a character why don’t you just use the original? Why even spend the money on hiring a very talented actor, when you aren’t going to allow them to make all of their fantastic acting choices! That is why I have a lot of respect for actors who are able to play characters like Belle, and are still able to make the character their own.
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