FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2017
PRESS CONTACT
Courtney Lowe [email protected] 336-880-2566
The magic of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast comes to life
at High Point Theatre May 4-7
High Point Community Theatre is presenting the Disney family classic musical, Beauty and the Beast, May 4-7,
2017 at the elegant High Point Theatre in downtown High Point. This fun and family friendly musical, adapted from
the original Disney animated film, brings to life the timeless story of a selfish and hot tempered prince who is
turned into a hideous monster and must win the affection of a beautiful, young girl in order to regain his humanity.
This musical includes the classic scores of “Be Our Guest”, “If I Can’t Love Her”, “A Change in Me”, the title song
“Beauty and the Beast” and many more. The exuberant musical offers humor, romance, and excitement for all ages.
Director Katie Jo Icenhower says that Beauty and the Beast is driven by both spectacle and character. “This
production is filled with larger than life characters, spectacular musical numbers, and enchanting special effects,”
said Icenhower. “It is sure to delight audiences of all ages”.
According to Icenhower Beauty and the Beast was Disney’s first attempt at a self-actualized princess. “Belle is
intelligent, a dreamer, and completely without vanity,” says Icenhower. “She is the character who drives the action
by making brave choices like thwarting Gaston and, more importantly, taking her father’s place as Beast’s prisoner.
Ultimately, she creates the happy ending because she does not judge a book by its cover. This story delivers a
powerful message wrapped in an enchanted fairy tale”.
The Disney animated feature film from which the play is based premiered in 1991 and won the Academy Award for
Best Song and Best Original Score and made history for being the first animated feature to be nominated for Best
Picture. The Broadway production opened in 1994 and ran for 13 years and 5,461 performances. The Broadway
production expanded upon the animated version with seven new songs. The new numbers with the help of Tim Rice
were intended to bring out the sensitive side of the Beast and to underscore Belle's courage. The play was nominated
for nine Tony Awards. It has been performed in more than 30 countries reaching over 35 million theatergoers.
Disney’s live-action version of this tale as old as time was released earlier this year and has already earned over $1
billion worldwide, making it the 17th largest grossing film in history worldwide.
All performances will be at High Point Theatre (220 E. Commerce Ave., High Point) May 4, 5 and 6 at 7:30 PM
and May 6 and 7 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are on sale at www.highpointtheatre.com and www.hpct.net. You also can call
the High Point Theatre Box office M-F (9am-5pm) at 336-887-3001. Ticket prices range from $18 to $22. There
will be an American Sign Language presentation of the show on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 PM.
In the spirit of Belle’s love of reading, High Point Community Theatre is encouraging attendees to bring a new
children’s book with them to the show. The books we collect will be given to the Macedonia Family Resource
Center in High Point. The Macedonia Center focuses on facing the needs and challenges of their community by
combating illiteracy. The books will be collected in the lobby of the High Point Theatre and delivered to the Center
after the run of the show.
High Point Community Theatre is 501c3 non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. This is HPCT’s 41st year
of bringing quality live theatre to High Point and the surrounding areas. Their 42nd mainstage season opens in
October with My Fair Lady, followed by A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Next to Normal and Legally Blonde. The
HPCT’s Teen Thespian Organization will perform the musical Bonnie & Clyde July 20-23 and the HPCT Youth
Stage will perform the musical Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory July 27-30.
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