Last winter Olney Theatre's internationally acclaimed production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast inspired thousands of theatergoers: as People Magazine said, it’s “a tale as old as time [that] feels refreshingly new.” Now Jade Jones (Belle) and Evan Ruggiero (Beast) are back in a revival of the production that won hearts and attracted the admiration of audiences from around the country. Be our guest along with other returning cast members Bobby Smith (Lumiere), Dylan Arredondo (Cogsworth), Michael Burrell (Gaston) and the rest of the gang in the Beast’s cursed castle for an escape to a world where beauty is more than skin deep and happily ever after is just a rose petal away.Join us Tuesday, December 6th at 7pm in the Silver Spring Civic Building for Up Close & Personal with the Stars of Disney's Beauty & the Beast presented in collaboration with Olney Theatre. RSVP: [email protected].
Special Bonus: Helen Hayes Award-winner Tracy Lynn Olivera joins the Beauty cast as Madame de la Grande Bouche.
And here's the bio of each 'panelist':
Jade Jones (Belle) is happy to be returning to OTC. OLNEY THEATRE CENTER: Belle in Beauty and The Beast (Belle) A.D. 16, Sweeney Todd. Regional: The MUNY: Mary Poppins, The Color Purple; Kennedy Center: Leonard Bernstein’s MASS. D.C. Area: Shakespeare Theatre Company: The Amen Corner, Macbeth; Theatre Alliance: The Blackest Battle; Round House Theatre: School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play; Ford’s: Into the Woods, The Wiz, 110 in The Shade, 12 Angry Men (Assistant Director); Rep Stage: Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett). TV: Chicago PD (Stevie). Training: Ferrum College: BFA | Upcoming: Mary Poppins at The MUNY. Social media: @LittyOfficial
Evan Ruggiero (Beast) began dancing at the age of five in his hometown studio and by age ten, he was accepted into the famed New Jersey Tap Ensemble. Upon entering his sophomore year at Montclair State University while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, Evan was suddenly diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer of the right leg. Enduring nine surgeries in a six-month period in an effort to save the leg, the cancer returned more aggressively than the original diagnosis. He was faced with the ultimate decision of amputation in order to stop the cancer and save his life, as well as undergoing chemotherapy for sixteen months. Eighteen months after the amputation, and only two days after receiving his “peg-leg”, Evan was tap dancing again. In 2018 he received a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, a Chita Rivera Award Nomination for Best Dancer in a Musical, and was awarded a Clive Barnes Award in Theatre for his portrayal of Tom Jones in NYC’s off-broadway hit “Bastard Jones.” Evan has been seen performing at Carnegie Hall and at the 90th Oscars as well as performing for many notable individuals such as Ellen Degeneres, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Egypt’s sixth and current president, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and most recently performing alongside two-time Grammy winning artist, Jason Mraz. Theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Beast, Olney Theatre Center), Camelot (Sir Dinadan, The Muny), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man, Pittsburgh CLO), Toxic Avenger (Melvin/Toxie, Pittsburgh CLO), Shrek (Pied Piper, Pittsburgh CLO) Man of La Mancha (Manuel, Pittsburgh CLO) and Baby (Danny, NYC off-b’way). Social media: @Lord_Pegleg
Walter “Bobby” McCoy (Music Director), a proud Nicaraguan-American, is thrilled to be returning to Olney Theatre Center this season! Music Direction credits include- NEW YORK: Xanadu, The World Goes ‘Round (The Mac-Haydn Theatre). WASHINGTON DC: A.D. 16 (Asst), Beauty and the Beast, Miss You Like Hell, Annie (Olney Theatre Center); On Your Feet! En Español, Fame: in Spanish, In The Heights in Spanish (2018 Helen Hayes Award winner, Outstanding Musical Direction) (Gala Hispanic Theatre); Legally Blonde (2020 Helen Hayes Award Winner, Outstanding Musical Direction) (Keegan Theatre); A New Brain, A Civil War Christmas, Fly By Night (2019 HH Nom), Old Wicked Songs (2016 HH Nom), Bat Boy, Altar Boyz (1st Stage Tyson’s); Little Shop of Horrors (2020 HH Nom), Aida (2019 HH Nom), The Wild Party (2018 HH Nom) (Constellation Theatre). Bobby is currently on the faculty of Levine Music. UPCOMING: Kinky Boots (Olney Theatre).
For more info: https://www.olneytheatre.org/whats-playing/disneys-beauty-and-beast-0
Event Venue
Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl,Silver Spring,MD,United States