Towngate Theatre will once again enchant and delight audiences with a production of the heart-warming fable “Beauty and the Beast.” The show opens this Friday, January 31 and continues this weekend and next.
Written by Warren Graves and produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., “Beauty and the Beast” will be staged for two weekends- January 31-February 2 and February 8-9 at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre, 2118 Market Street, Wheeling.
Like all classic fairy tales, this magical drama weaves in underlying moral messages throughout the story, which appeals to both children and parents.
“The story focuses on a young Beauty, whose innocence and goodness enable her to see beyond the external ugliness of the Beast,” Oglebay Institute director of performing arts Tim Thompson said. “The show celebrates the idea that beauty comes from within and unconditional love and kindness reign supreme.”
The story of “Beauty and the Beast” has been around for centuries in both written and oral form. Most recently it has been popularized in film and on Broadway. Towngate’s production is different than the modern-day productions in that it is a non-musical and closely follows the traditional storyline. The production is based on the story written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756 as a story for younger readers.
Talented Cast
The cast for “Beauty and the Beast” includes David Gaudio as Blotti, Austin Schwanker as the Beast, Keyuri Morgan as Jonquil, Flannery Muscar as Rougi, Hannah Gonot as Beauty, Brent Clyburn as Manello and Promise Hunt and Audrey IIovar as Spirits.
The production is directed by Towngate artistic director Dave Henderson.
Get Tickets
Sponsored by the Helen J. Prince Foundation, “Beauty and the Beast” will be staged at Towngate Theatre at 7 p.m. Friday, January 31 and 3pm February 1, 2, 8 and 9.
Children ages 10 and under will be admitted for a special price of $10. Adult admission is $15. Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount.
Purchase tickets online, by calling 304-242-7700, or at the door, if available. Towngate’s box office opens one hour before all shows and can be reached at 304-233-4257. Advance tickets are recommended; some shows sell out.
Keeping the Community in Community Theater
In addition to children’s theater, Towngate offers a full season of community theater, ballet, improvisational comedy, and live music. Towngate is also a single screen cinema, offering movies on select evenings and features changing art exhibitions in The Gallery at Towngate. Theater classes are also offered year-round.
Towngate is in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District. This church-turned-theater is one of several Wheeling venues operated by the non-profit Oglebay Institute. Other OI facilities include: Stifel Fine Arts Center and School of Dance on National Road, the Mansion Museum, Glass Museum and Schrader Environmental Education Center in Oglebay.
As a nonprofit community theater, Towngate relies on the generosity of patrons, neighbors, and friends who invest in our community and the stories we tell together. Memberships to Oglebay institute also support the work of the theater and all Oglebay Institute venues. Oglebay Institute memberships include perks such as discounts, special events, priority registration, and more.