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MNfusion: Be The Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Guest For 'Beauty and the Beast'

There are few shows more fitting for a dinner theater than Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."

After all, where better to tell the tale of an enchanted castle filled with singing and dancing dinner pieces than at a theater where you enjoy singing and dancing while eating.

Perhaps this was among the reasons that the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre was chosen as one of four regional theaters to perform the show when the rights were first introduced.

Or perhaps, like Belle, it was because of their love of a great story.

Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" was in the Twin Cities just last year at Minneapolis' Orpheum theater, yet the show has not returned to CDT in over 10 years.

In those 10 years, numerous performances of the show have been staged, with ever-increasing production values. CDT, too, has seen numerous shows and increasing production values, but the quality of their storytelling has never been compromised by emphasis on technical tricks. The professional theater has remained true to art of theater and an integral to their community, thus maintaining a "community theater" feel.

It is for this reason that audiences return time and time again to be transported to a small, provincial town.

"Be Our Guest" - CDT's "Beauty and the Beast"
(credit: Heidi Bohnenkamp, 2016)

Many of the early Disney princesses lack much character, but Belle is one that has a bit of dimension for those that care to look. As Belle, Ruthanne Heyward was charming and smart. She took the character beyond being just an ingénue by making her smart, sassy and relatable.

Enchanted Castle Objects - CDT's "Beauty and the Beast"
(credit: Heidi Bohnenkamp, 2016)

Aside from Mrs. Potts herself (Angela Lansbury), there could be no better actress to play the motherly tea pot. Susan Hofflander's maternal characterization of Mrs. Potts was loving yet stern, wise yet a bit slow and the perfect opposition to the tightly-wound Cogsworth and playboy-ish Lumiere. Her version of "Beauty and the Beast" was simple, elegant and left the audience wowed. Perhaps a favorite scene in the show was when the enchanted objects become real again and Chip runs into Mrs. Potts arms. She was warm, sweet and sincere.

Belle and Gaston - CDT's "Beauty and the Beast"
(credit: Heidi Bohnenkamp, 2016)

As Gaston, Aleks Knezevich owned the show. Knezevich made Gaston a character without making him a caricature. He was cheesy, brash, goofy and over-the-top but in just the right ways. His swaggering strut and big grin kept the audience laughing, while his smug, presumptuous behavior reminded them he was the villain in the story. His number with Heyward "Me," during which he tossed and twirled her around the stage, not only showed off his ability to sing but also his ability for physical comedy.

Beast and the Rose - CDT's 'Beauty and the Beast'
(credit: Heidi Bohnenkamp, 2016)

Perhaps one of the elements that contributes to the CDT's community feel is their ability to incorporate technical elements on a small scale.

Many regional houses that host national tours often include grandiose props and technical elements (think Bert dancing across the ceiling in Mary Poppins).

At CDT, while impressive production elements are still used, the responsibility of storytelling still lies on the actors shoulder. It is the cast that must still make the audience believe.

So, while the rose still wilted and the petals still fell on their own, the transformation of the Beast was done in a way where the actors had to distract the audience from the change of costume.

Instead of being suspended in air and flipped upside down and over, as is done in many touring productions, a group of gargoyles covered the Beast with a sheet and danced around him while his mask was taken off.

While some may not appreciate the work it takes to stage a transition like this, it truly shows the skill of the actors to keep audience members engaged and invested in the magic of the show.

And, despite 10 years having gone by, magical it was.

"Beauty and the Beast" is open now through September 24. Tickets cost $64 to $85, depending on day and package. For more information on tickets, or to purchase, call 952-934-1525 or visit the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre online.

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