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Returning to the Muny stage for 10 performances, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (July 29-Aug. 76) tells the magical story of a prince who is transformed into a hideous beast as punishment for his cruel and selfish ways, and an adventurous young woman named Belle whom he imprisons in his enchanted castle. In order to become human again, the Beast must earn Belle’s love before it’s too late. Based on the 1991 film of the same name, Beauty and The Beast features the music of the award-winning composing team of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

KATE ROCKWELL (Belle) is so thrilled to return to The Muny after playing Jane in last year’s Tarzan! She has starred in several Broadway musicals, including Rock of Ages (Sherrie), Bring It On: The Musical (Skylar), Legally Blonde (Margot) and Hair. She has toured with three National tours, and was a finalist on NBC’s Grease: You’re the One That I Want. On film, she appeared in Sex and the City: The Movie as Young Samantha. Her solo concert, Broadway Baby of the 80s

premiered in NYC in 2015.

NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ (Beast) Broadway: Tarzan. Off-Broadway: Toxic Avenger, Almost Heaven, Collette Collage, Bajour. Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Hair. Muny: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Richie Valens), Tarzan (Tarzan), Beauty and the Beast ’10 (Gaston). Regional: Mother Courage and Her Children, Oklahoma! (Helen Hayes Award), My Fair Lady, The Light in the Piazza at Arena Stage; The Ten Commandments at the Kodak Theatre; Mothers & Sons, Master Class, Les Misérables (ACoT Award) at ZACH Theatre; Camelot at Two River Theatre. Film: Sex in the City II (also soundtrack) Television: Nick Chavez One Life to Live (GLAAD Award), Madam Secretary. Artistic Director: Broadway Dreams Foundation.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Vince Pesce and music directed by Ben Whiteley. Scenic design is by Robert Mark Morgan, with costume design by Robin L. McGee, lighting design by Nathan Scheuer, sound design by John Shivers and Hugh Sweeney, and video design by Matthew Young. Wig design is by John Metzner and the production stage manager is Matt Lacey.

‘Oklahoma!’ (August 10 – 16)

The Pulitzer Prize winning Oklahoma! returns to Forest Park in grand style Aug. 10-16 to conclude this year’s season. The first Muny production since 2007, this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic features an unforgettable story and lush score including such classic hits as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” and of course, “Oklahoma!”

BEN DAVIS (Curly) was last seen at The Muny as Emile de Becque in the 2013 production of South Pacific. He recently starred in the BBC Proms production of Kiss Me, Kate as Fred/Petruchio. Broadway credits include Violet (Preacher), A Little Night Music (Mr. Lindquist, u/s Carl Magnus, Fredrik), Les Misérables (Javert & Enjolras), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme (Marcello, 2003 Tony® Honor) Lincoln Center American Songbook Series, Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday (Brom Broeck) opposite Kelli O’Hara and Victor Garber, Westchester Philharmonic w/Kelli O’Hara, LA Philharmonic. Film/TV: Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute directed by Kenneth Branagh.

CHRISTINE CORNISH SMITH (Laurey) makes her Muny debut. A Texas native, she started her artistic career as a principal dancer with the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. National Tour: Reuben’s Wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by Andy Blankenbuehler. Regional: Oklahoma! (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Guys and Dolls (Goodspeed Opera House), Holiday Pops 2013/2014 (Fort Wayne Philharmonic), and Fiorello (Lyric

Stage). Education: BFA, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Miss Smith was also a finalist in the Kurt Weill Foundation’s 2015 Lotte Lenya Competition.

For more information on tickets, visit muny.org or call (314) 361-1900

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