St. Luke's to Stage Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

St. Luke's United Methodist Church will premiere its sixth annual summer musical, Beauty and the Beast, on August 4, 2017. The Broadway hit will be the first production in St. Luke's new, 21,000 square foot worship and performing arts venue called Founder's Hall.

Steve Mackinnon will be directing, with choreography by Spencer Morrow, and musical direction by John Mason III. MacKinnon's work has recently been seen at the Orlando REP, Garden Theatre, and Orlando Shakespeare Theater. He is a Resident Director/Teaching Artist for Disney Performing Arts with the Walt Disney Company and Director of Contemporary Worship and Theatre at St. Luke's.

MacKinnon had this to say when asked about the upcoming production, "We are so thrilled to be bringing this classic tale to life with such a diverse and talented cast. Our annual musical has grown into a much-anticipated time for professionals, community members, friends, and family to come together and share in the transformative experience that is musical theatre...both on the stage and off!"

The cast is headed by Lily MacKenzie (Belle), Shonn McCloud (Beast), Gail Bartell (Mrs. Potts), Kevin Brassard (Gaston); Esteban Vilchez (Lumiere), Victor Souffrant (Cogsworth), Alina Alcantara (Madame de la Grande Bouche), R.J. Silva (Lefou), and Jim Morrison (Maurice).

The production also has scenic design by Joe Klug, costume design by A.J. Garcia, lighting design by Jim Ohrberg, sound design by Anthony Narcisso, props design by Carrli Cooper, with production stage managers Tiffany Lynn Meadows and Christine Kindred.

It is "a beautiful, family-friendly story...a familiar story that tells the Gospel story of sacrifice, love, and grace," says The Rev. Jennifer Stiles Williams, St. Luke's Lead Pastor. "We hope the audience will come away from the show thinking about what it means to see people the way they are on the inside, how to love even when it's uncomfortable, and how to accept people for the beauty within each and every one of us." Following the run of the show, St. Luke's will begin a new sermon series entitled "The Church: Beauty and the Beast". The series of Sunday morning messages will further explore themes from the musical.

Beauty and the Beast performance dates and times include:

• Friday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 5 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, August 6 at 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 12 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, August 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $16-$22. Tickets are on sale now at www.st.lukes.org/beautyandthebeast. To reserve group tickets, call 407.876.4991 ext. 223. St. Luke's United Methodist Church is located at 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road in Orlando.