Philippe, playing the Beast, and Johnson, portraying the young woman who transforms the morose creature with the power of her love, are looking forward to seeing audiences of kids about to have their first live theater experience and parents who remember their own “Beauty and the Beast” memories.
Based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell, who has to remain a Beast unless he can learn to love and be loved.
“Beauty and the Beast” was the third musical she ever did after “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” She recalls being 11 and one of her roles required high kicks while in a box made to resemble a sugar cube during “Be Our Guest.”.
Fergie L. Philippe first saw the stage musical “Beauty and the Beast” pretty late, as a freshman in college.
Philippe, a baritone born in New York and raised in Miami, came to musical theater from a love of puppetry, particularly Jim Henson and “Sesame Street.”.
