BURRILLVILLE – In March, cast members in Director Chris O’Neill’s production of Disney’s, “Beauty and the Beast,” – now at the Assembly Theatre – attended another performance from the beloved entertainment conglomerate, catching, “Frozen The Musical,” at the Providence Performing Arts Center.
The winter show in Providence won high praise for its elaborate costume and set design, stellar cast performances and special effects, reminding audiences, including O’Neill’s group of actors, of the standard that comes with the Disney name.
“We went in with that as benchmark,” O’Neill told NRI NOW this week. “When you’re doing Disney, you want to hold yourself to that high level.”
And so, as O’Neill and his cast with the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble began rehearsals for the show that opened in Burrillville last weekend, the goal in mind was to capture that same magic and enthusiasm.
“I want to make sure that we are bringing that same level of artistry and spectacle to our production,” O’Neill said of the PPAC performance.
By accounts so far, it seems he’s succeeding.
“It is a fantastic show,” said Assembly Theatre Executive Director Holly Dumaine Picard.
The story, which mirrors Disney’s 1991 film, is a familiar one, as protagonist Belle falls in love with a hideous Beast who is both her suitor and captor.
“It is a classic story that people love,” said O’Neill. “Everybody has a memory associated with ‘Beauty and the Beast.'”
“It is the movie brought to life on stage,” he said of the play, which features all of the film’s well-known songs.
In O’Neill’s version, Belle is played by Shauna Brosky, known locally for her performances with the Burrillville venue’s in-house theater company, AssemblyACT. Brosky was Carrie White in the theater’s recent production of, “Carrie;” Daisy Buchanan in 2022’s, “Gatsby;” and Jo March when, “Little Women,” entertained Burrillville audiences in 2021.
The beast is played by Conner Pertain, now in his second performance with RISE.
“They have a lot of chemistry on stage,” O’Neill said.
The pair is among a cast of some 41 actors in the massive production, which features ornate costumes, a detailed set, and special effects that aim to delight audiences.
“My favorite moment is when the beast changes back into a human,” said O’Neill, noting that the transformation is disguised with dance and special effects. “The way it all comes together, to me, is effective, and it’s really, really lovely.”
“It’s really gratifying when the audience applauses for that,” he said. “That surprises people. It means we told the story effectively, and that people are invested in that moment.”
Juggling set details and organization of the large cast to such pivotal moments can be a lot to handle, but it’s a passion for veteran director O’Neill, a Cumberland resident who got his start at The Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket. In the years since, O’Neill has worked in opera, and directed massive productions on stages from Boston to New York.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he said. “I’m not a stranger to doing large-scale stuff. It’s kind of my wheelhouse.”
“Maybe I’m crazy, but I like working with large casts,” he added. “I like the spectacle. I like to sort of ‘wow’ people.”
That meant three months of rehearsal for, “Beauty and the Beast,” – typical for a show of its size – and an all-hands-on-deck approach over two weekends of set construction.
“It’s a lot of community building,” O’Neill said of the process. In the Burrillville show, “It’s a huge cast, and it’s also an enthusiastic cast. It’s one of the most positive groups I’ve worked with.”
The director noted that he’s been impressed as cast members have taken ownership of various jobs to support the production, from set painting to social media promotion.
“Everybody has just stepped up and taken on all these leadership roles, and it’s just been incredible to see,” he said. “It was part of the whole community experience – putting this thing together.”
Of the venue, he noted, “It’s such a beautiful little theater,” adding that he’s built a great relationship with the managing board, Patrons of the Assembly Theatre. “They’ve been amazing to work with.”
From beautiful costumes, to song and dance, and effects created with the help of smoke, masks, projections and more, it will all come together once again this weekend for three more performances at the East Avenue theater.
“In addition to the talent and the story telling, there’s a lot to look at,” said O’Neill. “This cast and crew is bringing it with a level of skill and enthusiasm that is going to just blow people away.”
The Rhode Island Stage Ensemble’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast continues this week at the Assembly Theatre at 26 East Ave., with performances on Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $27, or $23 for students, seniors and military members, and can be purchased here.
