GENESIUS THEATRE PRESENTS
THE TONY-WINNING MUSICAL — DISNEY’S
BEAUTY and the
BEAST All the wonderful characters from the animated classic!
Note: The role of Mrs. Potts will be played by another actress in our upcoming production.
OPENS DEC. 5th and runs thru Dec. 16th
Order tickets online at genesiusdifference.org 153 North 10th Street, Reading, PA
SPOTLIGHT on . . . “This show . . . evokes a pre-‘Hunger Games’ era when fantasies about teenage revenge could be smaller and didn’t have to involve apocalyptic maneuvers. In a way, this latest incarnation of Fresh off his bravura performance as the tortured husband Dara Himes played Helen ‘Heathers’ is to the 1980sand what father, Bruce Bechdel, in Genesius’ recent production Bechdel opposite Chris ‘Grease’ was to the 1950s of the Tony-award winning musical, FUN HOME, Chris Sperat as her closeted Sperat is ready to get back into the gay husband. (when it was first staged director’s chair and begin work in the 1970s).” —Ben Brantley, The New York
on his most challenging theatre project to date: Disney’s BEAUTY Times AND THE BEAST!
Director CHRIS SPERAT
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HATEVER ROLE HE TAKES—be it actor, music director, or director— Christopher Sperat has few equals. As an actor, his range goes from the lunatic farce of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to the heartbreaking tragedy of his recent role in Fun Home. As a music director, he helmed last year’s production of Young Frankenstein to great acclaim. And, as a director, he was responsible for some of Genesius’ biggest hits—Cats, Annie, Hairspray, Mary Poppins, and The King and I, as well as more intimate, less frequently produced pieces, such as Side Show, Little Women, and The Bridges of Madison County. 2
Larry Fecho as Pseudolus glares at Chris Sperat as Hysterium in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
MIKE PARDO, who plays Maurice in Genesius’ upcoming production of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, has this to say about his director and longtime friend—
CHRIS SPERAT: Chris Sperat (as Wonka, center) and Mike Pardo (as Grandpa Joe, directly behind him) in the 2003 RCP production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
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OBODY LOVES THEATRE MORE THAN Sharing the stage with Chris, as I did in Wonka and Chris Sperat—and that’s INCLUDING Genesius Urinetown, is always a treat, but to have a truly memArtistic Producer L.J. Fecho, if you can believe it! orable theatre experience, you have to have Chris as I don’t know anyone who goes to see more Broadway your director. I was fortunate enough to have him pick shows than Chris. He’ll see the same musical muliti- me to be “Wilbur Turnblad” in his 2015 Genesius production of Hairspray. Each night at ple times—every time the lead actor Jennifer Parker rehearsals, I would come in with a or actress changes. Who even knows played “Hope” and different ridiculous costume piece how many times he’s seen Gypsy? Chris Sperat played (a beanie copter, the tackiest shirt I can’t remember when I first met “Bobby Strong” in the and shorts I could find at Goodwill) Chris. I played “Grandpa Joe” to his 2005 Genesius and the goofiest props (bicycle horn, “Willy Wonka” in the RCP children’s production of rubber chicken). Chris is your best show, so I’ve known him at least Urinetown: audience—when he thinks something since 2003, if not longer. The Musical. is really funny, he’ll fall out of his Years ago, I went to see Genesius’ seat laughing! As he told his Beauty production of the musical Dirty cast at our first script readthrough, Rotten Scoundrels. I was in a lousy “I believe theatre is a collaboration, mood that night, and didn’t expect NOT a dictatorship, so make your to enjoy the show. However, Chris’ characters your own. I want to see performance as the hedonistic con what YOU can bring to the table.” man, Freddy, was so over-the-top What more could you ask for in a gross and hilarious (still the fundirector? Playing Maurice will be one niest stage performance I’ve ever of my favorite show experiences. And seen) that he had me in hysterics I’ll have Chris to thank for that! the entire evening.
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