Director promises unique performance

The show leans toward the well-known animated version.

By MILAN PAURICH

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — There was some tongue-wagging in the local theater community earlier this year when Easy Street Productions announced that they would be staging “Beauty and the Beast” at Powers Auditorium.

What made Easy Street’s announcement controversial was the fact that the Youngstown Playhouse had previously announced its own version of the Disney musical for the 2007-08 season.

Was the Youngstown market large enough for two competing “B&B”s? Or would the earlier production cannibalize any potential Playhouse audience, rendering their future production of the show irrelevant?

Though the jury’s still out on the financial impact Easy Street may or may not have caused the Playhouse, “B&B” director Peggy Hanna sounded remarkably sanguine discussing the too-close-for-comfort scheduling of the shows in a recent interview.

“I believe that every production of any play or musical is unique unto itself due to the differences in cast and crew,” Hanna said. “I’ve approached ‘B&B’ strictly on its own merits, with very little thought about any previous local productions. I’m really not comfortable with the whole comparison/competition thing: apples and oranges and all that.”

Hanna did admit that following in the footsteps of another locally produced “B&B” did pose some unique creative and marketing decisions for the Playhouse.

According to Hanna, the Playhouse’s smaller stage is a definite plus for her company. “The size of our stage will give many scenes a more intimate feel,” she said. “The magic of live theater means that each performance has its own special moments which will never happen again, making every one a once-in-a-lifetime experience [for the audience].”

Instead of being daunted by the challenge of directing a show as big and beloved as “B&B,” Hanna seems positively exhilarated by the challenge.

“The excitement definitely wins out [over the intimidation factor],” Hanna admitted. And fans of the 1991 Disney animated musical will be happy to know that Hanna is taking many of her directorial cues from the film. “We’re leaning more toward the animated version since it’s probably more well-known to the average person [than the Broadway version],” she said.

Also stoking Hanna’s enthusiasm is her talented cast of Playhouse veterans (including Stephanie Ottey as Belle, Alan McCreary as the Beast, John Pecano as Lumiere and Stephanie Holt as Mrs. Potts), and several actors who will be making their Playhouse debuts. “I know that people will be impressed with our ‘new’ faces like Vaughn Hudspath from New Castle, who plays Gaston,” Hanna enthused.

An ambitious production such as “B&B” necessitates a large, dedicated crew to help the director achieve her vision, and Hanna is confident in the skills of her technical support staff.

“Our musical director is Michael Moritz, who’s well-known to Playhouse audiences and is simply wonderful to work with,” she said. “Although we’re renting some costumes from a professional costume house, several are being designed in-house by the Playhouse’s resident costume mistress, Patricia Petaccio.

“The set/scenic design is by Jack and Sindy Hanna — yes, we’re related; they’re my brother and sister-in-law — and Jim Lybarger, all of whom have previously worked at the Playhouse,” said Hanna. “Jack and Sindy have also designed many sets at the New Castle Playhouse.”

“The major reason I decided to direct this particular show is a very personal one,” Hanna confessed. “I’m part of a family of ‘Disney nuts,’ and I’m dedicating ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to my mother, who passed away in September 2004. Naturally I hope that everyone who sees our production will enjoy the sets, costumes, singing, dancing and special effects,” she said. “But my greatest hope is that we can touch everyone in a special way with this beautiful tale as old as time. It’s very dear to my heart, and I’m trying to instill the love and optimism that I shared with my mother into the story.’”