WCT brings holiday musical ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to the Sagebrush Theatre

KAMLOOPS — Western Canada Theatre is preparing for its largest production of the season so far, with Beauty and the Beast coming to the Sagebrush Theatre.

Beauty and the Beast is a classic French fairytale, but most people would likely know it from the popular Disney movie and Broadway musical.

Brianna Clark is among the ensemble that will take to the stage later this month, playing the role of Belle. Clark studied acting in New York City and has worked in the industry throughout New York, London and various cities in Canada. This will be her second production with Western Canada Theatre, after her role as Young Fiona in Shrek the Musical last season.

“I was one of those girls who dressed up as Belle every Halloween from age 5 to 9. She was always my favourite. I really identified with her being a bit quirky and being a bit more of an oddball because that’s how I spent my childhood, and books were definitely my refuge,” she explains. “When I heard WCT was doing this production, I just got so excited about the opportunity to play her and be that kind of beacon of hope for any little ones who don’t feel like they quite fit in. It’s a beautiful story about how you can just be true to yourself and wonderful things will come.”

This iteration features cast members from around the local region and B.C., including several recognizable performers from previous Western Canada Theatre productions.

Jacob Woike is rejoining Western Canada Theatre after his performance as Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar last year. Woike, who is playing The Beast, says audiences can expect scenes and songs from both the animated film and the Broadway stage.

“The Beast has quite a huge, beautiful song in this one that comes at the end of act one. It’s probably quite unexpected if people don’t know the stage show but it’s a really beautiful number,” notes Woike. “As well, Belle has a few beautiful songs that some of the Broadway and theatre audiences have fallen in love with over the past couple of decades. For some of the newcomers, that might be exciting. They might walk away with a new favourite song.”

Beauty and the Beast runs November 21 until December 8. Tickets are available through Kamloops Live! Box Office.