Broadway Beast Roars Into El Paso, Takes Over Plaza Theatre

A beast of a Broadway tour is rolling into El Paso this week as Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" moves into the Plaza Theatre for a limited run from Wednesday through Sunday. The production brings in longtime stage pros Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts and Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, and it arrives with the scale, costumes and big, showy musical numbers local audiences expect from a full-on Broadway spectacle.

Cast and local ties

According to KVIA, the touring company features Voytko and Ignacio in key roles. KVIA notes that Ignacio was born in Caracas and trained at Music Theatre Wichita and Wichita State University before building nearly two decades of work on Broadway, regional stages and national tours, including originating roles in "Side Show" and the first national tour of "Company."

New national tour, familiar creative team

The current North American tour is the first Disney-presented production of "Beauty and the Beast" in the United States in more than 25 years and reunites members of the original Broadway creative team, as reported by Playbill. Playbill notes that the staging features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Tim Rice, a book by Linda Woolverton, and direction and choreography by Matt West, with designs by Ann Hould-Ward and Natasha Katz.

When and where to see it

Performances are set for Wednesday through Sunday at the Plaza Theatre downtown, with a mix of matinee and evening shows. As listed by Broadway in El Paso, the production runs about two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission, and tickets are available both at the Plaza Theatre box office and online.

Plaza Theatre and the local arts scene

The Plaza Theatre, a restored downtown landmark at 125 W Mills Avenue, anchors El Paso's Broadway season and will host the touring company throughout its stay this week, with venue details available on the theater's site. The show's official tour site lists the full cast and bios and highlights a mix of Broadway veterans and rising performers in the company: Beauty and the Beast The Musical.

For families and longtime theatergoers alike, the El Paso engagement offers a chance to catch a full-scale Broadway musical without leaving town. For showtimes and tickets, check Broadway in El Paso or visit the Plaza Theatre box office.