(CRANFORD, NJ) -- CDC Theatre presents one of the most enchanting musicals of all time, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with eight performances from December 6-15, 2024. This 'tale as old as time' is based on Disney's Academy Award-winning film and features the timeless story you love, along with all your favorite characters and songs. The production is directed by Beth Kasper.

The romantic and beloved fairytale recounts the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, the show has all the wonderful songs made famous in the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, along with new ones written for the stage adaptation. The enchantment never ends! The magic will unfold in front of your eyes as the talented cast, dancing dishes, gorgeous costumes, and spectacular settings bring this Disney classic to life on stage. Celebrate your holidays with the most beautiful love story ever told!

Performances take place Friday, December 6 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 7 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm; Sunday, December 8 at 2:00pm; Friday, December 13 at 8:00pm; Saturday, December 14 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm; and Sunday, December 15 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. CDC Theatre is located at 78 Winans Avenue in Cranford, New Jersey.

The cast includes Avamichaelina Hodgens (Belle), Zach Love (Beast), Brian Nigro (Gaston), Sean Lynch-Littlejohn (Lumier), Alan Gonzalez (Cogsworth), Lori Travers (Mrs. Potts), Alora Eisen (Madame), Jordyn Sava (Babette), Anthony Bacolo (Chip), Jack Ennis (Chip), Garid Garcia (Le Fou), Greg Perkins (Maurice), Joel Redmount (Monsieur D'arque), Lauren McCoig (Les Filles La Ville), Allison Giles (Les Filles La Ville), Cecelia Mielnicki (Les Filles La Ville), and Jeffrey De Leon Vacca (Les Filles La Ville).

The ensemble includes: Leanne Marie Laurino, Qianna McDonald, Sabrina Acosta-Lopez, Rachel Silverstein, Libby Drew, Lettrell Gopaul, Raul Ortega, Nick Buonvicino, Daniel Gardner, and James Hahn.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and made possible by funds from the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Founded as the Cranford Dramatic Club Community Theatre in 1919 by a group of Cranford residents eager to share their love of theatre with friends and neighbors, they are proud to be the longest continuously producing non-professional theatre group in the state of New Jersey.  Since then, that humble group of theatre-loving neighbors has grown into a well-respected community theatre company with a mission to present quality and affordable  live theater to New Jersey residents, to develop the talents of members in both the performance and technical aspects of theatre, and to stimulate community interest in theatre. Rebranded as CDC Theatre, they produce a year-long season of musicals, plays, Young Artist Programs and special events, all of which feature some of the area's brightest talent.