Be her guest: Tess Barao is the Belle of Angelwalk Theatre & CosParty's cosplay fundraiser

Tess Barao as Belle and Ryan Allen as Beast in Beauty and the Beast in concert (photo courtesy of Anglewalk Productions)[/caption] Beauty and the Beast might be a tale as old as time; however, on Saturday, October 27, 2018, it gets a bold and novel retelling when Angelwalk Theatre and CosParty present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: In Concert at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church. The evocative setting recalls Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the press release emphasizes that the evening is not just a concert, but a “show, fundraiser and experience” to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. In the best cosplay tradition, audiences are encouraged to dress up to participate in a costume contest for either the matinee (which has an animated, cartoon dress theme) or the evening performance (which has a live action, gala-princess ball, black-tie theme). The fun includes a silent auction, a pop-up photo booth, and a professional photographer to capture the memories. Oh . . . and some of the biggest names in Canadian musical theatre are coming together to perform a concert version of the hit Broadway musical, accompanied by a live orchestra directed by the renowned Mark Camilleri. The cast features Tess Barao as Belle, Ryan Allen as the Beast, Jonathan Cullen as Gaston, Jonathan Whittaker as Maurice, Bruce Dow as Cogsworth, Alessandro Costantini as Lumiere, Paula Wolfson as Mrs. Potts, Joseph Zita as Chip, Camila Diaz-Varela as Babette, Ruthie Nkut as Madame De La Grande Bouche, Jake Deeth as Lefou, A’mar Wharton-Matthew as Mr Darque and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Silly Girl. Susan Egan, who originated the role of Belle in the Broadway production and received a Tony-Award nomination for it, has also sent a video message conveying her best wishes for the event. This joint presentation by CosParty Artistic Director Ms Barao and Angelwalk Theatre’s Artistic Executive Director Brian Goldenberg stemmed from an unexpected loss. After Ms Barao’s father passed away suddenly from a heart attack, she was determined to find solace while doing good. Mr Goldenberg, whose family had also been affected by heart disease, was inspired to partner with Ms Barao, in order to raise awareness and funds in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Although unusually busy in preparation for Saturday’s event (yes, in the best cosplay tradition, Ms Barao and company are hand-making all the costumes!), she took time for a quick Q & A to tell us about this one-of-a-kind experience.

1. Why did you choose Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for this benefit concert?

2. What would you like us to know about the production aspect of this event (i.e., how you got the performers together, where and how you’ve decided to present it, if there is something specific you would like us to notice or pay attention to…)?

3. If the audience spontaneously begins to sing along, can they? Is there an interactive component for those of us who love musicals in general and BATB, in particular?

4. What do you hope the audience will take away from the experience, beyond the desire to educate themselves about the fine work being done at the Heart and Stroke Foundation?

5. The final word is yours! What would you like to add that I haven’t asked?