When Disney’s Beauty and the Beast opens at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on May 1, musical fans can expect to see great costumes, a complex set and plenty of great dancing.
The popular musical, based on the 1991 Disney cartoon, is in town for one night only and while it is a U.S,-based travelling show, there is one local performer in the ensemble.
Alyssa Brizzi is a Burnaby native who has trained with both the National Ballet School of Toronto and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
She eventually moved to New York and then Japan, finding work in a variety of theatrical productions.
Upon her return to North America in June, she started working with the cast of Beauty and the Beast.
She is, what they call in theatre terms, a swing meaning she plays a variety of roles, depending on what’s needed.
“I cover all of the ensemble, so I know the eight female ensemble and the eight male ensemble,” she said.
And during her run with the production, she has been called on to play all of the female parts and most of the male roles.
“It’s kind of stressful,” she said about having to cover some many characters.
Brizzi is excited about appearing in Abbotsford because she knows her family will be on hand to watch her perform.
She said its going to be a great show.
“The costumes are amazing, the performers are absolutely incredible and the set itself is so gorgeous,” she said.
According to Brizzi the show attracts everything from young kids to older patrons as well as couples.
The cast is made up of 32 performers but when you include the orchestra, more than 60 people are involved.
The show takes place May 1 at 7 p.m. For information visit abbotsfordcentre.ca.
