The current production of Disney’s Tony Award-winning “Beauty And The Beast” musical is making history and inclusivity the focus. Running at The Olney Theatre Center In Maryland, through January 2nd.
In this production, Jade Jones, a self-described queer, plus-sized Black woman steps in the iconic role of Belle.
“Little Black girls in the audience screamed out, ‘Is that Belle?’” The production’s director, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, recounted from the very beginning as audiences genuinely reacted to the groundbreaking casting choice. “And it’s not just a Black Belle who fits into the size 2 replica dress, but a plus-size Belle. So [all] little girls can dream big about them being princesses, too.”
“I never imagined I would play a Disney princess in my entire life,” Jones said. “I mean, there were never any Disney princesses who looked like me…. It’s just a dream to do a show like this that I never thought I would be cast in. I’m living my musical theater dreams.”
Listen to Jade Jones perform the song “Home” from Beauty And The Best musical in the video at the top of this article.
For more information and tickets, visit https://www.olneytheatre.org/whats-playing/disneys-beauty-and-beast
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