Back by popular demand, “Beauty and the Beast” is returning to McCaw Hall this weekend. Choreographed by longtime Pacific Northwest Ballet School faculty member Bruce Wells and starring talented PNB students, “Beauty and the Beast” tells the classic story of love, friendship, and being true to oneself. With only three shows left, catch this production with your little arts and culture enthusiasts while you can!
Tale as old as time
Based on the 18th-century French fairy tale, “Beauty and the Beast” has been magnificently translated into a child-friendly ballet production that removes most of the unsettling imagery and keeps the music at a reasonable volume for audience members of all ages to enjoy. Belle (McKenzie Wilson) is a young girl who lives in a tiny village with her merchant father (Gustav Frautschi). She avoids Gaston (Antonio Villegas), a highly desirable bachelor with his sights set on the fair maiden.
When the merchant loses his way, he stumbles into a wondrous garden belonging to the Beast (Isaiah Salas), a prince transformed into a monster by a magical enchantress (Zoe Betts). The merchant and the Beast strike a deal. Belle ventures to the mystical property to fulfill her father’s debt by living with the Beast. He, in turn, must convince Belle to fall in love with him to break the curse and free him from a life of perpetual loneliness.
Pacific Northwest Ballet School students in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. PNB presents Beauty and the Beast for five performances March 22 – 30, 2025 (including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:30 on March 22.) For tickets and information, contact the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.
Made for little eyes
The characters themselves do not speak, and the story is told through their choreography, aided by some stage direction and dialogue via the Narrator (Jasper McCann). In this way, “Beauty and the Beast” is simple enough for young viewers to follow without feeling overwhelmed by the intricacies of the story or the sometimes formidable turns the Disney movie and other adaptations have taken. The dancing is beautiful but accessible. Like Belle’s iconic yellow dress, the costumes are opulent and quickly identifiable for fans. The mise en scène is given a much broader scope than many elaborate set designs for theater productions, which allows the audience’s attention to remain with the characters and their magical dancing.
Pacific Northwest Ballet School students in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. PNB presents Beauty and the Beast for five performances March 22 – 30, 2025 (including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:30 on March 22.) For tickets and information, contact the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.
A royally age-appropriate introduction to ballet
My 5-year-old, who is a big fan of all things Disney princesses, dress-up and whatever she and her friends deem “fancy”, was very excited for her first trip to the ballet. And what a perfectly timed visit at that. At the end of last year, I had toyed with the idea of taking my kids to see “The Nutcracker,” but with runtimes that often exceeded two hours, I knew that my tiny viewers would not last a significant enough portion of the show to make it worth our while.
PNB’s “Beauty and the Beast” is an excellent compromise. Act I runs a slim 25 minutes. When the production started, it felt like the curtain was already lowering, and the lights were coming up for a substantial 20-minute intermission.
Pacific Northwest Ballet School students in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. PNB presents Beauty and the Beast for five performances March 22 – 30, 2025 (including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:30 on March 22.) For tickets and information, contact the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.
Pro tip: If you want food or drink during the break, I highly recommend pre-ordering the items at the concession stand nearest your seats before the show starts, and your libations will be waiting for you at intermission. Otherwise, the line can get quite lengthy; many did not make it to the front of the line before the bell rang, informing everyone to return to their seats. Act II is only 31 minutes long, and by the time the performers bow, my daughter was pleased with the experience but ready to leave.
Another tip: Seat cushions are free and readily available to help those under five feet tall see the stage. Even from the very back of the orchestra, my daughter had a clear view of the action.
Pacific Northwest Ballet School students in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. PNB presents Beauty and the Beast for five performances March 22 – 30, 2025 (including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:30 on March 22.) For tickets and information, contact the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.
Making it a special evening
More than anything, this was the perfect excuse to dress up and have a sweet date with the little one in my life. There were many mini princesses decked out in full Belle costumes or, like my own, in twirly dresses branded with other Disney princesses. Most importantly, she had a positive first experience with a notoriously inaccessible art form. It opened the door for conversations about how working hard on your passion might transform into a career and how talent and hard work are beautiful and can make you feel any number of ways.
Her response to that was: “It made me feel happy.”
Pacific Northwest Ballet School students in Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast. PNB presents Beauty and the Beast for five performances March 22 – 30, 2025 (including a sensory-friendly performance at 12:30 on March 22.) For tickets and information, contact the PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org. Photo © Lindsay Thomas.
Know before you go
• Beauty and the Beast has three more shows, two on Saturday, March 29 and one on Sunday, March 30.
• Runtime is 76 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.
• McCaw Hall is located at 301 Mercer Street, Seattle 98109.
• Street parking is available with payment. Discounted, pre-paid parking for the Mercer Street Garage (connected to McCaw Hall via Skybridge) is recommended when purchasing in advance. The Monorail is also a great option for those coming from downtown. Give yourself ample time if there is an event at Climate Pledge Arena.
