In the summer of 1995, July 5th to be exact- I wrote it down somewhere- I attended the Los Angeles production of Beauty and the Beast the Broadway musical with much of the original cast. I was 13 at the time, about to start high school and already quite the Disney fan. I loved the show so much that by the curtain call, my cheeks were literally sore from smiling so hard for so long. My mom bought me the cast recording a few months later, and for a good chunk of my freshman year, I listened to that cassette (yes, cassette) on my portable cassette player every morning as I got ready for school. I got a big coffee table book all about the behind the scenes of the musical that I would carry with me alongside my school books until it was downright dogeared.
Fast forward a couple years, and the original Belle, Susan Egan, had just voiced Megara in Disney's Hercules. Now she had done not just one but two of my dreams, playing a Disney character both on stage and by voicing an animated character. I was enamored. I then discovered she had a website. But best of all, this website had an email address. I eagerly penned (well, typed) a gushing letter to my new favorite actress.
At this time, my whole family shared one email address. Three days later, I entered the house after my school day, and my mom said, "Guess who wrote to you? Susan Egan!" Whoa, did my heart race, and my feet raced right upstairs to the computer. I couldn't believe it. A real Broadway actress had written to me, and it was a real, personal response- not a form letter! I printed that letter out and read it over and over. I even brought it to school to show everyone.
After that, every once in a while, I would write to Susan. I'd even send her little tokens like drawings or once a tiny homemade pillow with her name on it. I requested and received an autographed picture. I'd wish her happy birthday. Sometimes she responded, sometimes she didn't. When she did, I'd print it out and place it in a folder I'd decorated with her picture.
Finally, in March of 2000, a friend invited me to come with her to see Susan on Broadway as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. I wrote to Susan that we were coming. 5 years after I first saw her as Belle, I would finally get to meet her. I was a nervous wreck that day, physically shaking to the point that I could barely hold the camera to take my friend's picture. It was a very brief visit- Susan had another show that evening, and she disappeared back up the stairs to her dressing room in the blink of an eye.
During college, I backed away from contacting her for a while, fearing I was bothering her, being too pushy of a fan. I didn't see her again for another 7 years. Thankfully, after that, I was able to catch her in a number of concerts in various places, and I got the courage to contact her again. A friend of mine whom I actually met through her old website even tried to get her to call me and congratulate me on my first leading role...she wasn't able to, but instead she did one better and sent me a lovely note and an inscribed copy of a book about musical theatre history.
It all accumulated in the best experience of all. I auditioned for a chance to participate in a Broadway Bootcamp in which she would not only teach a masterclass but also sing on stage with us. While I wasn't chosen for any of the solo parts in the concert, and I didn't get the chance to sing for her in the masterclass because I was too timid to jump in line quickly enough, I did get to sing back up for "I Won't Say" and we did a lovely choral arrangement of "Beauty and the Beast."
I had noticed during our rehearsal that Susan seemed to be locking eyes with me from across the stage as we sang the titular song. During the actual performance, she did it again. I wondered if I was imagining things. Afterwards, I didn't see her and thought to my disappointment that maybe she had left already....until another girl from class came running over, exclaiming excitedly that Susan wanted to say goodbye to me. After a big hug, Susan said, "Did you see I sang "Beauty and the Beast" for you?" So it wasn't just me! She really was doing that on purpose.
These days, she still interacts with me every once in a while. We aren't buddy-buddy or anything, but I do think it's pretty special that she knows who I am.
Through the years:
And that brings us to a few days ago, when I got to experience some serious deja vu and see Susan return once again to the role that first made me fall for her 23 years ago in 5 Star Theatrical's production of Beauty and the Beast!
It was a lovely production- the only thing I really missed from the original were the amazing sets and costumes (and perhaps some of the effects.) They weren't quite of the same caliber this time. But it certainly wasn't too shabby at all! I like how they added a small children's ensemble. What an amazing opportunity for those kids! I also noticed perhaps a little more variety in body type than you might see in a Broadway production which was nice. The other actors easily matched Susan- I especially liked Lumiere (Marc Ginsberg) and Cogsworth (Gregory North) who reminded me of John Cleese. Gaston (Adam Hollick) was great at milking it and had the audience in stitches. Maurice (David Gilchrist) was perfectly lovable- a bit like Doc from Fraggle Rock. Mrs. Potts (Sarah Marie) was an understudy, but she was very sweet. And the Beast (Jason Chacon) was able to hold him own opposite a Broadway star just fine.
Susan herself was just wonderful. Her voice shone as much as ever, just like the recording I'd listened to so many times before, but the best part of seeing her perform live was watching her expressions. Susan has fabulous comic timing. I love how she makes Belle just a bit sassy.
While now in her late 40s and technically too old for the role, she pulled it off. I completely bought into her as Belle again. It's amazing what make up and costume can do! (And it certainly didn't hurt that she really knows her craft!)
In the theater, the seat to my left remained empty. But next to that empty seat was a familiar face- Nick Pitera! If you aren't familiar with him, look him up on YouTube. He does these amazing, multi-part Disney song videos. He had made a guest appearance at the recent Broadway Princess Party concert I had attended. I met him after that performance. But I didn't have the guts to say hello this time, and he was looking at his phone most of the period before the show and during intermission so I didn't want to bother him.
I had told Susan beforehand that we'd be there, and she told me that she'd put me on the list to go backstage for a quick visit. All we had to do was go to the info table in the lobby and give them my name. We noticed that Nick was doing the same thing. It didn't take long before we were led through a roped off area to where the dressing rooms were. It felt special to be escorted passed everyone. We had to wait for a few minutes outside the door, catching a couple half dressed actors who said quick hellos.
Susan opened the door and after a quick autograph for a young girl in front of us (my husband and I- the kids were with a sitter), we got to say hello. She loved my Beauty and the Beast ensemble from Hot Topic- a rose skater dress, enchanted rose earrings, and matching hairbow. This was followed by my usual silent smiling, my inner voice going, "Say something, Angela, time is ticking!" She asked me if the show was the same as last time, and I said, "Pretty close!" Then she asked if I remembered it since I had been so little when I saw it! (Gee, I was 13, not 5- ha ha. And yes, I had told her this just the other day in a tweet.) I told her that I remembered hearing her sing for the first time because it actually took several listens to get used to a different Belle since I knew the movie by heart. Even today, I hear the movie in my head when seeing the stage version.
Susan asked me about my girls, and I eagerly pulled out my phone to show her a cute video. She popped away for a moment to talk to someone then came back to us and watched, delighting in my daughters joyfully shrieking at each other and noticed the baby wearing an Ariel onesie. She remarked to enjoy this stage where they are getting along as it doesn't last! Ha!
Knowing we were running out of time (it was late, and they needed to clear the theater soon), I asked for a picture. Susan happily obliged. I started to take my glasses off as I usually do for photos, but then I stopped when I realized Susan was wearing hers. Susan went, "We're going to wear our glasses for the picture!" We ended up doing a second picture because Susan didn't like the way her bangs were in the first.
I thanked Susan again, and my husband started ushering me out, knowing that I'd dawdle if given the chance. I did have a lovely evening, and I was only minimally embarrassed by my social awkwardness. Incidentally, when I mentioned this to Susan in a message the next day, she told me that I wasn't awkward at at and to rest easy on that. She really is a lovely woman, and I know I am quite lucky to have her acquaintance.
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