Jonathan Winsby and Michelle Bardach. Costume design by Barbara Clayden. Photo by David Cooper.

It’s a tale as old as time, but one that we most certainly never tire of. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, presented by The Arts Club Theatre Company, opens to Vancouver audiences on Wednesday, December 5 on the Stanley Industrial Alliance stage.

The 2018/2019 production (The Arts Club has presented Beauty and the Beast five times since 2005) has some familiar faces on the bill. Jonathan Winsby returns to his role as the Beast, and Susan Anderson (Mrs. Potts), Shawn Macdonald (Cogsworth), and Bernard Cuffling (Maurice) will all reprise their original roles.

Kamyar Pazandeh will also return as the role of Gaston from last season’s production, along with Meghan Gardiner as Madame de la Grande Bouche and a number of ensemble members.

Michelle Bardach, a local theatre veteran, will be dazzling the stage as Belle—her debut in an undoubtedly highly coveted role. Bardach however, is no stranger to Arts Club; she was last seen as Sophie in the beloved production of Mamma Mia! and is delighted to be back at the Stanley.

“Arts Club is amazing!” Bardach exclaims. “I went to Langley Fine Arts school, I was a drama major there, and they took us to see plays at the Arts Club all the time, and I knew that one day I wanted to be on that stage and it feels incredible to have actually made it there. We really are a big family.”

For Bardach, landing the role of Belle is a lifelong dream come to fruition.

“It is absolutely the pinnacle of my professional career. Of my life, really! Whenever people would ask me ‘what’s your dream role?’ I would always say Belle. I had auditioned for Belle before, for different companies as well, and I would always come close but never quite booked it. And I had to make some peace with the fact that maybe this role wasn’t mean for me, but still hoped that it would be one day. But universe answered, and this year I get to play this incredible role,” she says.

“It almost feels like my whole life has been leading up to this.”

Bardach is elated for audiences to see Arts Club’s enchanting production. The show is a spectacular adaptation of the classic animated film and the 2017 live-action version, sprinkled with the exciting musical scores from Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast productions.

“It’s so magical; it’s what a lot of us saw in our childhood and I am so excited to share that with Vancouver. The costumes and set are incredible! It’s like a feast for the eyes,” Bardach adds.

Bardach’s dedication and enthusiasm for this production stems from more than just a career goal: it’s a landmark moment for both her and her community.

“I am Indigenous on my mother’s side and so this means a lot to me that I would get to play a role like this, and it means a lot to my community and I hope that [watching me as Belle] can be an inspiration to other Indigenous children.”

The Arts Club presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, running from December 1 to January 6 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets start at $39 and are available on artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644.