“Beauty and the Beast” takes final bow

Their guest no longer.

Jeff Samaha Theater Productions and Ridge Chorale’s production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” ended on February 11 after playing to a packed theater each night at the St. George Community Center Theatre, 6209 11th Avenue.

“I think it went beautifully. It was very satisfying,” said Jeff Samaha, founder of the performance group.

Samaha was pleased with the high production quality, from the costumes to the orchestra to the beauty of the venue.

Former Councilmember Vincent Gentile stopped by during one of the shows to present Samaha with a $10,000 grant as part of an appropriation the district he represented through the end of 2017 (now represented by Councilmember Justin Brannan) receives for the arts each year.

Samaha teased but declined to give details about a production in honor of Ridge Chorale’s 50th anniversary to debut sometime this spring. The production will feature choral music performed since the company’s inception in 1968, as well a scene from every musical production the company has performed since 2001.

Past productions include “West Side Story,” “Miss Saigon” and “The Producers.”