Steve Blanchard CNN Beast Feature

by | May 10, 2018 | Blog, Broadway


THROWBACK THURSDAY: Over the years, Broadway has had an incredible history of performers that have had a long history of playing the same leading role for a very long time. O

One of those actors was Steve Blanchard (recently seen as “Joseph Pulitzer” in the filmed performance of Disney’s Newsies). He is well known by Theatre fans as the longest running “Beast” during the original Broadway run of Disney’s first major stage musical hit Beauty and the Beast.

During his time with the initial long running Disney musical, CNN did a sit down interview with Steve backstage talking about his process he goes through 8 times a week transforming into “The Beast”, the demands it takes to play the role, and what is it like playing the same part for a very long time.

Blanchard’s journey with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST began in 1996 where he served as the standby for both “The Beast” (covering Jeff McCarthy, Chuck Wagner, and James Barbour)and “Gaston” (covering Marc Kudisch, Patrick Ryan Sullivan, and Grant Norman) on Broadway at the Palace Theatre. During that time, he rotated between the Broadway, Toronto, and Touring companies playing both roles. However, it was his performance as “The Beast” that earned him rave reviews. In 1999 as the show transferred to the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, Blanchard became the fulltime “Beast” of Broadway and stayed with the show playing over 4,000 performances through it’s July 2007 closing.

For his long running history as “The Beast”, Blanchard received his own caricature of him as the character hung in Sardi’s today. Anyone who has been on our tours might remember us pointing it to you when we visit the restaurant.

In addition, Blanchard released his debut album NORTHBOUND TRAIN which was an album of songs from shows he was in. The album does feature 2 songs from BEAUTY AND THE BEAST which were the title song and the big song Steve would bring down the house with every night at the end of Act 1…. IF I CAN’T LOVE HER.

In addition, Steve also met the co-star who changed his life around…. Meredith Inglesby Blanchard (who played the role of “Babette The Duster”) which he later married.

What an experience that is being in the same show for over 11 years.

Who remembers seeing Steve as “The Beast” or “Gaston”?



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Behind the curtain at Broadway’s The Lion King – CNN Video

by | Apr 2, 2018 | Blog, Broadway

Disney’s Award winning smash The Lion King – Musical has been a hit with crowds ROARING on their feet for the past 20 years. What also makes the show special for many of it’s cast members is that they get to pay tribute to their South African routes and traditions 8 times a week.

Many of the cast members have been with the show since the early years of it’s success appearing in the Broadway, Touring, London, and International companies. One of those cast members is Johannesburg native Tshidi Manye who plays the role of the wisecracking and spiritual shaman Baboon “Rafiki” who opens up the show with the first note of the most iconic calling that gives audience chills. She has played the role on and off since 1999 and is one of the longest running actress to play the role of “Rafiki” rotating between the Broadway and National Touring companies.

Get a look at her journey from Johannesburg to the Great White Way and experience what she goes through backstage at the Minskoff Theatre 8 times a week.

Who has seen Tshidi in THE LION KING?! What a talent and what a road to Broadway that is!!

Behind the curtain at Broadway’s The Lion King – CNN Video

South African performer Tshidi Manye takes us into her world as Rafiki in Disney’s Broadway production of The Lion King.

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