Last week I received a call from a former student to come bring the family to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre in Wytheville. She is currently in the cast, and so—okay. I admit Disney musicals aren’t my theatrical cup of tea, but we love her, so we went. I also admit I can be a bit critical when it comes to theater because that’s my background—oh alright, I can be ruthlessly critical. Dinner theater in SWVA? I wasn’t expecting much.

The worse part about going to see a friend in a show is that afterwards you have to see them and say something. What if you didn’t like it? What if the show was just horrific or worse yet—their performance? “That was interesting”, only goes so far.

My worries were unfounded. Man, was I pleasantly surprised! The quality of Wohlfahrt’s production was above anything I’d seen in a dinner theater production. But the performances were extraordinary. Fabulous voices across the board, engaging choreography and well trained dancers. These actors aren’t second rate because they’re not in New York—they are top tier, building their resumes while sharing their talents. The set was well done considering this is a large scale Disney/Broadway musical scaled down to a smaller stage. I was impressed all the way around. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast plays through June 15th, Smokey Joe’s Café opens next.

This production was a grand example of what I often tell people; art happens in the mountains.

I didn’t have dinner so I can’t report on the food, but if it’s theatrical art you want—get thee to Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre.

- Lucinda McDermott Piro