Belle REDUX/A Tale of Beauty & the Beast (2023)

"Belle REDUX / A Tale of Beauty and the Beast" is a contemporary live performance that reexamines the timeless story of Beauty and the Beast in a very non-traditional way. Ballet Austin Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Mills, Composer Graham Reynolds and Production Designer Michael B. Raiford have created a provocative and sensual retelling of this famous romance with sets and costumes that project fantastical, Alexander McQueen-type elements against a gritty, minimalist backdrop. The look and feel of the production, while very contemporary, was heavily influenced by the 1946 film noir, "La Belle et la Bête," by French filmmaker Jean Cocteau, and many stylistic elements, including the lighting design, are reflective of that ground-breaking movie. Graham Reynolds' haunting music blends classical instruments with industrial sounds to create a remarkable score that is both unsettling and soothing-commanding and hopelessly romantic.