Gary Beach, who played Dorothy Loudon's philandering hubby in City Center's "Encores!" edition of Sweet Adeline, returned to Broadway March 12 in the Tony-nominated role he originated on stage -- Lumiere, the Chevalieresque candelabrum illuminating Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theatre. Other current cast members (as of May 19) include Harrison Beal (LeFou), Tim Jerome (Maurice), Gibby Brand (Cogsworth), Marc Kudish (Gaston), Chuck Wagner (The Beast), Kerry Butler (Belle), and Beth Fowler (Mrs. Potts).

On Saturday, March 29, Beach's fans were able to catch him performing at New York's Central Park Bandshell in the annual Easter Extravaganza. Tuesday, April 8, he participated in a live chat on Playbill On-Line.

Beach's other Broadway roles include Annie (Rooster), Doonesbury (Uncle Duke), Something's Afoot (Nigel) and 1776 (Rutledge). In Los Angeles, he did in Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Lend Me a Tenor and Closer Than Ever. He also toured with Mary Martin and Carol Channing in Legends.