"Beauty and the Beast" ready to enchant area audiences

“My costume before had gloves with nails and fur and horns,” he said during a telephone interview. “It was very, very hot.”

Of course, he anticipates other characters in the classic play to be dealing with similar issues.

“A lot of characters will be sweating,” he said. “Cogsworth is wearing a big box — he’s a clock. The wardrobe will be wearing a wardrobe. And Miss Potts is wearing a tea kettle. It’s a huge costume, and she has to hold her arm like a spout. It’s just crazy. It’s a lot of fun costumes, though.”

Mugrage, who recently moved to the Morgantown area to pursue a master’s degree in acting at West Virginia University, expressed excitement to be involved in West Virginia Public Theatre. He also played the Rev. Shaw Moore, the anti-dancing minister, in “Footloose,” which just completed its run on Sunday.

Mugrage finds comparisons between that character and the Beast, he noted.

“That was another example of where he had a huge heart change,” he said. “I love getting to play characters like that. That story of redemption is so good.”

“Beauty and the Beast” completes West Virginia Public Theatre’s summer season.

Many people are familiar with “Beauty and the Beast,” released in 1991 as an acclaimed animated feature film starring the voices of Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury and Robby Benson as the Beast. Three years later, it was turned into a successful Broadway musical that had a 13-year run and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning one for Best Costume Design.

“Basically, the story goes, the Beast is a young prince who is very proud and arrogant,” Mugrage said. “A witch comes and speaks with him, and he shuns her and pushes her away. She becomes an enchantress to teach him a lesson and turns him into a Beast.”

At the same time, the household staff is turned into household objects. And if someone does not fall in love with the Beast before the rose in the West Wing dies and all its petals fall off, they all will be doomed to stay that way.

In the meantime, a young woman named Belle arrives at the castle and exchanges places with her father, Maurice, who is being held captive. Could Belle be the person who helps break the spell? Or will she fall for rich townsperson Gaston?

As the Beast, Mugrage has a big number called “If I Can’t Love Her,” one of the better-known songs in the production’s score.

“It’s probably the best-known song for the Beast,” he added. “It’s a great ballad.”

Mugrage has an undergraduate degree in performance and acting from Eastern Oregon State University and recently arrived in Morgantown with his wife, Evie, and their family to study for a three-year Master of Fine Arts program in acting.

“We just wanted to move toward the East Coast,” he said. “I figured I might as well continue training. I wanted to be closer to Broadway and audition on Broadway. And the good thing is, with grad school, I can teach later when I get out.”

Directed by Gavan Pamer, “Beauty and the Beast” features an ensemble of 29 actors, including Amanda Smith as Belle, Andy Harvey as Gaston and Dominic Massimino as LeFou.

“It’s a pretty big cast,” Mugrage added.

For tickets, call (304) 291-4122 or www.wvpublictheatre.org