A Tale as Old as Time… With a Modern Mom Twist
This fall, Wharton Center is bringing the magic of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to the Greater Lansing stage. We’ve all heard the story of Belle, the Beast, and the enchanted castle, but we had the chance to connect with someone whose role might feel the most relatable to moms: Mrs. Potts.
Actress Emily Larger, who both understudies the role of Mrs. Potts on the national tour, isn’t just serving up a heartwarming “Tale as Old as Time” when she steps into that iconic part, she’s also a member of the ensemble, bringing energy and magic to the stage in a variety of ways each night.
Off stage, she’s traveling the country with her husband, fellow cast member Danny Gardner (Lumière), their six-month-old son Jack, and their dog Maple. Yes, you read that right: it’s truly a family adventure in every single corner of their lives.
Community, Chaos and Family. For many of us, family life means soccer practices, carpools, and PTA meetings. For Emily and Danny, it means rehearsals, costume changes, packing, unpacking and caring for their infant son. They make hotel rooms feel like home. They assemble a plan for care for Jack since both are on the stage nightly. Touring with a child and a dog might sound daunting to some, but Emily shares how they make it not only possible – they have a lot of fun.
Playing Mrs. Potts – A Mom Role On and Off Stage. Mrs. Potts is one of Disney’s most iconic mother figures, guiding Belle and comforting Chip. For Emily, stepping into this role carries a special resonance. She knows firsthand what it means to balance care, wisdom, and warmth both as a performer and as a mom. The part has tugged at some new feelings since having a child and luckily a helpful cast member knows just when to chime in to keep the mom-tears from joining the show backstage as Emily listens on.
On stage with her husband and traveling and teamwork and so much more. Emily’s husband, Danny, brings Lumière to life every night. Sharing the stage while parenting off stage brings a unique rhythm to their lives. Emily shares what it’s like to act alongside her partner and how their teamwork carries over from family life to performance. And she is VERY grateful for her village of support she organizes for each show stop.
Photos provided by Emily Larger
Finding Normal, but really, what is it? From long travel days to unpacking in a new city each week, Emily and Danny have mastered the pivot in the midst of change. She mentions that even the most well designed plans often have a plan B, C, D and and beyond. From favorite routines to little family rituals, Emily lets us peek into how they keep Jack (and Maple!) grounded while on the road.
Take a look at this very creative reveal of both Emily and Danny sharing their roles and taking their family on the adventure here.
And now that Jack is getting a bit older she is looking for local things to do as they travel and we told her we may know a group who can roundup a good list of things for children while visiting the Greater Lansing area. 🙂
Emily shares a bit for GLAMoms: When asked Emily what she hopes moms take away when they see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
“…one thing that I was thinking about recently, actually, as the mom of a young man someday… I think the show has lots of beautiful lessons about hope, about being yourself. (for example) Belle knows that the town thinks she’s odd, she does not conform to the town, she continues being herself. That’s beautiful.”
And about being a boy mom and the Beast and his feelings? “The character of the Beast in particular is very interesting to me when I think about Jack, and what I want for him, what I hope for him. I think there’s a lot of places in society, in the media, where boys are taught that the only emotion they are allowed to express is anger. And you see at the beginning of the story, the beast has reasons to be angry. He has a curse put on him, but he is angry, but he’s also sad, he’s afraid, he’s lonely,and he’s only showing that with cruelty, with anger. I think the bigger transformation that he goes through -I don’t think Belle changes him or fixes him or something – I think she’s maybe the catalyst, the reason he wants to try. When the Beast starts to show vulnerability, he starts to become open to connection, open to sharing his feelings.”
Emily shares about one of her favorite lines, who happens to be a line from the Lumière (played by her husband Dannny), “…is right before the big dinner scene where Belle comes out in the gold dress, and they’re encouraging him to speak from his heart, and he knee jerk, anger says, ‘I can’t.’ And then Lumière says, ‘What are you afraid of, sire?’ And he says, “I’m afraid she’ll laugh at me.” And I think it’s such a beautiful admission.”
Caring for others, keeping the family together, and still finding joy in the whirlwind, it’s safe to say Mrs. Potts might just be the most “mom” character Disney ever wrote. And for Emily Larger, the role seems the perfect fit. Thank you Emily for joining Greater Lansing Area Moms and share a peek into not only your partS of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast but perspective and a fun glimpse into your decision to quite literally take your show on the road! Enjoy your visit to Wharton Center!
Be sure to catch Emily and Danny, (Jack and Maple backstage… or more likely tucked in nearby) and the entire cast of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast when the show comes to the Wharton Center, October 13 and runs through October 19. It’s a tale as old as time but with a heart that speaks directly to moms today.
Visit any of the links below to learn more about Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Emily, 4 in a Forester and for ticket information, visit wharton.com
Interested in learning more about Emily Larger and her adventures as she travels for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast? Click on any of the graphics or links below!
What is @4.in.a.forester?
They decided to document this adventure on Instagram. @4.in.a.forester is just as the name suggests, Emily, Danny, Jack and Maple, traveling the Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Tour Schedule together in their Subaru Forester.
