By JACKIE MOE
For generations of theatergoers, the story of Beauty and the Beast is wrapped in nostalgia, familiar music and the reminder that there is often much more to people than what first meets the eye.
Now, after more than 25 years, Disney is bringing a new North American touring production of the beloved stage musical back to audiences across the country, and to Costa Mesa.
The enchanting production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast begins its three-week engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 11. Among the beloved characters returning to the stage is Mrs. Potts, the nurturing matriarch whose warmth and wisdom help guide the enchanted castle toward its happy ending.
Christina Rose Hall, who plays Mrs. Potts, understands the responsibility that comes with stepping into such an iconic role. With a career spanning national tours and theaters across the country, Hall brings a deeply personal perspective to the character that she hopes will resonate with the audience.
Ahead of the production’s Costa Mesa run, Backstage SoCal caught up with Hall to talk about the magic of Mrs. Potts, the remarkable team working behind the scenes and why this timeless story still has something meaningful to say.
As one of the most beloved characters in Beauty and the Beast, what is it like stepping into a role that audiences already have such a strong emotional connection to?
It is an honor I take very seriously stepping into one of the most maternal roles in the Disney cannon. Mrs. Potts pours love into all her relationships, and it is a gift to carry that energy to the audience from the stage and at the stage door every performance.
Mrs. Potts is warm and nurturing, but she’s also living under the same curse. What have you discovered about her as a character that you didn’t expect when you first took on the role?
I think Mrs. Potts has made me aware of the amount of strength it takes to navigate fear and uncertainty while keeping a brave and positive outlook for your child. I think many guardians around the world are navigating similar terrain, and I have tremendous respect for the effort it takes to brighten the darker days.
You’ve performed in productions ranging from Les Misérables to regional theater throughout the country. What is it about live theater/musical theater that continues to draw you back?
There is nothing like the exchange of live group energy being tossed back and forth from crew to cast to audience to front of house staff and back again. It is the embodiment of reaching out to one another as a society, the clearest example of universal yearning for connection and belonging.
Your career has taken you from national tours to some of Chicago’s most respected theaters. How has working in different theatrical environments shaped you as a performer?
Whether I am playing in intimate venues where I can see the expressions of each of the 12 audience members, or in houses with thousands of seats where I can’t see a single face, but what is universally true is, if you stay present and honest in the moment you are crafting onstage, the audience will commune with you there.
What is your favorite part of the process of bringing Mrs. Potts to life night after night?
I really love being able to work with this wonderful company of people, who are bringing their best onstage and behind the scenes. I cross paths with multiple departments (wigs, sound, electrics, wardrobe, props, carpentry, music, and stage management) before I even make it to the stage with my co-stars, and they ALL steep Mrs. Potts with that Disney magic!
You’ve said that you deeply enjoy nature and all things plant- and animal-related. Does that connection to nature influence the way you approach a character like Mrs. Potts?
It does! I see Mrs. Potts as a character who is cultivating an environment for love to blossom within. Her hope throughout the show is rooted in her understanding of the seasonal way life changes and is expressed in her final lyrics of the show: “Winter turns to Spring, Famine turns to feast, Nature points the way, Nothing left to say, Beauty and the Beast!”
For audiences seeing Beauty and the Beast at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, what do you hope they take away from this production?
Beyond being entertained by the boisterous big numbers, soaring vocals, and remarkable costumes, I hope audiences take away the lessons not to judge a book by its cover, and that while it can be “bittersweet and strange” we all have room to admit when we are wrong and change for the better.
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Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
WHAT: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first North American touring production of the musical presented by Disney in more than 25 years.
WHEN: Sept. 22-Oct. 11, 2026
WHERE: Segerstrom Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
TICKETS: Tickets start at $44.
WEBSITE: scfta.org
For group ticket discounts for 10 or more, call 714-755-0236. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is the official ticket outlet for performances at the Center.
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