RICH LOPEZ | Staff Writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com

Music Director and Conductor David Andrews Rogers vividly recalls his childhood trips to Dallas from Deep East Texas to experience the magic of theater at the Music Hall at Fair Park. He remembers the box seats he had back in the day — not for the exclusivity they offered, but for his view of the orchestra pit and the conductor. Next week, Rogers returns to Dallas (again) to perform in that very venue as the music director and conductor for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

He’s come a long way from his professional debut at the Dallas Repertory Theatre as music director for Shenandoah. “Living in Dallas for 17 years, I did numerous productions at DRT, but I also worked at most every other professional theater in town,” Rogers said.

David Andrews Rogers — or professionally known as DAR. (Courtesy photo)

Now living in Palm Springs, he’s fashioned an impressive career in theater that has brought him back to North Texas many times — and each time is a special one for DAR. His first tour that brought him back to Dallas was for Show Boat. He said he walked up to the venue that time with tears in his eyes.

“Playing the Hall that informed so much of my youth; it holds a special place,” he said.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast runs Dec. 16-Jan. 4 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Broadway Dallas.

Rogers describes this show as an absolute delight, and, even considering his already storied career, this gig fulfilled one of his career crowning glory goals: “I have wanted to work for the Disney Theatrical Group for as long as I can remember,” he said.

Based on the 1991 animated film of the same name, this production has been retooled, sort of, to still work its own magic but to also speak to today’s audiences. Rogers appreciates the different and new energy the show has given to the original songs by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken and the added songs created for the musical by Ashman and Tim Rice with the book by Linda Woolverton.

“The songs feel vibrant and exciting while still looking for the truth of the story,” Rogers said.

And it’s apropos that he finds himself working with this show. Beauty and Beast has a deeply personal resonance for the conductor.

“Belle is such a heroine. She’s absolutely my favorite Disney princess,” he said, praising her “agency and authority and intelligence.”

He also sees her as the ultimate outsider — a theme that connects with the LGBTQ+ community.

“How many of us don’t feel like that today?” he asked.

Rogers said that he finds that Belle doesn’t conform to expectations of the people around her or even the hunky, beefy Gaston. Instead, she’s drawn to the humanity of the Beast.

She’s also the “ultimate nerd,” he said.

“I love that he wins her over by showing Belle the library,” he said of the story. “But what I think relates the show to our community is that she finds herself in this castle and ends up finding a community of people — or furniture — who embrace her and she them. That’s the tradition of outsiders everywhere.”

Before all the mainstages, Rogers was part of a special chapter in Dallas’ history, particularly the Gayborhood. The musician was a part of the Dallas cabaret scene with stints at the Hideaway, Michael’s and John L’s — all part of a different era.

“It was such a remarkable time in Dallas and in my life,” he said. “So many great acts and so many clubs to play.”

He was there to open Patrick’s, and he witnessed John L’s in its construction phase. And despite these primarily being gay clubs, he found a broad audience.

“Oh, they were wonderfully diverse. Gay people came to see us. Straight people came to see us,” he recalled.

He is here on tour, and the demands of the job do keep him busy. But Rogers does find the time to venture around and see his old haunts while reconnecting with any theater friends and family still here.

“My personal tradition when I get back here is a driving tour. I’ll go see my fraternity house at SMU, my first apartment off Mockingbird and the houses I lived in while in Oak Lawn,” he said.

In turn, he feels like he’s bringing a gift of his to Dallas. To him, Beauty and the Beast is one of the “most beautiful shows ever,” and he thinks it’s here just at the right time: “Don’t we need the ultimate happily ever after story at this time and see how love can flourish in the face of adversity?”

For tickets, visit BroadwayDallas.org.

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