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Look out, Broadway fans; three-time Tony nominee Joshua Henry is getting in touch with his inner meanie. 鈥淚 do love a villain,鈥� Henry says with glee. 鈥淚 love playing villains because it鈥檚 so the opposite of me. I鈥檓 generally a pleasant, happy-going guy.鈥�

The villain in question is the egotistical, misogynist jerk Gaston in Disney鈥檚 Beauty and the Beast, which is receiving a new TV special on ABC December 15, and streaming on Disney+ the day after. Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration will feature scenes from the 1989 Academy Award-nominated animated film combined with staged, live-action performances featuring an all-star cast, led by R&B superstar H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast.

According to Henry, this television event has something for everyone, from new behind-the-scenes features celebrating the artistry and craft of the beloved original film to live performances offering fresh, new interpretations of the classic Alan Menken-Howard Ashman score. Henry will join the company to lead one of the all-time great Disney villain songs, 鈥淕aston,鈥� a rollicking paen to toxic masculinity (among the traits celebrated in Ashman's lyrics are that "every last inch of [him]'s covered with hair"). 鈥淲hat really gets me going is these performers bringing their flavor of artistry to these iconic roles,鈥� says Henry. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for folks to hear [the songs performed] in a different way.鈥�

And those differences go beyond what audiences will be hearing. While the animated world of the 1989 film is all white, that won鈥檛 be the case when the live-action cast is on screen. Carrying on a mantle started by Beauty and the Beast Broadway alums Toni Braxton and Meshach Taylor, the cast of this upcoming special is predominantly made up of BIPOC actors. For Henry, that makes the experience more than just a gig.

鈥淎s a Black actor playing this, I鈥檓 really grateful because I know that there are a lot of little Joshuas out there, a lot of chocolate Joshuas out there, who are thinking about their place in theatre and in TV and in film and music,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what fuels me.鈥� Among those 鈥渓ittle Joshuas鈥� is Henry鈥檚 four-year-old son, Samson. 鈥淚 told him, 鈥楧addy鈥檚 gonna be this superhero.' Gaston is this hunter. He鈥檚 fierce. He鈥檚 well-respected in the community. Yes, he鈥檚 got some other things, but he鈥檚 charming.鈥�

As for those 鈥渙ther things鈥� Henry hints at, Henry has no qualms about playing a villain as a Black man. It鈥檚 not his first time tackling such characters鈥擧enry starred as the equally problematic Billy Bigelow in Broadway鈥檚 2018 revival of Carousel, and got a Tony nomination for his work.

For Henry, it鈥檚 an opportunity to bring 鈥渘uance to a character that people see as just toxic and self-absorbed.鈥� After all, Gaston may be villainous but he鈥檚 also fun to watch. 鈥淚鈥檓 focused on the fact that I鈥檝e been very blessed to play different characters, that a lot of Black men have not been able to play,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat that means to me is a door is being opened, a new light is being shown. And there鈥檚 more access for people like me, for Black actors, for people who are non-white.鈥�

Henry is aware that critics might not like seeing a Black man being the bad guy, but he鈥檚 not worried (something he has in common with the ultra-confident Gaston): 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 live your life for the haters. You have to live your life for what鈥檚 possible and what growth can come from what you鈥檙e doing.鈥� My what a guy, Joshua!

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Get a Sneak Peek of H.E.R., Josh Groban, Joshua Henry, More in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration

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