If you've ever heard Chrissy Mauck talk about the role of Belle, it's easy to understand how much it means to her. Once, as a child, she dressed in the iconic gold gown for a Halloween event at her grade school, only to be told by some unkind classmates she could never be Belle because she "didn't look like a princess." This heartbreaking moment for Mauck may have damaged her spirit a little, but didn't break it. She continued to pursue the part she knew and understood so well in the hopes of telling her story someday. The opportunity to perform Belle in Springfield Muni Opera's Beauty and the Beast this past summer was, in her words, "A dream come true." And it was a dream for those who had the pleasure of experiencing her lovely, spirited performance and for fans to vote for her to receive the best female lead accolade.
While relatively new to the Springfield theater scene, Mauck has been making her mark across multiple theater venues through memorable performances. She is also busy sharing her talents and teaching others as a choir and voice instructor in central Illinois and serves as the band director for the Ball-Chatham School District. We look forward to seeing and hearing more from Mauck as she continues inspiring students and little girls in audiences everywhere.
