Perhaps the most complex costume in the show is that of the Beast, which includes stilts and custom-made masks constructed on plaster molds of the performers’ faces. Beck-Ard said this work also had to be done in triplicate for Sims as the Beast, his understudy and his body double, who appears on stage in some scenes while Sims, offstage, provides the voice.

Sims said playing the Beast has been a huge effort; he spent hours on weekends just learning to walk in the stilts. He said he’s also had to learn to adjust his movements to move convincingly, as if he is as large as the Beast. With all the fur and padding to bulk him up, he said, the costume is also hot, adding to the role's physical challenge.

“If you’re not sweating when you come off stage, you’re not doing it right,” said Sims.

Sims, who played Baby John in the CSD production of “West Side Story,” said in addition to the physical challenges of the role, he’s also had to adapt to playing a character who is angry and misunderstood. Sims, who said he is naturally pretty extroverted, has spent a lot of time studying the character and watching versions of Beast from the movies and recordings of the Broadway production of “Beauty and the Beast.” He said he’s also worked a lot with Beck-Ard to understand the other layers to the character to portray more than just anger.