Kathy Voytko. Photo courtesy of The National Theatre.
“Be Our Guest at BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years. This enchanting and timeless tale, filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love, has been brought to life like never before, with spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes. The show boasts the Oscar®-winning and Tony Award®-nominated score, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Reuniting to create this new production are members of the original Tony Award®-winning artistic team, including composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, with direction and choreography by Matt West, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward and lighting design by Natasha Katz. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is the beloved musical that will fill your heart with joy and Disney magic.”
Kathy Voytko (Mrs. Potts) – Broadway: The Music Man, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Tuck Everlasting, Next To Normal, The Pirate Queen, The Frogs, Nine, Oklahoma! Tours: Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Gentleman’s Guide…Thank you Disney, the amazing BATB company, TRC & CGF! For my loves: John, Alena, & Evelyn.
Tell us a bit about your background and when you knew you wanted to be an actor.
When I was a junior in high school, my parents took me to Pittsburgh to see the national tour of “Les Misérables.” Sometime during Act 2 while I was wiping tears off my face I leaned over to my mom and said, “I think I wanna do that!” And my mom wiped the tears off of her face and leaned over to me and whispered, “Go for it!”
You have been quite the busy lady, working on Broadway, in regional theater, television/film, performing with symphony orchestras, and touring. Do you have a favorite/preference?
I would love to say I have a preference, but my dream was always to be a working actor. I love to act. I love to sing. I love to tell somebody else’s story through words, or through song, or with dance. In a stressful world, I think it is vital to have art that takes us away and out of our own head for a bit. So, I hope to continue singing with symphonies, working on stage, and being lucky enough to work on camera, as well.
What sets this show apart from your other touring experiences and will you be with the show for the whole tour? What are the challenges balancing family life with a spouse who is “in the business” as well?
I think the thing that really sticks out for me while touring the country with Beauty and the Beast is the incredible fan base. I don’t just mean the Disney fan base; I mean that our show seems to appeal to such a wide range of humans. Some of the people I meet have never seen a live theater production before and some of the people have seen every iteration of this show over the years, but nearly everyone comes out of the theater absolutely delighted. It’s an embarrassment of riches because our cast is absolutely terrific, our crew is amazing, the orchestra sounds absolutely glorious and everybody gives 100% every day and I really think it shows. So, I guess the biggest thing that sets this show apart from my other touring experiences is the reliably joyous reaction of our audiences.
The hardest part about my job is being away from my husband, our kids, our dogs, and our home. I do my best to fly home as often as possible, but I still miss things and that can be absolutely heartbreaking. Touring North America with Beauty and the Beast is an honor and a privilege, being away for family life moments is the hardest part for certain.
What is new about this production of “Beauty and the Beast” compared to previous productions? What are the fun parts and the challenges of playing Mrs. Potts in such a popular and iconic musical?
I’m a huge Angela Lansbury fan so I couldn’t be more tickled to get to be Mrs. Potts. At first, I was a little overwhelmed and intimidated, but Matt West, our director and choreographer, Linda Wolverton, our writer, Sam Scalamoni, our associate director, David Andrews Rogers, our music director, and the entire creative team were so encouraging during our rehearsal process. They made it abundantly clear that they wanted my version of Mrs. Potts while honoring the character we all know and love. So, with their encouragement, I was able to lean into my mom-side and make Mrs. Potts my own, and I’ve been having an absolute ball ever since!
Do you have any dreams roles you have yet to perform and/or particular career goals for the future?
Well, if we are talking about Disney roles, I would completely love to be Mother Gothel (“Tangled”). I’ve been dying to be a villain! Other than that, I always hope for fun and creative challenges, steady employment, more time with my family, and a new exciting role I don’t even know about yet.
The National Tour of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” runs through April 5, 2026, at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. For more information and to purchase tickets, For more information and to purchase tickets: in person at the Box Office Monday-Friday, 12-6 pm (Extended hours during performance days: Tuesday-Sunday, 12-7 pm), or go online.
