Lumière, Madame, and a Subaru Forester: a Real Life Beauty and the Beast Story

Life on the road isn't for the faint of heart. For many performers, the thrill of landing a role on a national tour means living out of suitcases, heartbreaking goodbyes, and months spent away from the comfort of home. For Danny Gardner and Emily Larger, it means something a little different: family dinners on the road, a packed Subaru Forester, and bedtime routines squeezed in between curtain calls when possible.

The married performers are currently touring with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, bringing the beloved musical to cities across North America. Gardner, a Reading, Pennsylvania native, plays the charming Lumière (candelabra), while Larger is a cast member and understudy for both Mrs. Potts (teapot) and Madame de la Grande Bouche (wardrobe). Traveling with them are their 9-month-old son, Jack, and their dog, an excitable mini Bernedoodle named Maple - making their tour experience as much about parenting as it is about performance.

Perhaps you saw Gardner as Lumière on Disney Night on Dancing with the Stars!

During my conversation with the couple, they opened up about the joys and challenges of raising a young family while working in live theater. The biggest perk, they agree, is being together. Rather than spending long stretches apart, Gardner and Larger have found a way to keep their family unit intact while doing the work they love.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. One of the toughest adjustments has been accepting that they won’t always be the ones putting Jack to bed at night. With evening performances and rehearsals, they’ve had to lean on a strong support system. They have said yes to just about everyone who has offered to lend a hand, and has family and friends join them at tour stops all over the country to help with childcare. Learning to accept help, they say, has been a necessary and humbling part of the journey.

There are also the physical demands of the show itself. Gardner’s role as Lumière includes a show-stopping, 10-minute tap dance number performed while wearing 10-pound candlesticks on each hand. It’s a feat that requires serious stamina, discipline, and a bit of humor, especially after a day that might include diaper changes and stroller walks around a new city.

When their tour arrives in Philadelphia, it will be a special homecoming for Gardner. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast begins performances at the Academy of Music on February 11, 2026, running for a limited two-week engagement through February 22. The production marks the first North American tour of the musical presented by Disney in more than 25 years and brings with it all the spectacle audiences remember - from Alan Menken’s iconic score to breathtaking choreography and lavish costumes.

Despite the long drives, unconventional schedules, and constant motion, Gardner and Larger are clear about one thing: this chapter, chaotic as it may be, is worth it. They’re building memories not just onstage, but as a family - one city, one performance, and one packed car ride at a time.

For them, touring isn’t just about telling a timeless Disney story - it’s about living one of their own.

You can see my conversation with the couple here.