"Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," the hit Broadway musical based on the Walt Disney Pictures animated film, will be presented at 7 p.m. June 3 and 4, State Theatre Center for the Arts, 453 Northampton St., Easton.

Hassan Nazari-Robati, who plays the gracious candlestick Lumière in the national touring production, believes that "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" is so popular because it appeals to all ages.

The power of love is the main theme of "Beauty and the Beast," according to Nazari-Robati. "The story is about seeing past someone's external self to who they are on the inside," he says during a recent phone interview. "In the end, it is Belle's love that saves the Beast.

"It speaks to everyone," he says. "It's more than just a kid's show. It has lots of intelligent dialogue back and forth between characters. Different jokes hit with different audiences. And besides that [its theme of] love is a universal theme. It's innate within ourselves, to fall in love."

Nazari-Robati, an Oklahoma City, Okla., native, studied music theater at Oklahoma State University before heading to New York City in 2011 to pursue his dream of performing in Broadway shows.

"I was always a fan of the movie and the song 'Be Our Guest' [which he, as Lumière, sings]. I set my sights on getting the role. I was lucky enough to get the call back for 'Beauty and the Beast' in May of 2012," says Nazari-Robati.

The national tour of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" features favorite song and dance numbers from the movie, including "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast," as well as songs and scenes original to the play.

"Scenes include additional dialogue, too, and we get to see a little more of Beast's character in the play than in the movie," Nazari-Robati says.

Nazari-Robati feels fortunate to be able to tour North America with "Disney's Beauty and the Beast":

"I've been able to see all the different cities, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Atlanta … I've also been to places in the country I've never heard of before. I've gotten to see the country in a whole new light."

Mark Edwards, who grew up in Quakertown, studied at West Chester University and has family in Easton, is a member of the ensemble and an understudy for the lead role of the Beast.

A discount per ticket, with a limit of four per household for the State Theatre show, is available to those who donate a "Book for Belle." Books brought to the State Theatre Box Office will be donated to the Easton Area Public Library.

Tickets: State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton St., Easton, statetheatre.org, 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132