DAYTIME STAR MOONLIGHTS AS LUMIERE

Starting May 9, the super-hot soap stud Jacob Young will be really burning the candle at both ends. In the mornings, the Emmy winner will be shooting “All My Children” as JR Chandler, but at night, he’ll be lighting up the stage of the Lunt-Fontanne as Lumiere the candlestick in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for the next ten weeks. The 5-foot-8 heartthrob from Renton, WA, couldn’t ask for a brighter Broadway bow; even his scheming soap character’s name is “Chandler,” which is a seller of candles.

Young, who grew up on Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, says, “I never guessed in a million years that I’d be doing a Disney musical. But Mark Rozzano, the associate producer of Beauty and the Beast, saw me sing 'One Song Glory’ from Rent at a Broadway Cares benefit and suggested it. It’s been fun. Lumiere’s got all the great one-liners. He’s literally the light of everyone’s life. He’s a big flirt who loves women. And he’s a sweet, charming character who still has his humanity, although he’s turning into this candlestick. He’s balancing everyone else’s fears with his own fear of melting away to nothing. I also get to do ‘Be Our Guest,’ this incredible showstopper. I do some soft shoe, tango and waltz. The dance captain [Daria Lynn Scatton] has been so gracious. I even surprised myself. After this, I can guarantee you that I can do anything. This is just the beginning. Playing the Phantom [someday] would be amazing.” Gary Beach, who originated the role of Lumiere and got a Tony nomination for it, adds, “I can’t wait to see Jacob in the show. I hear he’s wonderful.”

Growing up, Young sang in choirs, doing everything from doo-wop and pop to Latin. Though he appeared in high school ensembles of Grease, Our Town and The Wizard of Oz, “I also played Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. It was a real kick. It was the first time I booked something as a lead.” Once dubbed “the sexiest soap star” by People Magazine, he’s now a lead on “All My Children” — and that’s light years away from Lumiere: “JR’s totally the opposite. He’s vindictive and manipulative. He’s a bit evil. He’s big on revenge. I’ve been on three shows [including ‘General Hospital’ and ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’], and this is the best character I’ve ever played. JR’s gonna be bad, but he’s got to be charming. He has a tormented past.”

Young, 26, also had a tormented past: “I lost my stepmom when I was 16. She killed herself. You couldn’t help but blame yourself. Why did it happen? And we were close. I knew her since I was a baby. You live in that dark place and I was having nightmares. My dad was going through his own torment. But those life lessons made me stronger.” He put himself through private school by working at Denny’s and lived in a temporary foster home. Later, he stayed with his birth mom in San Diego. “We had a falling out when I was younger, but now we have a great relationship. She urged me to do commercials. If I hadn’t moved down there, I would’ve never gotten into the industry. Acting has taught me it’s to okay to have feelings. It’s like therapy everyday. Meantime, I’m thrilled that my mom’s coming to see me on Broadway.”