A beloved children’s story comes to life when Centreville High presents the Disney musical, “Beauty and the Beast.” It’s also the school’s Cappies production, and Director Mike Hudson says it’s going to be special.
“The actors have just blown me away,” he said. “We had a pre-audition last May, and we had no idea we’d get this level of talent. About half the kids are choral students, but we’re also blessed with theater students who can sing.”
The curtain rises Thursday-Friday, Feb. 5-6, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 via www.theatrecentreville.com or at the door (but people are advised to get them online or from a cast member for the Saturday matinee).
In addition, there’ll be a meet-and-greet at 1 p.m. in the school cafeteria before the Saturday matinee, and it’s free to any ticket-holder. Children will be able to meet and talk with Belle, Gaston, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and the Silly Girls and take photos with them.
The show features a cast of 58, crew of 16 and a 15-piece orchestra, and the actors have been rehearsing since early October. School Choral Director Lynne Babcock is the vocal director and former Centreville Orchestra Director Cheryl Cooley is leading the orchestra. “We wanted to make this a true, Performing Arts Department production,” said Hudson.
Art students worked on the scenery, creating the village, Belle’s house, the woods and the interior of the Beast’s castle, complete with a central staircase. And the special effects will include lasers, two types of fog and smoke.
Besides that, added Hudson, “The costumes are beautiful and there’ll be a custom-made Beast head. But our Beast isn’t frightening – he actually has a charming personality. And we’ll be selling light-up roses before each show, and there’ll be a chance for the children to join in and wave them at the show’s end.”
Three students choreographed all the dance numbers and, said Hudson, “I cannot praise them enough – they’ve done an amazing job. Our choreography is second to none.” Overall, he said the audience will appreciate the cast’s “spontaneity and enthusiasm; everyone’s worked so hard on this production. Since this is the Disney version, children will recognize the songs, especially ‘Be Our Guest’ and ‘Human Again,’ and we’ve got marvelous voices and musicians.”
Portraying the Beast is Centreville senior Nick Ingargiola, who attends the Fairfax Academy for musical theater. Describing the Beast as a “complicated character,” Ingargiola said he was a prince who was changed into a beast by an enchantress after refusing to buy a rose from her.
“He’s angry and depressed and doesn’t know how to love or care for anything,” said Ingargiola. “He lives in a castle with his servants, but he has to learn to love or be doomed to be a beast forever. And when he encounters Belle, he eventually falls in love.”
Ingargiola says it’s challenging “to emote through a gigantic, beast costume and mask. So I have to be really expressive with my eyes. But I have a gorgeous song to sing, ‘If I Can’t Love Her.’ It portrays the agony of his existence and is tragically beautiful and lets the audience understand him better.”
Thrilled to have this role, he said, “It’s cool evolving with the Beast; he’s shy and not used to talking with people. And it’s adorable to see him flounder about and try to make this girl like him, let alone love him. He has so many dimensions to his personality.”
Besides the tender love story, Ingargiola said the audience will also be impressed with the show’s special effects. And, he added, “The dance numbers are really spectacular. The choreographers have done a wonderful job – it looks like professionals did it.”
Centreville senior Cameron Daly plays Belle. “She’s very independent, but also kind and caring to everyone around her, especially her father,” said Daly. “She takes his place in the Beast’s dungeon so he can be free.”
“It’s incredible and a huge honor to play this role,” she continued. “It’s my first lead and makes me confident in my abilities as an actress and vocalist. I’ve known Nick since first grade, so it’s great to have this chemistry together.”
Daly’s favorite number is her solo, “A Change in Me,” because “it’s a powerful song about Belle accepting what’s happened to her and being happy about it.” As for the show, she said the audience “will love our ensemble – the singing is fabulous and the dancing is phenomenal. And the whole cast has so much energy.”
Portraying Gaston is senior Joshua Ewalt. “He’s almost a satire of Disney princes – arrogant and full of himself – and the thought that he won’t get what he wants never crosses his mind,” said Ewalt. “It’s fun to play such an off-the-wall character because I can be really zany. There are also fun songs and physical comedy, so it’s enjoyable for me.”
He likes the number, “Maison de Lune,” the best. “I sing it with LeFou and others,” he said. “It’s the villain’s song and it’s funny, has cool word play and is more complex to listen to and to sing.”
Ewalt said people will love “revisiting this Disney story with its great music and seeing it live. It’s something the whole family will enjoy, and we have really cool sets and costumes – especially the Beast, with prosthetics, a cape and fake fur – so it’ll also be a treat for the eyes.”
Seniors Jemma Stratton, Nora Winsler and Stephanie Rathjen – who’ve taken dance lessons since they were children – began choreographing this show in August, working on about a dozen numbers. “We worked together well, with very few conflicts,” said Winsler.
They each did one dance, themselves; Winsler did “Beauty and the Beast, the Waltz,” Rathjen did “Human Again” and Stratton did “Me.” But they collaborated on everything else. “We took turns teaching different parts of the dances,” said Rathjen.
And, said Winsler, “We could teach different dances to the actors at the same time. It was fun being creative with these two. Sometimes it took forever to get one part done, but it was so rewarding to see the dances on stage.”
“It was great seeing it all come together,” said Rathjen. “And the actors gave us good feedback, if something didn’t work.”
Stratton said it’s “cool being part of the show in a different way – the production process.”
“There’s a lot of responsibility; Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Babcock had faith and trust in us and treated us as equals,” said Winsler. “It’s been great working with them.”
Noting that all three choreographers are also in the show, Rathjen said it’s nice performing to something they’ve created. “The centerpiece is the ‘Be Our Guest’ number – that’s the wow factor,” said Stratton. “But the whole show will be really impressive.”