‘Beauty & The Beast’ musical to be staged at MHS (GALLERY)

It is sheer coincidence that brings the Disney musical “Beauty & the Beast” to the Maricopa High School stage as the live-action film version is in movie theaters.[quote_box_right]IF YOU GO
What: “Beauty & The Beast”
When: April 20-22, 7 p.m., April 22, 2 p.m.
Where: Maricopa High School Performing Arts Center, 45012 W. Honeycutt Ave.
How much: $5[/quote_box_right]

“I didn’t even make the connection until a few months ago,” said MHS theater instructor Cynthia Calhoun. “I think it’ll all work out OK.”

The musical is the MHS Theatre Company’s effort to “go big again” for its spring production.

After the troupe metaphorically blew the roof off with “Les Miserables” last year, returning players felt they needed to follow up strong.

“I was actually thinking about another show,” Calhoun said. “But I had a couple of actors come to me and suggest this one. I always loved this show and wanted to do it.”

The plot is based on the French tale of a beautiful girl, Belle, who agrees to stay in an enchanted castle at the whims of its beastly proprietor in order to save her father (and escape a handsome but pompous suitor Gaston). The show originated as a 1991 animated film by Disney with songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. When it was later adapted for Broadway, more lyrics were added by Tim Rice.[quote_box_right]CAST: Belle – Lillian Chitwood; Beast – Carlos Venegas; Gaston – Jeron Hlebasko; Maurice – Camron Loomis; LeFou – Erick Livingston; Mrs. Potts – Tyler Curtis; Lumiere – Nikolas Mase; Cogsworth – Mahkai Ball; Babette – Kjirsten Lemon; Chip – Adrian Perdomo; Madame de la Grande Bouche – Brook Perona; Monsieur D’Arque – Corey Simmons; Silly Girls – Setera Miller, Hannah Panter, Sarah Ledbetter; Beggar/Enchantress – Kari Bejmowicz; Prince – Jacob Loomis; Villagers – Morgan Lee, Taryn Story, Alex Hurley, Antonio Gonzales, Azeri Hanson, Logan Spaulding, Lindsey Matos, Rebekka Harris, Porter Jones, Aleyna Call, Dylan Stradling, Caleb Wilson, Emily Goncalves, Jacob Loomis, Skylar Trast, Harrison Delap, Francis Trast, Thiraphat Kongeinta, Hannah Crean, Patrice Perrone, McKenzie Durovka, Kaylin Griffin, Brianna Hollingsworth, Landin Thomas, Madison Ewald, Britney Daniels, Alana Daniels, Kayla Matos; Enchanted Objects – Kari Bejmowicz, Evelyn Bates, Chaienne Zoller, Stirling Luckey, Evelyn Young, Haley Lemon, Hailey Gross, Brychelle Jackson, Freya Abraham, Britney Montgomery, RyAnn Liermann, Derek Blakely, Keara Burke, Ivie Keene, Fides Bernales Joie Guela , Lindsay Hubbard, Alexia Esquivel, Savannah Jones, Ethan Stradling, Autumn Fausz, Alexis Price, Heidi Smith, Julia Edens, Tamara Hanania, Dallas Grimm, Justin Atkinson, Wynnie Grissom, Zephanie Coleman, Makayla Horn, Mikayla McLaughlin; Male Swings – Porter Jones, Stirling Luckey; Female Swings – Britney Montgomery, Aidyn Curtis.[/quote_box_right]

In auditions, senior Lillian Chitwood stood out, though she was accustomed to supporting roles. Her work landed her the role of Belle.

“She’s grown so much as an actor,” Calhoun said.

Chitwood said she has been singing her whole life.

“I thought it would be cool to finally get the lead,” she said. “It’s hard being confident in myself, that I can do this.”

Belle sets the stage for the production by singing the song “Belle” with the villagers, and that happens to be Chitwood’s favorite. To pick up tips for creating different chemistry with different characters, she has studied other productions on YouTube.com.

The Beast is played by senior Carlos Venegas. He was also the lead in “Les Miserables” and scored a “superior” at Central Arizona Festival of Theatre this year with a highlight number from that musical to qualify for international competition.

“I’ve always wanted to do the show of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ since I was younger,” Venegas said. “Like in my mind I thought, if I ever did ‘Beauty and the Beast’ I really, really want to be Beast. And so when I finally got the opportunity I went for it. I wanted it really bad.”

Jeron Hlebasko was just as eager to play the arrogant Gaston. Calhoun pointed out the senior was used to playing romantic love interests, like Marius in “Les Miserables.” He wanted a change, and Gaston fit the bill.

“He wasn’t always on stage but he was someone big, someone important, someone just powerful,” Hlebasko said. “I prefer power over calm.”

Like Belle and Beast, his character is well-known, and Hlebasko wants to add his own flair. “I want to be able to add a little more of who I am into it,” he said.

Calhoun is working with a cast of around 80 students. Technical and construction students are vital to the production as well, building a castle and village. Art students are creating 3D objects to complete the set.

This story appears in the April issue of InMaricopa.

'Beauty & the Beast' Rehearsals

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