One hundred students will be involved in The Munster Theatre Company’s upcoming spring musical, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”
A cast of 60 will appear on stage, with 40 students serving as musicians and production staff.
Munster senior Drew Adams, 18, will play the role of Cogsworth, the animated clock and self-proclaimed head of the household.
“The hardest part of performing is finding motivation behind your character. Anyone can read lines and speak in accents, but to really perform, you have to dig deeply into a character and find yourself in them,” he said. “Theater is so much more than a school club. Theater is a lifestyle. You gain a second family and countless friends. You find yourself through your characters, and you understand yourself more than you ever thought possible. And, most importantly, you touch people.”
The storyline of the play follows the classic tale of Belle, a young woman whose interest in books doesn’t allow her to fit into her provincial town, and Gaston, the town’s self-appointed big shot, who has his sights set on making Belle his wife. He is aided by his sidekick Lefou.
Belle’s inventor father, Maurice, gets lost in the woods seeking refuge from a pack of wolves, and appears at the castle of the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an evil enchantress. The enchantress imprisons Maurice for trespassing; and Belle, upon finding him, offers to stay forever if her father is released.
Belle discovers the entire household has fallen under the curse — with the castle’s staff transformed into enchanted objects such as a candelabra and feather duster.
Allison Hemingway, 17, will play Belle in the production.
“This is the last show of my career in theater at Munster High School,” the senior said. “I’m so excited to play this role in one of my favorite Disney musicals with such an incredible cast and crew.”
Thomas Speranza, 17, will appear on stage as The Beast/Prince.
“In my sophomore year, I was taking voice lessons with my choir teacher. He showed me the song ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ from this musical. I instantly fell in love with the song and the rest of the show,” the Speranza, a senior, said. “I have wanted to perform as The Beast ever since then.
Based on the classic fairy tale and Disney’s 1991 animated feature film, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on April 25, 1991, running for more than 5,000 performances through July 2007. It was Disney’s first venture adapting one of their animated features films into a Broadway musical.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter.
If you go
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What: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”
When: 7 p.m. on April 30, May 1 and May 2, and 2 p.m. on May 3
Where: Munster High School Auditorium, 8808 Columbia Ave., Munster
Tickets: $7 at the door, senior and student tickets $5; available at the Auditorium Box Office on performance nights