The Shadow Ridge theatre is debuting Beauty and the Beast the weekend of Feb. 8-10. Rehearsals were from 1:30 to 5:00 pm and the theatre department prepared everyday after school and on Saturdays. As the play got closer, the hours were longer. The play times were on Thursday 2/8, Friday 2/9, Saturday 2/10 and there was a special matinee performance on 2/10 at 1:00. The matinee performance was when the understudies were able to display their talents. The show was at 6:00 pm all three days. Doors opened at 5:30, and tickets could be purchased for $10, or $5 for the matinee, at the door (cash only), or on the 5 star app.
Auditions for the Beauty and the Beast musical were in mid-November, and everyone worked hard after that. There is a lot that goes into such an ambitious project. Actors have to memorize lines, songs, choreography, and cues. Technicians have a multitude of tasks including lighting, costumes, props, and even set changes during the actual performance. For both actors and techs, communication is key to a successful show.
The cast and crew worked really hard on the show and couldn’t wait to perform it in front of a live audience.
There was also a live pit orchestra with people from both band and the orchestra. The pit had been rehearsing since the beginning of the semester, and some had their music since Winter Break. Each member got a book with about 100 pages of music to play throughout the entire musical, so it’s no easy task.
Senior Blake Eecklor states, “It’s really an amazing opportunity to be able to collaborate with not only just theater, but band, orchestra, and choir as well.”
Eecklor also states, “I’m in both the ensemble and pit. I play a dancing wolf in a couple of the scenes, but for the majority of the play, I’m sitting in the back with the other musicians playing my flute and piccolo. It’s been an amazing experience to have the opportunity to be on both sides of the production, and I’m very excited to perform and see the outcome of all the hard work and time.”
Everybody has put in a lot of work and effort over the last 4+ months into making this show a success.
Jane Campbell, one of the stagehands, states, “Even though rehearsals are really long, it’s worth it.”
