April 11, 2013
The tale as old as time will be gracing the new stage at Hemet High School next weekend when the school's theater department brings to life Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."The musical, which will be the first performed in Hemet High's new theater, will also feature the theater's namesake Ron Murray, a longtime theatre teacher at Hemet High School, as Belle's father.
Murray has always been the director of the spring musical in past years, as well as every other production put on by the school. For the first time, a new theater teacher and director took the reins in Bret Cherland, allowing Murray to hit the stage and perform.
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Based on the French fairytale, "Beauty and Beast" tells the story of Belle, played by Danielle Rees, who is an intelligent young woman scorned by her fellow townspeople for being a bookworm. Belle is growing weary from fighting of advances by the arrogant Gaston, played by Dominic Geges, and dreams of escaping her small town.
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The Beast becomes taken with Belle and agrees to release her father if she will stay with him forever. Initially, Belle is repulsed by the Beast but soon finds his hidden tender nature. The Beast's servants – a clock (Christian Giorgianni), a teapot (Maria Perez), and a candlestick (Chris Henley) – view Belle as their salvation. After all, if the Beast and a woman fall in love before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose, he and they will be free from the curse and transform back into humans.
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"We have some amazing singers and the band is fantastic," Cherland said. "The actors are part of the musical theater class, which they had to audition to get into. They are all very talented."
There are 37 actors in the show and between 40 and 50 students on the stage crew including making sets and costumes, such as Belle's dress.
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"It's been really fun to see everyone come together and do a favorite like this," said senior student Sam Haley who is the assistant director of the show. "Seeing all my friends performing is so much fun."
Haley said the audience should be excited to see "Be Our Guest."
"It is just a big, show-stopping number," he said. "Everyone is all dressed up as silverware and it is a well-known song."
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"People will know the song and enjoy watching it," Henley said.
As for his character, Henley has enjoyed playing him.
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Henley is also the technical officer on the production and is excited about the Beast's transformation scene because of the lighting.
The show will be on stage at Hemet High School's new theater at 7 p.m. April 18, 19, and 20. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for ASB card holders and children under 13. Tickets are on sale at the Hemet High ASB office or one hour before each performance at the theater box office.