Fall in love with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 
Written by Kathleen Szmit 

Barnstable Drama Club delights with spring show

Once upon a time there was a handsome, but spoiled young prince who was put under a spell by an enchantress looking to teach the lad a lesson.

Because she felt he had no love in his heart, she turned him into a hideous beast, giving him until his 24th birthday to find someone to love who would also love him back. Should he not, he would remain a beast forever. To symbolize his fate he was given a magic rose that would bloom until that time, at which point the last petal would fall.

So begins the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, in which a cursed Beast finds true love with the bookish young maiden named Belle.

Made popular by a 1990s Disney movie, the story has again come to life in magical splendor on the stage of the Performing Arts Center at Barnstable High School.

Rumored to be BHS Drama Club director John Sullivan’s last “big show,” Beauty spares no detail in this lively retelling, complete with dancing dishware, marvelous melodies, and a wonderfully happy ending.

Once again Sullivan has divvied up the roles between numerous actors and actresses, with Kat Lovett and Seth Garcia stepping impressively into the title roles on opening night (March 19).

Lovett brings a refreshing believability to the part of Belle, a young woman more interested in the books she pores over obsessively than in life in her provincial European town, while Garcia is splendid as the Beast, nicely conveying the struggle of a once-human prince now trapped, perhaps forever, in an unrecognizable form.

Will Belle save him, or will she fall prey to the overconfident, overblown Gaston, well played by Tom Myers, who is obviously enjoying a role in which he gets to ham it up greatly.

Not if those also under the enchantress’s spell have anything to do with it, particularly Cogsworth (a talking clock) and Lumiere (an animated candlestick). As Cogsworth Travis Manni is quite funny, while Sean Potter seems destined for the part of the ebullient Lumiere, playing it up masterfully.

Andrew Harmon is the perfect comic foil for Gaston, taking more than a few lumps while literally falling all over the stage, and Derek Rockwell is absolutely adorable as Chip, a little boy transformed into a teacup.

Perhaps the most surprising star turn, though, comes from Matheus Fiuza, who plays Maurice. With fantastic makeup and an engaging air, Fiuza fully embodies the part of Belle’s well meaning but befuddled father. His makeup is so well done, as is his acting, that one might not realize it’s a high school student on the stage.

Look for Johanna Regan and Danielle Parkka to take over the role of Belle during other performances, while Jeremy Peacock will become the Beast. Rumor also has it that Charlie Ferguson turns out a most hilarious Cogsworth, snooty British accent included.

It wouldn’t be a BHSDC production if there weren’t stunning visual effects, and in this case the show does not disappoint. The sets, built by a host of talented club members, are spectacular, complete with rustic castle walls, balconies, and twinkling stars, all of which is greatly enhanced by nicely done lighting.

Also deserving highest praise are those who created the myriad costumes in the show. From the furry Beast, to the dancing dinnerware that takes the stage during the sensational “Be Our Guest” performance, the costumes are fantastic and quite creative.

While there were a few sound glitches on opening night, they weren’t enough to overshadow what was, ultimately, a hugely entertaining experience.

It is clear from the passion and intensity that the students involved in the show take their work seriously, making this show a must-see.

After all, who doesn’t love a happy ending? Just make sure to get there before the last petal falls.

Show Photos

Publicity Photos

Thank you Siobhan for sharing your talent with the world.We all knew someday people would “discover” the talents we always saw in you while you were here. Best of luck and I hope the world beats a path to your door! You certainly deserve it.

ALL STUDENTS GRADES 8-12 are encouraged to try out for the BHS Drama Club production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Auditions will be held Monday March 1st and Tuesday March 2nd, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Knight Hall. And, if acting isn’t your skill but you like to paint, sew, build, or do anything involving technology of any kind, show up, please. We need you, too!  See Mr. O’Toole in RM 2726 for audition forms, speeches, or if you have any questions and /or schedule conflicts.

Monday
March 1- 6:00-9:00
Songs- “Belle”, “Be Our Guest”
All Belle songs
All dialogue before and after songs.
Sheep are needed

Tuesday
March 2- 6:00-9:00
Songs- “Gaston”, “Kill the Beast”, “Me”, “No matter what”
All dialogue before and after songs.

Wednesday
March 3- 6:00-9:00
Songs- “Human Again”, “Be Our Guest”
All dialogue before and after songs.

Thursday
March 4- 6:00-9:00
All acting scenes
Chase scene. Objects and townspeople
Wolves are needed

Friday
March 5- 2:00-5:00
Work Meeting

Saturday
March 6- 9:00-3:00
Work Meeting

Sunday
March 7- 11:00-4:00
Act I

Monday
March 8- 6:00-9:00
Act II

Tuesday
March 9- 6:00-9:00
Act I

Wednesday
March 10- 6:00-9:00
Act II

Thursday
March 11- 6:00-9:00
Full Show

Friday
March 12- 2:00-5:00
Work Meeting

Saturday
March 13- 9:00-3:00
Work Meeting

Sunday
March 14- 11:00-4:00
Full Show

Monday
March 15- 6:00-9:00
Act I

Tuesday
March 16- 6:00-9:00
Act II

Wednesday
March 17- 6:00-9:00
Full Show

Thursday
March 18- 6:00-9:00
Full Show

Friday
March 19- Opening Night
Call @ 5 Show opens at 7

Saturday
March 20
Show for open House “Belle” be here at 12 – over at 2:45
Call @ 5, Show opens at 7

Sunday
March 21 Call @ 12, Show opens at 2

Thursday
March 25-6:00-9:00
Brush up rehearsal

Friday
March 26- Call @ 5, Show opens at 7

Saturday
March 27- Call @ 5, Show opens at 7

Sunday
March 28- Closing. Call @ 12, Show opens at 2
Cast Party and set take-down. Cast goes home about 9pm.

Monday – catch up on sleep for a job well done!

Feb. 1st 6:30-9:00
Beast, Belle, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babbette, Mrs. Potts, Chip
Songs
Human Again, Something there, Beauty And the Beast, If I can’t Love her

Feb. 2nd 6:00-8:00(LOST is on @9!)
Gaston, Le Fou, Belle, Silly Girls
Songs
Gaston, Me, Kill the Beast

Feb. 3rd 6:30-9:00
6:30-7:30 All towns people
7:30-9:00 Gaston, Le Fou
Songs
Belle, Kill the Beast

Feb. 4th 6:30-9:00
Blocking out Belle (all people in this number must attend)

Feb. 7th 12:00-4:00
All Enchanted Objects
Songs
Be Our Guest, Human Again

Feb. 8th 6:30-9:00
6:30-7:00 Maurice, Belle
7:00-8:00 Gaston, Belle
8:00-9:00 Gaston, Le Fou, Belle Singing and Blocking

Feb. 9th 6:30-9:00
Act 1 Blocking
Individuals will be called out to sing during the Blocking (in Knight and PAC)
Songs
Belle, No matter What, Me, Is this Home, Gaston, Be our Guest, If I Can’t Love Her

Feb. 10th 6:30-9:00
Enchanted Objects, Belle, Beast
Blocking out and Singing Human Again and Be our Guest

Feb. 11th 6:30- 9:00
Male Towns People, Gaston, Le Fou, Silly Girls
Singing and Blocking out: Gaston, Kill The Beast

Feb. 16th-19th
Building 9-3
(Get picked up at or before 3!NO LATER!)

Feb. 20th
Sets Props Costumes 10-3

Feb. 21st
Sets Props Costumes 12-3

Feb. 22nd 6:00-9:00
Towns People, Belle, Gaston, Le Fou, Maurice, Bookseller, Beast, Silly Girls
Songs
Belle, No Matter What, Me, Gaston, Is this Home?, If I can’t Love Her

Feb. 23rd 6:00-9:00
Enchanted objects, Belle, Beast, Gargoyles, Maurice
Blocking out and singing Human Again

Feb. 24th 6:30-9:00
Act 1(Including Sheep and Wolves)

Feb. 25th 6:30-9:00
Castle Chase Scene
Enchanted Objects (No Sheep or Wolves)

Feb. 26th 2:00-6:00
Building and Costumes

Feb. 27th 9:00-3:00
Building and Costumes

Feb. 28th 12:00-4:00
Full Cast

The schedule for March will be given out on February 28th.

ast Sunday Mr & Mrs Gyra, Mr & Mrs O’Toole and I went up to our former student Jordan Ahnquist is a musical at the Speakeasy Stage Company called (title show) which is described like this: A love letter to the musical theatre, this recent Broadway hit tells the story of two struggling young writers who decide to enter a musical theater competition, even though the deadline is just t

hree weeks away. With the help of their friends, the pair write and perform a show in the festival, along the way learning important lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists.

It was a wonderful afternoon in the theater 

and the reviewers have agreed.….

“[title of show] is all about making your dreams come true, while understanding the reality of having to work hard to achieve what you want. It is the story of two struggling young writers writing a new musical about two struggling young writers writing a new musical about…and so on. … the chemistry among these four is a good mix. Ahnquist is especially endearing.” - Broadway World
“Ahnquist and Lanza generate an antic chemistry as Jeff and Hunter, making us believe in their collaboration, and their ambition, however covered it may be in a layer of one-liners. ” - Boston Globe

““[title of show]” takes the genre to its furthest limit, and in d

oing so swings back around to musical theater’s cw0wide-eyed roots. It’s a show about writing and cw-3editing a show, a musical about making musicals, a tribute that is a tribute to a tribute. If none of that makes sense, relax. SpeakEasy’s New England premiere of this New York mini-hit is, first and f

oremost, just fun. As Jeff and Hunter, Jordan Ahnquist and Joe Lanza share a natural best-buds chemistry and a pair of sweet tenor voices.” - Boston Herald
This is the theater’s website if you want to get tickets check this out: http://www.speakeasystage.com/index.php

For a great night of theater and to support Jordan – go see the show!

Tuesday Jan 26th – 6 to 9 Maurice, Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babette, Mrs. Potts. Chip, Beast, Belle, Wardrobe

Sunday Jan 31 -12 to 2 – Belle, Gaston, Le Fou, Silly Girls, Aristocratic Lady, Fish Man, Egg Man, Sausage Curl Girl, Baker, Bookseller, Lady with Cane, Lady with Baby, Lady with Babies, Hat Seller, Milk Maid, Shepard Boy, Candle Man, Female Villagers, Male Villagers

Sheep should show up at 1 to be fitted in their costumes then can go home.

2 -3:30 Lumiere, Chip, Flatware, Enchanted Object Singers, Women Enchanted Objects, Men Enchanted Objects, Mrs. Potts, Babette, Napkins, Belle, Cogsworth, Wardrobe.

Wolves should show up at 3 for costume fitting.