The Lewiston High School Drama Club will present Beauty and the Beast for its upcoming spring musical. Performances will be held April 4-6 and 11-12 at 7 p.m., and April 13 at 2 p.m. in the LHS P1FCU Performing Arts Center.
The production will be a unique take on the classic and beloved tale. An enchantress transforms a cruel and vain prince into a hideous beast, leading him to fall in love with a beautiful, wanderlust village girl in order to break the curse cast upon him and his loyal servants.
The leading roles— Belle, Beast, The Enchantress, Maurice, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip— will be played by Jenna Clift, Cale Wilponen, Maddie Gibson, Easten Lumley, Dekin Carney, Zachary Steadman, Jonny McKelway, Peyton Hurn, and Liza Page, respectively.
Members of the school theater program have been hard at work on this play since November, with auditions just before Thanksgiving break and rehearsals starting in January. The pit band started its own rehearsals for the show recently, and the two groups practiced together for the first time March 7.
Students of LHS drama have put lots of time and effort into perfecting the show, from dance routines to vocals to acting and everything in between.
“I am so excited for this show because we have such a fun cast, and we are putting in a lot of effort…” said senior Chayli Chastain, who will play Madame de la Grande Bouche.
However, the process has had its share of challenges along the way.
“Working with the pit and trying to work around set pieces and costumes [has been a struggle],” Chastain said, “because you get so used to using the recorded tracks and having the whole stage. Adding in other sets and people makes it difficult…”
Yet, she said the club remains confident and enthusiastic about what lies ahead.
“I know it will pay off and look amazing on stage,” Chastain said. “I love the musical so much. As stressful as it can be, it’s so much fun, and it feels so good to perform.”