Category: News || By Kris Rhoades

The auditorium at McKeesport Area High School was dark last night. And if students, teachers and volunteers were dreaming, they were probably dreaming of enchanted castles, princesses and (of course) the "Beast" ... as in Walt Disney's version of "Beauty and the Beast."

Tonight's the debut performance of the school's annual musical, "Beauty and the Beast." The show runs 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

McKeesport is using a dual-cast system to allow more students to participate in leading parts. Cast A will be seen Thursday night and Saturday afternoon and Cast B will be seen Friday and Saturday nights. (Not all of the parts are dual-cast.)

Hasaan Allen, a senior who plays the Beast in Cast B, said the story of the play has given him a new outlook. "It's changed my perspective by demanding that I wait on the future things in life," he said. "The musical came at a bad time in my life, and there was a great reason that it did --- to keep me busy, positive, and to hold me until things get better. This musical has taught me to be patient, and to walk this life step by step without rushing."

. . .

If you haven't seen the 1991 animated film, "Beauty and the Beast" is based on a classic French fairy tale --- the story of a young woman, Belle, who is dissatisfied with her life in a small provincial French town. She's belittled by the townspeople for being a bookworm, she's weary of fighting off the advances of the conceited Gaston, and she dreams of escape.

When her inventor father gets lost in the woods he finds refuge in a castle, the very one that belongs to the Beast, a once-handsome prince who was placed under a spell by a witch because he could not show love to others.

Belle goes off to rescue her father but finds him a trespassing prisoner of the Beast. The only way the Beast can break the curse was to learn to love another and earn her love in return before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose, which will continue to bloom until his twenty-first birthday. Somewhat smitten with Belle's charm, the Beast agrees to release her father if she promises to stay with him at the castle forever.

At first Belle is repulsed by the Beast but soon sees his inner tender heart and grows to love him for who he is. And of course, other bewitched characters such as a clock, a candlestick and a teapot help. But will their love blossom before the last petal of the enchanted rose falls?

. . .

Henry Nightingale, a junior, plays Gaston in both casts. This is his first musical performance.

When asked what his favorite part was he said, "I've always wanted to go into acting after high school and this musical has really taught me the potential that I really have," he said. "My favorite experience has to be acting with others. It's a lot of fun seeing how their character reacts to mine in different situations."

Emily Rhoades, a senior who plays Bell in Cast B opposite Allen, says she can relate to her character. "Growing up I was known as the outcast and everyone picked on me like they pick on Belle," she said. "I always felt like it was me against the world. But just like Belle I didn't really care what everyone else thought and I pushed past their opinions to get much more from my provincial life."

This isn't the first time that Rhoades and Allen teamed up as co-leads. They performed in a school production of "Wonka Jr." in 2008, during eighth grade, where Allen played Willy Wonka and Rhoades played Charlie.

. . .

Tickets are on sale at the school from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. at a presale discount of $7 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. At the door, tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

The cast includes:

Narrator: Will Phillips

Young Man: Darrell Tucker

Old Beggar Woman/Enchantress: Danielle Smerecky

Belle: Larissa Gerber (A) Emily Rhoades (B)

Maurice (Belle's Father): Aaron Bagrowski

Baker: Floyd Gault

Mother: Katie Ross

Silly Girls: Marissa Cloonan, Morgan Dougherty, Rachel Jacklitch, Kearia Jackson, and Devin Kiska

Gaston: Henry Nightingale

Lefou: Ryan Jacobs

Monsieur D'Arque: Jordan Smith

Cogsworth: Alex Savage

Lumiere: Paul Fields

Babette: Kayla Kisan (A), Natalie Bane (B)

Mrs. Potts: Amy Cicci (A) Shavonna Mosley (B)

Chip: Alec Garbin (A) Joey Mackowiak (B)

Madame De La Grande Bouche: Livia Bodner (A) Deanna Decenzo (B)

Beast: Nick Mattis (A) Hasaan Allen (B)

Cheffettes: Damielle Smerecky, Amelia Berbach, Sydney Garbin, Kaila Markette and Taylor Yester

Servants/Dancers: Hasaan Allen, Samantha Cicci, Marissa Cloonan, Samantha Cosgrove, Morgan Dougherty, Sarah Jacko, Marissa Lakovic, Nick Mattis, Katie McNeil, Angel Redwood, Stephen Royal-Harton, Joe Schroeder, Jordan Smith, Peyton Stajduhar and Darrell Tucker

Townspeople/Ensemble: Elizabeth Baldinger, Anna Chappell, Moriah Crosby, Monique Cooper, Rachel Duffy, Madison Hutchison, Nikki Irwin, Keyland Kisan, Samantha Kiss, Jenna Light, Emily Mandella, Allison Margarcelli, Ashley Martin, Victoria McNabb, John Meekins, Nicole Minnick, Sam Nimmick, Lashaya Mockabee, Mia Neri, Bryanna Pirl, Lindsy Rook and Katie Ross

Choreographer: Heather Smith

Director: Kimberly Moore

Producer/Music Director: Beth Murphy

Orchestra Director: Katelyn Panza

Set Design/Set Construction Coordinator: John Kiska

Lighting Designer: John Light and Clark Stewart

Sound Design: Good Sound Studio

Costume Design: Edward Bostedo

(Editor's Note: Kris Rhoades is president of McKeesport-based Well Ministries and mother of Emily Rhoades, who is quoted in this story.)

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