Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ coming to life on DHS stage

Published 10:36 pm Saturday, April 24, 2010

More than 40 students are currently in rehearsal for the upcoming April 28–May 2 Dalton High School Spring Musical presentation of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Based on the award-winning 1991 Disney animated movie, the musical follows the story of a selfish prince (Hunter Ford) who is transformed into a hideous Beast (Caleb Satterfield) by an enchantress (Mallory McIntosh). His only hope of lifting the spell is to earn the love of another before the last petal of an enchanted rose falls.

When a beautiful young girl named Belle (Lizzie Baker, Katie Beth Jewell) wanders into the castle of the Beast in search of her inventor father, Maurice (Jaime Delafuente), and offers to take his place as the Beast’s prisoner, the inhabitants of the castle (A.D. McDaniel, Josh Parrott, Tanner Blackton, Ebbie Belles, Grace Kling, Spencer McCraven and Emily Plaisted), who have been transformed into household objects, are hopeful that Belle can bring about the long awaited breaking of the spell and make them all human again.

But standing in the way of this “happily ever after” ending is Gaston (Zach Barton, Jonathan Meade), a narcissistic hunter who has set his sites on Belle. Gaston and his “yes man,” Lefou (Gregg McCurry), persuade the local villagers that the Beast is dangerous and must be destroyed, and its up to Belle and the enchanted objects of the castle to stop the mob before the last petal falls.

Also featured as Villagers and Enchanted Objects in the DHS production are Dalton High School and Dalton Middle School students Dayre Alvarado, Bella Anthony, Andres Bustamante, Missy Delgado, Danielle Dunn, Desirea Famber, Stephanie Garcia, Jessica Hester, Austin Hooks, Erin Hullender, Teaire Kelley, Laura Knox, Allie Lusk, Sam Martin, Mary Grace Mashburn, Caitlin McDonald, Chelsea Montgomery, Mele Moore, Josh Newby, Malorie Noles, Kate Orr, Emma Phinney, Emily Plaisted, Jeffrey Ramos, Jose Manuel Rodriguez, Molly Satterfield, Ben Southerland and Joe Vidalez.

The award-winning musical score by Alan Menken, the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice includes the show stopping “Be Our Guest” and the beautiful title song, as well as several numbers composed specifically for the live theatrical show (“Home,” “If I Can’t Love Her”) and one song that was cut from the film (“Human Again”).

Working “behind the scenes” are numerous students and parent volunteers. Under the supervision of DHS art teachers Trevor Ledford and Catherine Kinsey, more than 30 DHS students are constructing and painting the various set pieces involved in the innumerable set changes required for the show, and several parent volunteers, including Jan Bramlett, DeLancey Dantzler, Alan Jewell, Kathi Golden and Margaret Zeisig, are creating most of the costumes required, including the various enchanted objects such as a clock and a wardrobe.

“The support from students, faculty, administrators, staff, parents and volunteers has been outstanding,” said DHS drama director Wes Phinney. “And the results of all of their efforts are going to make this a must-see production.”

Public performances of “Beauty and the Beast” will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 29, 30 and May 1, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m. Tickets for the public performances of “Beauty and the Beast” will be available at the door.