BLT preps for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ production

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Will the Beast (Eli Poche) finally find love and escape the evil spell put on him and his whole household by an enchantress?

Will Belle the Beauty (Jill Overman) be able to overlook his ugliness to see the true beauty that lies beneath?

It is a classic fairy tale set to music with a large cast of 19 teens who have worked hard to put the show together and showcase the skills they have learned at the 2014 Bainbridge Little Theatre Class Act workshop.

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The modern version of Disney’s children’s classic ran for over 13 years on Broadway, where it was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including best musical.

The local show is directed by Ida Cooksey and choreographed by Ariel Brock.

Cast members sold advertising and obtained donations and raised nearly $4,000 to pay for professional costumes. The costumes arrived Monday just in time for the evening rehearsal and photo shoot.

The cast members were all very excited about them, with good reason.

Two brothers, Eli Poche and Quest Brown, have each been on the BLT stage since age 8.

Austin Rowe began at age 11 and considers the stage his second home. Asked what the theater has done for him, he replied, “I was a shy kid, but the theater brought me out of it.”

A couple of newcomers, Drew Cavender and William Paul Whaley, both in their teens, are learning to be comfortable on stage while having a good time interacting with their peers.

In addition to the Beast and Belle, the complete cast list includes: Maurice (Quest Brown), Gaston (Austin Rowe), Lefou (William Paul Whaley), Silly Girl #1  (Caylin Walsingham), Silly Girl #2 (Sarah Michael Farrington), Silly Girl #3 (Alaiya Schuyler), Lumiere (Drew Cavender), Cogsworth (Edward Moorhead), Mrs. Potts (Allie Brock), Babette (Taylor Strickland), Madame De LaGrande Bouche (Heather Phillips), Chip (Stephanie Mayfield), Old Beggar/Enchantress (Devon Poole), Monsieuer D’Arque (Thomas Mitchell), Narrators (Logan Moorhead, Dustin Reynolds, Jennifer Cerone and Alaiya Schuyler) round out the cast.

Show times are Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. with a Sunday, July 20 matinee at 2:30 p.m. Reservations are available online, or at the door.