Beauty and the Beast, the classic love story between Princess Belle, a bookish girl who stumbles upon a castle she just can’t keep away from and Prince Adam or “The Beast”, a beauty in his own right cursed to an unlovable form is coming to Abington High school accompanied by beautiful vocals for Abington’s Spring Musical! The wonderful singing should only enhance the story of love beyond the eyes and accepting one for themselves.
Ms. Presley Mahanna, continues with the theatre group, by again choosing and designing the Magical sets, and the breathtaking costumes that truly bring the show to life, she hosts the auditions for our show and helps choose our cast.
And our beloved Mrs. Tomlin the Drama program advisor, who picked this lovely story, hires the staff, directors’ painters etc., trains students on using theater equipment. She also makes the play bills. As well as helping choose our ensemble cast.
I have sat down with several students, Lucia Scarpelli, Selena Wood, Liam Giller, and Colin McDermott, to discuss their individual roles and how the story of Beauty and the Beast will be brought to life, with a musical twist, and again with our producer and director, Ms. Presley Mahanna and Mrs. Tomlin to truly get the insight on the making of Beauty and the Beast, The Musical.
Ormond: Why Beauty and the Beast, and what compelled you to assist in this production?
Tomlin: I picked Beauty and the Beast because we had the right group of kids for this kind of show. This was also the first show I ever did as a drama kid at AHS. It has been 20 years since we have done the show, so it felt like it was time. I decided to take over for Mr. Shannon because I have been doing theatre my whole life and I love sharing that with my students. It’s great to be able to pass on the passion to others. I had also been working with Mr. Shannon for the past few years as the producer of the shows, so I had a good idea of what the job entailed.
Mahanna: Beauty and the Beast is going on tour again, so it won’t be available for high schools and other places that want to perform it, this is the last year we have this opportunity, so we took it! This was also good timing because the drama program is going through its own changes because the transition of Mr. Shannon to Mrs. Tomlin.
Scarpelli: I did the play last year and it was a whole different experience! I love Disney movies and especially Beauty and the Beast. I talked to Ms. Tomlin about how I wanted to do this story because of how much it means to me so when I found out we were doing it was very excited and just knew I had to audition.
Giller: Personally, it wasn’t what the Musical was but that I had a bad leg injury, I wanted to do something new and that I hadn’t done before. With it being my senior year, I thought that doing the school’s musical would be fun after all, what’s a more different experience from sports than a musical!
Ormond: What significance do you see in this story, to today’s world?
Tomlin: I think Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. The themes of feeling like you don’t fit in, or beating yourself up for your mistakes are really represented through the Beast and Belle. I think it’s always a good reminder to get to know someone before you judge them and not just make assumptions based on what you think you may know. Things in the world are tense right now and I think it is good to be able to go to the theatre and see a show with a positive message and a fun production. A lot of people have nostalgic feelings towards this show and it’s nice for the theatre to sometimes just make you happy.
Mahanna: This gives a good old fashion “Don’t judge a book by its cover” story that I think Is a true and valuable life lesson, the beast is this tall, furry, scary creature when he’s just a regular guy, his rage as beast was one that came from wanting to protect people and hating himself too. It’s never too late to change who you are so for his story he had to learn to love and accept himself as well as Belle before he could ever change.
Wood: As Belle grows, she’s forced to find her way in the world, people constantly judge her but when she finds the castle she starts to not only find herself, but she really understands herself too. The entire town sees Belle as just some pretty girl with dumb big dreams, but she understands who she is and that she wants the beast he doesn’t judge her for who she is. That entire town treats her like an outcast but still she persists in finding herself and that’s the real beauty.
McDermott: This story is very significant to today’s world, in terms of judging others by nothing but their appearance. Assuming because someone looks like a beast, they must act like it is wrong, assumptions are a poison to our world, Belle and Beast only break a tiny part of it but even that takes time.
Ormond: How do you handle / what do you do to manage stress and the stage?
Tomlin: The best way to manage stress in the theatre is to know what your strengths and weaknesses are and delegate tasks. We have a fantastic production team who are all experts in their own areas. I try not to take on too much and trust that my team (including the student workers and performers) will get the job done. There is also a common phrase in theatre that, no matter how a production may be going during rehearsals, “it will all come together”. I have been doing musicals since I was a child, and this phrase has always proven to be true. So, I guess, “trust your team and trust the process” is what I remind myself when I am getting stressed.
Mahanna: Sometimes chaos happens on stage, and you must just let it happen. But you can only let it happen if you learn from the mistakes. You can’t stop it halfway and then critique because more problems could come through! For my own stress I tend to make lists and organize what needs to be done and when. It helps me keep track and gives some level of balance; lists have really become a best friend.
Scarpelli: Confidence, you must be confident in yourself on stage and just in general. One of the easiest ways for me is to just “fake it till you make it.” sell it to others but first sell It to yourself making yourself believe you can do something lets you do it. If you can sell it to yourself, you can sell it to a crowd. Also, plenty of the actors have been with the drama department for a lot longer so spending time with and practicing with more experienced actors helps take the edge off things.
Giller: For me I don’t really find it too stressful. Of course, It is a bit chaotic and somewhat demanding but, in the end, it’s fun, we all get to hangout and goof off while doing something we’re all interested in. at the end of the day I view it as more of a fun social time with friends rather than a job I must worry about.
Ormond: Belle states that she wants change, and to journey far and wide on adventures but she doesn’t instead she stays in a castle with her Love. Why do think she does this/ what does this mean to you?
Mahanna: Belle’s idea of great adventure and journey was very broad, and it changed to what best suited her. Because of whom she met and the experiences she went through she finds her adventure she went on her own journey. That journey of grand adventure changes to a journey of life with her new friends and making a family with her love the beast.
Wood: People make set plans or ideals that they want to live up to, but that’s simply unrealistic. People, and Belle must go outside their comfort zones, the point is that you’re going into the unknown and despite what you get it’s an experience and a lesson learned. If you come across a bad or new situation you adapt and learn and Belle does that, she adapts to her new world and learns to love it, she loves the Beast and that was learned.
Scarpelli: Belle finds her adventure, she finds love! That journey she craves can be anything and she finds it in her dance with beast, both literally and figuratively. Her yearning for adventure had been satisfied with the journey she went on, and she ended with what she really wanted. She also states in the beginning that she wanted her prince charming, and she finds that in the beast!
Beauty and the Beast: The Musical will be performed this week at Abington high school. The show dates are the 13th, 14th at 7pm and 15th of march at 2pm, this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The tickets are being sold online, $15 for adults attending and $12 for students and Sr. Citizens. All seats are general admission and are selling fast!
This show is the last show of the school year, and the last show for many of Abington Highs senior students, so make sure to attend this final performance of the school year. Thank you for reading and we wish to see you all at the show.
Correction: The article incorrectly names Presley Mahanna in charge of set design. The person in charge of set design is actually Henry Beckvold.