It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that the OHS Musical Theatre proudly presents this year’s choice of productions, Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. As many will know, that sentence is a paraphrase of Lumiere’s presentation of dinner to the lovely Belle, introducing the production number “Be Our Guest.” The staff, cast, and crew are hoping Oswegonians will be our guests on February 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2020 when the show is performed on the stage of the Robinson-Faust Theatre of the Performing Arts.
This “tale as old as time” will delight young and old alike. Last performed in Oswego in 2008, it was one of the best-attended shows produced by the district. In anticipation of a similar popularity and knowing that many audience members will be children, this year’s evening performances will begin at 7:00 rather that 7:30 and a 2:00 matinee has been scheduled for Sunday, February 9th.
The cast features Isabella Herrera as the lovely and spirited Belle, Matthew Oldenburg as the fearsome Beast, Daniel Emmons as the boorish Gaston, with Alix Pauldine as his little henchman, LeFou. Aidan Thompson plays Belle’s eccentric father, Maurice. The enchanted occupants of the castle include Lumiere, the maitre d’, played by Jonathan Tsutsumishita, Cogsworth, the tightly wound major-domo played by Ethann Browne, and, as the kindly Mrs. Potts, Zeida Olson, accompanied often by her son, Chip, acted by Nate Carr. Hayley Bandla is the flirtatious Babette, while Grace Hoffman plays the former opera diva, Madame de la Grande Bouche.
Completing the cast is the villainous Monsieur D’Arque played by Matthew Cuyler, and the Three Silly Girls who need no further description, are Abigail Cook, Audrey Hinman, and Abigail McPherson. The Old Beggar Woman is Kat McGreevy while the Young Prince is Sean Metcalf.
The Ensemble, playing townspeople, servants, enchanted objects and more, numbers nearly forty students including: Emma Armet, Riley Bandla, Kaelynn Cisson, Tristan Clark, Laura Cummings, Emily Dann, Evalynn Dickens, Abby Faul, Kaitlyn Freeth, Kendra Garvey, and Allie Griffin.
Also in the ensemble are Rebecca Haines, McKenna Hammill, Bree Hardter, Rebecca Hibbert, Kimberly Hilton, Mitch Hudson, Alexis Johnson, Brennah Jones, Veronica Jones, Ali Ketchum, Sean Metcalf, Kat McGreevy, and Ashley Miceli.
Rounding off the group are Ayliana Miner, Katie Nettles, Mariah Pepper, Emily Pierce, Riley Putnam, Aileigh Ray, Lexi Reith, Morgan Samson, Melanie Solano, Scott Swindells, Sarah Westcott, and Cecilie Westlie.
The production staff is comprised of music director, Robert Dumas; stage director, Eve Phillips; and choreographer Amanda Kurey. Stephan F. Braun will design the set and T. J. Bandla is sound designer. CNY Costumes will supply the magical costumes under the guidance of costumers Pat Van Wie and Sonia Berlin.