Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal
The classic tale of a redemptive love that sees past appearances and beyond self-doubt comes to Carson City in a child-friendly version.
Wild Horse Children's Theater will stage "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada beginning Friday.
"It is a place where magic can and will happen," said Carol Scott, executive director of Wild Horse Children's Theater. "But above all else, it is a moving and, at times, funny love story for everyone to enjoy."
"Beauty and the Beast, Jr." is a shorter version of the Broadway classic with music rekeyed for children's voices, explained Pat Josten, producer of the show.
Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version of Disney's "Beauty & the Beast, Jr." includes all the songs from the film, plus new songs written especially for the stage.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to be one of the first children's theater companies in the world to present Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast, Jr .,'" Scott said.
The 100 children in the cast are divided into two casts that have been practicing since January. They range in age from 5 to 18 and come from Carson City, Carson Valley, Reno, Sparks, Fernley, Fallon, Dayton and Lake Tahoe.
The production includes some of the most intricate costuming of any Wild Horse show since the company began three years ago.
"The kids are doing wonderful," Josten said. "The set and the costumes for this one are just outstanding. We have a two-story set and the costumes for Lumiere and Mrs. Potts are tremendous.
The story of "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." transports the audience to a French provincial town where the beautiful Belle lives with her father, a dotty inventor, who is taken captive in an old castle by a horrible beast. She trades her own freedom for her father's. Belle tames the unfortunate Beast who is transformed by her love into a handsome prince.
In addition to the play, Wild Horse Children's Theater and the Children's museum will host Prince & Princess Parties before the matinee productions. Characters from the play will attend the tea parties with their guests. The parties include pictures with Belle, crown crafts, and a prize.
The ticket price for the Prince & Princess parties is $20 and includes the party with pictures of Belle, crafts and prizes, plus priority seating for that day's performance of "Beauty and The Beast, Jr." Space is limited.
Tickets for the play only are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/students, $5 for ages 4 - 12. Children 3 and under are free.
NARRATORS: Sydney Mills, Katie Koerner, Sara Session
DANCE TROUPE: Chelsea Fenn, Courtney Griffins, Rebecca Hanzlik, Lexi Brennecke, Kaydance Rogers, Amanda Slabaugh
VILLAGERS:
Old Beggar Woman/Enchantress: Elizabeth Menke
Belle: Heather Canfield/Melody Ricketts
Maurice: Emery Mulligan
Gaston: Veronika Avitia
Lefou: Grant Davis
Silly Girls: Melissa Tuttle, Emma Winkelman, Emma Sperry, Rebecca Martin, Mariah Whitcome, Samantha Suessmith, Sarah Collin, Melissa Kulla, Samantha Lowe, Payton Henderson
Fish Man: Victor Favero
Egg Seller: Taylor Allen
Baker: Henry Wilson
Lady with cane: Monique Hautekeet
Lady with baby: Rachel Jones
Milk Maid: Natasha Franzen
Flower Girl: Maegan McKean
Hat Seller: Jordan Sullivan
Book Seller: Challen Wright
Candlemaker: Roslyn Esau
Shepard Boys: Devlin Munsdeane, Joshua Niete Monsieure D'Arque: Nick Hummel/Taylor Allen
Wolves: Victor Favero, Devlin Munsdeane
Village Children: Sebastian Krueger, Sabrina Krueger, Will Contine, Kaiyla Dowling, David Franzen, Alina Mundsdeane, Leilah Van Straten, Emmalee Bishop, Mira Caraway, Sarah Gomer, Holden Moore
ENCHANTEDS:
Prince: Jesse Toral
Prince/Beast: Jace Winkelman
Lumiere: Kenni Kinsey/Kasia McKay
Babbette: Hannah Hartman/Marisela Avitia
Chip: Katie Berger
Madame La Grand Bouche: Jayme Foremaster/Adriana Avitia
Flatware: Emma Brennecke, Victoria Martin, Bryce O'Connor, Juliana Nunez, Maddie Stock, Kayla Payette, Megan Eason, Kaitlin Lucky, Christian Holyfield-Wilson, Hannah Pozum, Kathryn Boatwright, Stephen Franzen, Felicia Wygant, Jesse Toral, Elisabeth Barulich, Swayzee Elefante, Regan Lowe, Darby Griffin, Bailey Griffin, Kennedy Evins, Anna Mercer, Sarah Beck
Chef Mice: Braden Holub, Reina Winkelman, Alexis Schreiber, Matthew Eason, Kinsley Daggett, Isabel Esau, Isabelle dupont-Moore, Natalie Smith, Cierra Randall
STAFF
Director: Carol Scott
Producer: Pat Josten
Technical Director: Jeffrey Scott
Musical Director: Alan Catron
Choreographer: Robin Kato
Fight Choreographer: Christopher James
Costume Coordinator: Lynn Libby
Mural Artist: Katie Packham
Prop Coordinator: Dezi Davis
Stage Manager: Elizabeth Menke
Light Design: Jeffrey Scott
Set Design: Jeffrey Scott
Graphic Design: Tara Burke
Sound Engineer: Preston Dunn
Light Operator: Jeffrey Scott
Sound Operator: Dezi Davis/Donald Burke
Floor Manager: Reece Canfield
Set crew: Jeffrey Scott, Donald Burke, Cast/Crew & Families
Stage Crew: Elizabeth Menke, Mysha Van Straten, Colton Brodeur, Abigail Scott, Will Allen, Jack Allen, Julia Conley, Kasia McKay