Presented by the Mt. Pleasant Performing Arts Co. Rose Maree Myers Theater at the School of the Arts 2 p.m. April 22, 2023 and 3 p.m. April 23, 2023
A NOTE OF THANKS Larisa Dahabi, Artistic Director, and Staff wish all the cast members a very successful performance of Beauty and the Beast. We also wish to extend sincere gratitude to the many people who willingly lend a hand whenever and wherever needed and we are so grateful for your contributions! And to you, our wonderful audience - we hope you enjoy the show as much as we enjoy performing for you. Thank you for attending and supporting our wonderful dancers. Out of courtesy to the dancers, please NO flash photography or video cameras. DVDs/Digital photo rights can be ordered at www.mtpballet.com. We apologize if any names are misspelled or omitted. Every effort was made to ensure correct spelling of names, but mistakes do happen!
The Tale of Beauty and the Beast Choreographed and Directed by Larisa Dahabi, Artistic Director of Mt. Pleasant Performing Arts Company An old beggar woman arrives at the castle of a French prince. She asks for shelter from the cold and in turn, offers the young prince a rose. Repulsed by her appearance, the prince turns her away. She warns him not to be fooled by appearances, but the prince ignores her. The woman magically changes into a beautiful enchantress. The prince tries to apologize, but she knows there is no kindness in his heart. She then transforms him into a hideous beast. The curse can only be broken if the Beast learns to love before the last petal of the rose falls; if not, he will be doomed to remain a beast forever. Belle lives in a nearby village with her father Maurice, an inventor. Gaston, a pompous hunter along with his sidekick LeFou, pursues Belle with the hope that she will be his wife. While Maurice rides off to a fair with his invention and gets lost, he escapes from some wolves and desperately seeks shelter. Cold and tired, he stumbles upon a mysterious castle and enters. Wandering through the house, he meets the Beast and is locked in a dungeon in the castle. Gaston invites himself into Belle’s house to propose and Belle declines. Belle worries when her father’s horse returns home without him and rushes to find her father. She winds up at the Beast’s castle and finds Maurice in a dungeon, but the Beast catches her. She offers herself in exchange for her father’s life, giving her word to remain in the castle forever. The Beast releases Maurice and gives Belle permission to go anywhere in the castle except the West Wing. Back in the village, the citizens attempt to cheer up Gaston in the local tavern after Belle's rejection. Maurice bursts in and asks for help to rescue Belle from “a beast,” but no one believes him. Maurice goes off to search for Belle alone. Belle meets the enchanted objects who cheer her up. Lumiere, along with the other servants, welcomes Belle warmly and entertains her with an elaborate dinner and a show. After dinner, Belle takes a tour of the castle and wanders into the forbidden West Wing where she discovers the enchanted rose. The Beast finds her and frightens her. She flees the castle and runs into the dark forest where she is attacked by wolves. The Beast appears and fights off the vicious creatures, but is wounded during the fight.
Belle returns to the castle and tends to the Beast’s wounds and the two start to become friends. The household items are excited and optimistic that Belle may fall in love with the Beast and allow them to become human again. The Beast asks her to an elegant dinner and ballroom dance. He notices that Belle seems melancholy. She tells him that she wishes to see Maurice again. He gives her a magic mirror, explaining that it will allow her to see anything she might desire to see. She sees her father in the mirror, sad and alone. The Beast, having fallen in love with Belle, releases her to rescue her father. Belle hurries off and finds Maurice back in the village where a mob gathers. Belle uses the magic mirror to show the Beast to the villagers who become frightened. Belle assures them that the Beast is kind and gentle and that he is her friend. Out of jealousy, Gaston tells the mob that Belle is as crazy as her father and rallies the villagers to storm the castle and “kill the Beast,” convincing them that he is dangerous. To prevent Belle and Maurice from warning the Beast, Gaston locks them in a cellar. With the help of Chip, the teacup, who has stowed away in Belle’s satchel, Belle and Maurice escape from the cellar and rush back to the castle. The villagers force open the door and the servants defend the castle. Gaston deserts the battle to search for the Beast. The servants eventually manage to drive the villagers out of the house. Meanwhile, Gaston finds the Beast alone in the West Wing and attacks him. The Beast does not defend himself because he has given up hope of being able to see Belle again. As soon as he sees Belle arriving at the castle, calling out for him, he gains the will to fight Gaston. The Beast grabs Gaston by the neck. Softened by his conscience and the sight of the falling rose, he sees Belle waiting for him. Gaston stabs him in the back, then loses his footing and falls into the deep chasm far below. Belle tries to reassure the badly wounded Beast that everything will be fine but knows that his wound is fatal. Belle, in tears, whispers that she loves him. The spell is broken and the fallen rose and her petals revive. The Beast reverts to his human form and Belle looks into his eyes. The castle becomes beautiful again and the enchanted objects turn back into humans. Belle and the prince live happily ever after. THE END
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CAST The Beast/Prince: Jaquan Mallard The Enchantress: Alexa Waters The Rose: Laura Shores Belle: Alysana Jackson (Sat.) Grace Whitaker (Sun.) Villagers Aurora Algar, Winter Algar, MacKenzie Cook, Jonathan Doll, Meredith Finley, Lily Groh, Alysana Jackson, Emery Johnson, Zoe Jones, Lilah Kowalski, Maeve McCarthy, Eliza Jewell Oliverius, Amelia Pasko, Lyla Pusser, Lilyana Ragans, Alejandra Revuelta, Eva Rieck, Noah Rieck, Bianca Scheider, Laura Shores, Arabella Smart, Sarah Thomson, Alexa Waters, Grace Whitaker Gaston: Joseph Nguyễn LeFou: Amelia Whitfield Maurice: Harry Dahabi Bimbettes: Brianna Badea, Mary Claire Cooper, Sydney Poliakoff Wolves Grayson Bender, Lydia Bower, Stella Capogrosso, Faye Cole, Rhea Gangaraju, Everly Hatten, Mallory Jeffers, Madison Laya, Manuela Limongi, Bayley Truesdell, Maria Watson, Emory Wingo, Lily Wyman The Enchanted Objects Lumiere: Zoe Jones Cogsworth: Jonathan Doll Mrs. Potts: Eliza Jewell Oliverius Feather Duster: Alexa Waters Chip: Meredith Finley Wardrobe: Eva Rieck Wine Goblets Aurora Algar, Lilah Kowalski, Alejandra Revuelta, Noah Rieck, Arabella Smart, Sarah Thomson
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CAST Cont. Candlesticks Brianna Badea, Mary Claire Cooper, Sydney Poliakoff, Grace Whitaker/Alysana Jackson Tea Cups Laura Shores, Amelia Whitfield Plates Grayson Bender, Lydia Bower, Stella Capogrosso, Faye Cole, Rhea Gangaraju, Lily Wyman Salt and Pepper/Cream and Sugar Mallory Jeffers, Bayley Truesdell, Maria Watson, Emory Wingo Serving Utensils and Flower Pot Everly Hatten, Madison Laya, Manuela Limongi Flowers and Vases Winter Algar, MacKenzie Cook, Lily Groh, Emery Johnson, Maeve McCarthy, Amelia Pasko, Lyla Pusser, Lilyana Ragans, Bianca Scheider Rose Petals Brianna Badea, Mary Claire Cooper, Sydney Poliakoff, Arabella Smart/Sarah Thomson, Grace Whitaker/Alysana Jackson, Amelia Whitfield Goldenrods Flowers Aurora Algar, MacKenzie Cook, Lily Groh, Lyla Kowalski, Alejandra Revuelta, Noah Rieck Pages Winter Algar, Emery Johnson, Maeve McCarthy, Amelia Pasko, Lyla Pusser, Lilyana Ragans, Bianca Scheider
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