Beauty And The Beast Jr.
Free staged concert show at and sponsored by
VERO BEACH OUTLETS – 1824 94th Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32966
Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR.
Music by Alan Menken | Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice | Book by Linda Woolverton Originally Directed by Rob Roth | Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, an Enchantress turns a cruel, unfeeling Prince into a hideous Beast. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn her love in return before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose.
Ten years later, in a small village far below the Beast's castle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, Belle, yearns for adventure ("Belle"). On the way to show his invention at a fair, Belle's father, Maurice, gets lost and seeks shelter in the Beast's castle. Enchanted servants — Cogsworth, Lumiere, Babette, Mrs. Potts and Chip — try to make Maurice comfortable, but the Beast imprisons the intruder.
Meanwhile, back in town, Gaston, the village brute, proposes to Belle, but to the dismay of the Silly Girls, who fawn over him, Belle turns Gaston down ("Belle – Reprise"). When Belle notices Gaston's sidekick, Lefou, wearing her father's scarf, Belle runs off to search for him. Belle finds her missing father at the castle and offers herself in exchange for his freedom. The Beast agrees, sending Maurice back to the village, and then escorts Belle to her bedroom, where she considers what she has done ("Home"). Seeing their guest forlorn, Mrs. Potts and Madame de la Grande Bouche comfort Belle ("Home – Tag").
In the village tavern, Lefou and the Villagers try to lift Gaston's spirits ("Gaston"). When "crazy old" Maurice barges in, claiming that he has seen a Beast, Gaston and Lefou form a plan to win Belle ("Gaston – Reprise").
At the castle, the servants coach the Beast on how to act like a gentleman. When Belle refuses to accept the Beast's invitation to dinner, he loses his temper and tells her to starve. However, Lumiere and the Servants offer Belle an extravagant feast anyway ("Be Our Guest"). Afterwards, Cogsworth gives Belle a tour of the castle, and she wanders off into the forbidden west wing. The Beast discovers her there and loses his temper, which causes the frightened Belle to flee the castle.
In the forest, Belle is attacked by wolves. The Beast comes to her rescue but is injured in the process. Having a change of heart, Belle helps the Beast back to the castle and dresses his wound. The servants recognize something different between Belle and the Beast ("Something There") and express their hope that the spell may soon be broken ("Human Again"). The Beast asks Belle to have dinner with him, and they share a romantic evening together ("Beauty and the Beast").
Despite this new friendship, Belle longs to see her father. Using the Beast's magic mirror, Belle sees that Maurice is in trouble, so the Beast frees her. Belle finds Maurice in the forest and takes him home to the village, where Gaston has arranged for Monsieur D'arque to take him to the lunatic asylum. Belle proves that her father is not crazy by showing the Beast in the magic mirror. Jealous of Belle's affection for someone else, Gaston whips the villagers into a frenzy. They storm the castle to kill the Beast ("The Mob Song"). While the servants defend the castle from the villagers' attack, Gaston confronts and stabs the Beast in the west wing. The Beast, while still much stronger than Gaston, refuses to kill him, and Gaston runs away in shame. Belle arrives and tells the dying beast that she loves him ("Home – Reprise"), which breaks the spell. The Beast transforms back into the Prince, the servants become human again, and they all live happily ever after.
Director’s Note
Welcome to Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR! After successfully presenting this show at Riverside Theatre in October, we are excited to mount it once more for the Vero Beach Outlets. The show you are about to see has no sets or costumes or props to speak of. This is because this is our selection for the Junior Theatre Festival (JTF). For the past several years our JTF shows have been presented in this same style very successfully and are minimal because of the requirements of the performances at JTF in January. I like the challenges this poses, especially in a challenging educational setting like ours, because the students must rely on their talents to tell the story. A format like this tests a real performer's talent, and makes them all the better for it!
The group of students here will perform at the Junior Theatre Festival this January in Atlanta, GA. The Junior Theatre Festival is an annual celebration of theatre for youth that involves over 60 groups and 5000 students from all over the United States and even countries as far-flung as Australia and South Korea. Each attending group prepares 15 minutes of a "Junior" show to be adjudicated by industry professionals.
This is one of my favorite Disney movies ever, and fitting for us to do it on the 30th anniversary of its debut! It combines the best of Disney animation with the best of theatre storytelling through the massive talents of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, writers of Little Shop of Horrors, and other Disney classics The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. After the death of Howard Ashman, another musical theatre legend Tim Rice wrote additional lyrics for new songs. Rice wrote lyrics for The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and last summer's Riverside Theatre for Kids production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I love tackling this show in this manner because to me the three men are some of the best theatrical storytellers ever. Our students have learned so much by performing this material.
I am so proud of all of these students for their perseverance in these challenging times. And also to praise their parents for still supporting them in shows like this, and experiences like JTF. Although the past year and a half have been tough, we still strive to give our students and families some fun and hope to look back on fondly when all of this is over!
Cast
Belle – Kristina Gregg
Beast – Timothy Cicco
Maurice – Addison Blum
Gaston – Danielle Rustay
Lefou – Brieyana Miranda
Narrators – Savannah Brown, Elena Kunkle, Julia Giacobbe
Old Beggar Woman/Enchantress – Brieyana Miranda
Castle Servants*:
Cogsworth – Yolanie Aileen Diaz
Lumiere – Kaitlin Simmons
Mrs. Potts – Katie Hufstetler
Chip – Elena Kunkle
Babette – Savannah Brown
Madam De La Grande Bouche – Avery Kissam
*Castle Servants are also Villagers in various scenes/songs
Villagers**:
Monsieur D’Arque – Kira Kimes
Silly Girl #1 – Julia Giacobbe
Silly Girl #2 – Savannah Brown
Aristocratic Lady – Kaitlin Simmons
Fish Man – Timothy Cicco
Egg Man – Addison Blum
Sausage Curl Girl – Yolanie Aileen Diaz
Baker – Savannah Brown
Lady With Cane – Avery Kissam
Lady With Baby – Savannah Brown
Candle Man – Julia Giacobbe
Hat Seller – Katie Hufstetler
MilkMaid – Elena Kunkle
Shepard Boy – Katie Hufstetler
Bookseller – Kira Kimes
Butcher – Yolanie Aileen Diaz
**Villagers are also Castle Servants/Objects in various castle scenes/songs
Understudies:
Belle – Savannah Brown; Beast – Kira Kimes; Lefou – Brieyana Miranda; Cogsworth – Kira Kimes; Mrs. Potts – Avery Kissam; Narrator #2 & #4 – Julia Giacobbe; Silly Girl #2 – Julia Giacobbe
Song List
Prologue – Narrators, Beast, Enchantress
Belle – Belle, Gaston, LeFou, Silly Girls, Villagers
Belle (Reprise) – Silly Girls, Belle
Home – Belle
Gaston – Gaston, LeFou, Villagers
Gaston (Reprise) – Gaston, LeFou, Villagers
Be Our Guest – Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Castle Staff, Belle
Something There – Belle, Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, Babette, Madame La Bouche
Human Again – Belle, Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, Babette, Madame La Bouche, Castle Staff
Beauty and the Beast .... Mrs. Potts, Belle, Beast
Mob Song – Gaston, Villagers
Home (Reprise) – Belle
Finale – Company
Photos
Cast
Addison Blum is a big Disney fan and particularly loves the soundtrack and fashion from the reimagined story, Cruella. In her spare time, you'll find her playing tennis and watching Marvel and Star Wars on Disney+. She doesn’t know where life will take her, but hopes that music will continue to be a part of her future!!
Savannah Brown has performed in five productions at Riverside Theatre since sixth grade. She aspires to study theatre in college. She acts, sings, dances, and plays multiple string instruments.
Timothy Cicco hopes to get a degree in musical theatre. His favorite Riverside Thetare for Kids productions have been Charlie Brown Christmas and Puffs. Special thanks to the people at Riverside Theater and God for giving him this amazing opportunity!
Yolanie Aileen Diaz’s favorite roles include Maui in Moana JR., Paulette in Legally Blonde JR., Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Ethel Toffelmier in Music Man. She'd like to thank family and friends, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Julia Giacobbe would like to become an actress or a director in the film industry when she’s older. She hopes that by doing these plays will help her succeed in her goals. She would also like to give a special thanks to her good friend Alaina Benson, who introduced her to theater and acting.
Kristina Gregg loves to sing, act, dance, and play the piano. Her dream is to go to college for musical theatre and hopefully make it on Broadway one day. Some of her favorite roles at Riverside theatre include: Ted, Peter & The Star Catcher; Emmet Otter, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas; Mrs. Wormwood, Matilda; Anna, Frozen JR.; Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She also had the wonderful opportunity of making her professional debut as “Balloon Girl” in Riverside Theatre’s mainstage production of Gypsy! She would like to thank her mom, dad, Kevin, Debbie, the entire staff at Riverside Theatre, and God for his many blessings.
Katie Hufstetler dedicates her free time to strengthening her vocal and dancing skills and is thankful for her family and friends who have continued supporting her on her dream to one day perform on Broadway. She enjoys hanging out with friends and loves spending time with her siblings. A few previous roles she has played include: Anna in Frozen JR., Momma Bear in Shrek JR., Allana in The Little Mermaid JR., and a Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast JR.
Kira Kimes loves the performing arts and hopes to keep it in her life for many years to come.
Avery Kissam is thrilled to be in her 9th show at Riverside! Some of her favorite roles here include: Elle Woods in Legally Blonde JR. and Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie JR. She enjoys musical theatre, anime, singing, and playing the ukulele. She would like to thank the Riverside team for the opportunities and her parents for their support, especially her dad, for all the hours spent driving her to rehearsals!
Elena Kunkle is happy to participate in another stellar production at Riverside Theater. Her favorite Riverside Theatre for Kids show was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The first show she ever saw on Broadway School of Rock and since then she can’t get enough of the theatre. Her favorite musical is Hamilton and she cannot wait to see it on Broadway.
Brieyana Miranda has been in more than 15 shows at Riverside Theatre and is so very excited to be participating in my first Junior Theatre Festival show! When she is not doing theatre she enjoys taking classes in Jazz and Tap. Her future plans are to get a degree in musical theatre and education and become a children’s theatre director. She would like to give a huge thanks to her mom, dad, sisters, the Riverside Theatere staff, and God for his abundant blessings.
Danielle Rustay would like to thank you for coming to the performance! This will be her 5th performance at Riverside Theatre. Some of her favorite roles she’s played include: Cruella de Vil in Descendants, The Genie in Aladdin JR., Captain Hook in Peter Pan JR., and Tiger in Winnie the Pooh. She would like to thank her parents, Kevin, the RiversideTheatre staff, and God for this amazing opportunity. Now, on with the show!
Kaitlin Simmons is going on to her sixth year at Riverside Theatre. She simply adores the Riverside community and the arts, and cannot wait to continue performing alongside her friends. She’d like to thank the theatre and the staff for providing her with such wonderful opportunities!
Creative Team
Director: Kevin Quillinan
Musical Director:Debbie Quillinan
Sound Designer: Ryan Gravett
Stage Crew: Samantha Hopewell, Dan Kondas, Kiersten Farley, Keaton Harper, Amy Bowman