The Bow Valley High School will be presenting the musical Beauty and the Beast at the Cochrane RancheHouse.
The last project of the Performing Arts Troupe’s season, the musical follows the Walt Disney film’s plotline. Earlier in the school year, the class performed a twist on the classic Shakespeare play A Mid Summer Night’s Dream.
“It is different due to the fact we have to focus on learning the songs and the choreography and making sure everyone is on the right pitch so that we can give our audience the best experience as possible,” said Lynay Wuthrich, student director of the play.
The group took the project on in mid-January and have been working tirelessly to pull it together. Some of the students have experience singing but all were anxious to take on a musical.
“In preparation for this show, we have worked very hard on making sure everyone is listening to each other and that we sound good as a group … I have led a vocal warm-up before every rehearsal and have tried my best to make every single student feel like they are ready and in a place where they feel confident and comfortable,” Wuthrich explained.
For Brit Lekic, the Grade 12 student playing Lumiere, the experience is bittersweet.
“I’ve been in the program since I was in Grade 9 so this is the eighth play I’ve done with the school. So I’m super excited but it’s odd, I’m kind of sad that this is the last one here for me,” Lekic said.
Lekic auditioned for the part of Lumiere, the Beast's chef who turned into a candelabrum after the sorceress’ curse, because of the character’s persona.
“It’s a fun character and, as a kid, he was always one of my favourites,” Lekick explained.
The first performance is April 28 at 7 p.m., the next is April 29 at 7 p.m., and the final showing will be April 30 at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the school’s office.
