> About LH >> News

Lauralton Hall Students Try a 'Beauty' of a Play

Posted on Oct 30, 2006

By Felicia Hunter, October 28, 2006, ©2006CONNECTICUT POST (Used with permission)

MILFORD - If any of the actors in this weekend's Lauralton Hall musical production are experiencing pre-opening night jitters, it was difficult to tell during a dress rehearsal earlier this week.

While waiting to begin one of the final run-through performances of "Beauty and the Beast," cast members appeared relaxed and calm, adjusting costumes, breezing through sound checks, acknowledging last-minute stage notes.

"The microphone is there for support, not projection," said director Margy Sargent, referring to body mikes that performers wear. "You've got to pretend you don't have a mike on. You can't speak too loud. And if you are loud, [the sound technicians] will just turn you down."

That directive was for everyone. A few more general and specific comments--leads should tighten up the pace of their dialogue, one principal performer needs to remember to wear white tights for the performance, those holding a prop must make sure it's positioned on an angle--and it was just about time for the dry run.

Area residents will be able to see the final result of cast members' preparation when "Beauty and the Beast" is performed in the Parsons Government Center auditorium at 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15; $10 for students and senior citizens.

With some three dozen cast members and a plot that warms the heart, "Beauty and the Beast" makes for an outstanding school production, said Sargent, Lauralton Hall's director of music.

 "It's a great show and we finally got the rights to do it," she said. "It's much larger than any we've ever done. It has a bigger set, bigger costumes, bigger cast."

Students seeking principal parts auditioned last spring, which gave them time to become acquainted with their roles before beginning six weeks of rehearsal this fall.

"They were told they had to learn their parts over the summer, so the first day of rehearsal we were ready to begin," Sargent said.

Senior Kate LaBella, 17, plays the lead role of bookish, independent Belle. Other students in principal roles are seniors Laura Blagys, Joanna Nicoletti and Nina Demeter, junior Samantha Free, and freshman Jennie Serra.

The core student cast is supplemented by children and young men from the surrounding area, including Sargent's husband, Jeff, an Equity actor who portrays the title male role. He also designed and built the expansive fairy tale set. The visually fetching production also features radiant, eye-catching costumes for the singing-and-dancing teapot, clock and silverware, among other entertaining characters.

With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Tim Rice and Howard Ashman, and the book by Linda Woolverton, "Beauty and the Beast" tells the story of an arrogant prince who is transformed into a beast after being put under a spell. In order to break the spell, he must find mutual love with a young lady.

Based on the 1991 animated Disney film, "Beauty and the Beast" opened in 1994 and is one of the longest-running shows currently on Broadway. Milford native Christy Carlson Romano played the lead role two years ago.

LaBella hopes one day to follow Romano to Broadway.

"I absolutely love theater," said LaBella, who has been in shows since first grade. With this one, "I've learned a lot about being a lead, and just about theater in general," she said. "It's been a very big learning experience for me."

LaBella prepared to play Belle by formulating a history for the character, she said.
"I watched the movie a lot, and I listened to the CD. I tried to think of what Belle did before, and set up a bio."

Free, 16, plays the role of candleholder Lumiere. She wanted the part so badly, she said, that she auditioned with candles in her hair.

"I love 'Be Our Guest,'" Free said about Lumiere's big number in the musical, adding, "It's just a really fun show to do. I've seen the movie a million times."

 "One of the things I like about this show is that it is a family show," Sargent said. "It has great music, and it's a beautiful story--learning to look inside yourself to find out who you really are." 



Printer Friendly Page

site developed by Awayke
Photo Credits