CANMORE – Beauty and the Beast is one of the classic films of the 1990s, widely beloved by millions. This year, Canmore Collegiate High School is bringing that story to life on the stage with their play Beauty and the Beast Jr.
The play tells the story of Belle, a young girl, and Beast, her hideous captor who is actually a young prince trapped under a spell.
With the help of the enchanted staff of Beast’s castle, the two fall in love and help break the curse on Beast.
Choosing the play to perform comes down to the students, along with Sabrina Grecu, Heather Jordan and Jodi Anderson who provide direction in various capacities.
“We meet with the students and we have a discussion of what they would like to put on,” said Anderson. “We usually put a survey out to the students. It is one of the more popular ones listed by students as one of the musicals to perform.”
The list of plays the students can choose from typically comes down to the class size and makeup.
“We look at the cast, the student body, and looking at, what we have, that helps us determine which play we will be choosing,” Anderson said.
While Grecu, Jordan and Anderson provide direction, the production is student-run and acted. Students serve as stage managers, and run the lighting and soundtrack for the play. This helps to build the confidence of the students, which extends their life beyond the stage.
“One of the main things we hear from staff is when they see certain students on stage, or hear a student is running the equipment, is that transformation that happens with the student in the class,” Anderson said. “They get the confidence to see a project and carry it through to the end.”
For Anderson, that is the most rewarding part of the experience.
“It is extremely rewarding to us as staff to see students take this concept and this idea and this challenge and bring it to fruition on the stage in front of an audience.”
Beauty and the Beast Jr. plays at the Canmore Collegiate High School theatre from Dec. 15-17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door, or at www.showtix4u.com/events/canmorecollegiate.
