A return to the wonderful world of Dumey

It has been nearly a year since 14-year-old Nathaniel Kinsey donned a red bow tie and knickers and sang about cutting off the head of Sebastian the crab in a performance of "The Little Mermaid."

But the thick French accent and flamboyant gestures of Chef Louie came right back to Kinsey during his only rehearsal for a special re-enactment of the part today and Sunday at Cape Girardeau's Central Junior High.

In what director Mike Dumey calls a dream come true, past and present students will revisit the stage together this weekend for "Disney Dazzle," a celebration of 12 years of junior high school musicals.

The show will consist of 12 to 14 acts from past musicals, including "Aladdin," "The Wizard of Oz," "Cinderella," "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid."

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," Dumey said. "The students' talent is amazing. It's awesome for me to see so many of them on the same stage at the same time."

More than 1,500 students have participated in Dumey's musicals over the past 12 years, and many of the original performers are returning to the stage to resurrect the parts they played up to a decade ago.

Kinsey, now a ninth-grader at Central High School, will be among the youngest performers in "Disney Dazzle," since his final Dumey musical took place just last year.

"It's going to be fun, more relaxed than other performances," Kinsey said.

It has been years since some of students have practiced their roles. The school's candlestick costume made of gold lame that Central junior Catherine Moreton wore four years ago in "Beauty in the Beast" still fits nicely, and getting back into the character of Lumiere was easy for her.

"I never thought I'd be in this costume again," Moreton said. "But you don't say no to Mr. Dumey."

There was no all-cast rehearsal before tonight's opening performance. Instead, Dumey met with each act individually to brush up on details.

"I don't think I even realize what a rush Friday night is going to be, but I hope as many people from the community as possible will be here to share it with me," Dumey said.

Tickets are $5 for the event, and proceeds will help pay for the junior high's regular spring musical this year.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, ext. 128