L.J. SCHULTZ TO PRESENT `BEAUTY AND THE BEAT'

The classic story of "Beauty and the Beast," made famous by Walt Disney's animated film, will be staged by students at L.J. Schultz Middle School.

Performances of the musical are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the school library. Admission is free but seating is limited.

Mike Dumey, music teacher and sponsor of the Schultz Select Choir and the Drama Club, is directing the play.

"Beauty and the Beast" marks the second year students have presented a musical; last year they performed "Little Mermaid."

"When I came to Schultz I found that these children are capable of so much more than we often give them credit for," Dumey said.

"And the expectations for this play are the same as for any other acting group high school, college or community."

Actors have been rehearsing two hours each day after school for six weeks. A few evening rehearsals have been added as the performance nears.

"I think they are capable of building some lasting memories and some skills to build upon theatrical skills and also self discipline," he said.

Almost one-third of the student body at Schultz, about 100 children, tried out for 30 parts in the play.

"This is really a demanding play," Dumey said. "The style of the music is based on an operetta score. The ranges for the parts are wider than you would find in normal pop music."

In addition, he said the characters are challenging for seventh-grade actors. "The characters are multi-faceted," Dumey said. "For example, they portray sarcasm, which is demanding at the seventh-grade level."

Leading characters include Belle the beauty played by Lauren Hirschburg, the Beast played by Ben Lowrance, Gaston the villain played by Ross Bennett, Lumiere the candelabra played by Neil Totten, Mrs. Potts the teapot played by Tara Enloe, and Cogsworth the clock played by Cabel Gathman.

A community volunteer, Tim DePriest, serves as pianist and Schultz life skills instructor Pat Renard coordinates the costuming.

Dumey said faculty and parents also have been supportive of the production.

Following last year's performance of "Little Mermaid," Dumey said that "Beauty and the Beast" seemed the natural play to stage.

"We are not doing anything like the film," Dumey said. "You can't reproduce a cartoon, so we sort of created a little something unique and different.

"Plus, when you do it in a library well, you have to be creative. The kids are adapting to that as well. I think it will be a lot of fun."