BP brings ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to stage

In the sports world, it would be called a “rebuilding year” – another way of saying things may not go very well.

But in the Blooming Prairie High School drama department, that just means the stars are younger.

“We lost double-digit seniors, for sure,” said Drew Reinke, who plays one of the titular roles in this fall’s musical, “Beauty and the Beast.”

There are just three seniors; Reinke is one of only four juniors in the cast; the remaining 30 or so actors are all sophomore or younger.

“They’re young, which is awesome,” said Kari Bottin, one of the directors. “We have some seventh- and eighth-graders, too.”

Addison Haugland, also a junior, likes the idea.

“It’s very nice, because I know a lot of them are going to be really good leads when they get older,” she said, “so that’s what I’m excited to see.”

Haugland has the role of Belle, the beauty. She moved to Blooming Prairie as a third-grader, and has been performing in school-sponsored musicals since fourth grade.

So is she nervous or excited about landing one of the lead roles?

“I am definitely a little bit of both,” Haugland said, but believes her role as Aunt Eller in “Oklahoma” last spring “prepared me pretty well.”

While it’s a familiar production, based on the 1991 animated movie of the same name, it’s not exactly the same.

There are new songs; the most notable are Belle’s new solos. Two did not appear in the original animated version; one has only been done in the Broadway version.

“It’s fun,” Haugland said of the differences, “but a lot of pressure, because people know this (story), so they kind of expect to see what they know. I hope people think it’s a good addition.”

Emmaleigh White, a sophomore, is Lefou, a goofy sidekick to Gaston, played by junior Tyler Anderson.

Though she hoped to land the role of Gaston, “I really love being boastful,” she said of her part. “I love getting into that character; in ‘Oklahoma,’ I was also the comic relief.”

Reinke, as the Beast, will wear what he calls a “hot and itchy” mask, transforming him into an animal.

Anderson, who learned how to juggle for the part of Gaston, will also be physically transformed.

“The kids are doing a great job, and we feel like we’re progressing faster” than the typical musical rehearsal timeline, said Bottin.

She thinks knowing the story going in helps, “because they kind of knew the characters already, and the big songs they knew already… It helps, too, that we’re in our space all the time.”

Bottin is referring to the BPHS Performing Arts Center; this will be the first fall musical in the venue.

Opening night is Nov. 7, with an optional performance on Nov. 11.

Haugland has this advice for those planning to attend:

“Expect the unexpected, because this show is similar to the animated version – but it is not at all the same.”

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BP’s Fall Musical

What: Beauty and the Beast

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 7 and 9; 6 p.m. dinner theater on Nov. 8

Where: BPHS Performing Arts Center

To purchase tickets: https://gofan.co/app/school/MN19540

Seating is reserved; people are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid a line.

Cast:

Belle: Addison Haugland

Gaston: Tyler Anderson

Lefou: Emmaleigh White

Maurice: Damien Konig

Monsieur D’Arque: Madison Green

Beast: Drew Reinke

Cogsworth: Cleo Carlson

Lumiere: Will Sunde

Babette: Audrey Fort

Mrs. Potts: Jannis Baltazar

Madame De La Grande Bouche: Natalie Winzenburg

Old Beggar Woman: Jayden Wencl

Les Filles La Ville: Haley Schlichter, Gracelyn Anderson and Sophia Esplan

Castle Staff: Mayiah Andree, Natalee DeVries, Hannah Maxwell, Raylee Miner, Claudia Miller, Mac Mosier, Jayden Wencl