News

On February 13 and 14, students in the Middle School put on a wonderful show to sold-out audiences with their production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. in Newton Country Day’s Sweeney-Husson Theatre.

An adaptation of the original Broadway production and Disney’s beloved 1991 film, Beauty and the Beast Jr. tells a timeless tale of transformation and acceptance, featuring songs written by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice.

The story follows Belle, a beautiful and independent young woman in a provincial French town, and the grim, fearsome Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. When Belle’s father, Maurice, is imprisoned in the Beast’s castle, her attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by the Beast. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved in return, the curse will be broken and he and his enchanted household–Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, and Cogsworth–will be transformed back into their former human forms. But time is running out. Once the last petal of a magical rose falls, they will be doomed for all eternity.

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and those who made this magical production possible!
 

CAST
Beast: Caitlin Figlioli ‘29
Belle: Lola Purcell ‘29
Maurice: Isabelle DeLeo ‘29
LeFou: Tilde Luciebllo ‘29
Gaston: Lucy Davenport ‘29
Lumiere: Milena Rufo ‘30
Cogsworth: Hailey MacDougall ‘29 
Mrs. Potts: Phelan Curry ‘30
Chip: Marian Emans ‘31
Babette: Megan Thuijs ‘29
Madame de La Grande Bouche: Zara Grimshaw ‘31
Old Beggar Woman/Enchantress: Madison Li ‘29
Monsieur D’Arque: Mia Na ‘30
Les Filles de la Ville: Ellison Davis ‘32, Cornelia Levin ‘32, Emily Schwartz ‘30
Narrators: Eloise Ewing ‘30, Lulu Meng ‘30, Macie Palm ‘30, Priscilla Yuan ‘32
Villagers: Reyna Bekarian ‘30, Frances Bride ‘30, Eloise Ewing ‘30, Luella Lam ‘29, Madison Li ‘29, Lulu Meng ‘30, Mia Na ‘30, Lexi Schuldt ‘30, Cece Shapiro ‘30

PRODUCTION/CREATIVE
Director/Music Director: Corey Everly
Assistant Music Director: Monique Byrnes
Producer: Melissa Davenport
Choreographer: Leigh Lucey
Technical Director: David Farreh 
Lead Costume Design: Jez Insalaco
Assistant Costume Design: Samantha Wolfrum

Assistant Director: Adele Touloukian ‘25
Assistant Stage Manager: Avery Spalding ‘25
Assistant Choreographer: Cat Cole-French ‘25
Musical Assistants: Nora Augst ‘28, Caroline Condon ‘27, Hadley Grover ‘28, Lillie Sitt ‘28
Hair and Makeup Crew: Eleanor Allen ‘25
Backstage Crew: Gracie Goodman ‘25 
Tech Crew: Zoey Bekarian ‘29, Keira Huang ‘30, Leighton Jammen ‘30, Mary Milone ‘32, Elizabeth Ouimet ‘29, Maeve Parcell ‘30, Ava Smith-Farrell ‘29, Evelin Teamey ‘29, Emily Wang ‘29, Lucy Willett ‘29

ORCHESTRA
Conductor/Keyboard 1: Corey Everly
Keyboard 2: Monique Byrnes
Flute/Piccolo: Rebecca Chen ‘28
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: Brandon Hagan
Tenor Saxophone: Tessa Venanzi ‘26 
Violin: Ludovica Melodia ‘25
French Horn: Laura Crook Brisson
Percussion: Casey Voss 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The cast, crew, and directing team of Beauty and the Beast Jr. are very thankful for the support of: 
Mrs. Jessica Hooper
Ms. Nicole Noel
Ms. Melissa Bleakney-Dalton
Ms. Katherine Spelman
Mr. Casey Young and the Facilities Department 
Ms. Tina Lim
Ms. Laura Kelly
Ms. Abby Woodworth 
Dr. Cara Cole
Dr. Crystal Mims 
The Families of our Cast and Crew