Blessed Sacrament Children's Theatre Announces Cast List for 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast'

Bob Tansley, the driving force behind Blessed Sacrament School Children's Theatre, proudly tells me that he had 125 kids sign up for the BSS annual musical. This year, Mr. Tansley will be directing two casts of 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast' at the Waterbury Catholic School. The students will perform the full version of the musical because the director never uses the junior version of any show and the students always rise to the challenge.

Of the 125 students from the greater Waterbury area and beyond, 57 young actors auditioned for a featured role. This number was the most that the director ever remembers trying out for a speaking role. As usual, Mr Tansley has double cast the show in order to include as many up and coming performers as possible.

The 57 students that auditioned represent an impressive 27 area schools, but that does not included the remaining 60 or so kids that did not audition. While a good number of them attend Blessed Sacrament School, children from many other elementary and middle schools wanted to be part of the show. "We really should be called The Greater Waterbury and Beyond Children's Theatre," writes Mr. Tansley. [Some children are from as] far as South Windsor, Washington Depot, [and] Torrington." The young actors will travel to the Waterbury parochial school for many rehearsals and performances.

The super-talented Wamogo student Kennedy Morris, who played to role of Little Girl in 'Ragtime' at the Warner, will share the role of Belle with Blessed Sacrament (BSS) student Gabrielle Saucier. Jordan Elliot from Swift Middle School in Oakville will appear as The Beast in both casts. Travis Karas is a Blessed Sacrament Children's Theatre alumni and will return to the group to play the role of Gaston. Benjamin Dressel of Memorial Middle School will share the role of LeFou with the fabulous Grace Altenburger of Chase School.

The BSS beloved director provided this cast list which lists the school that each student attends. He noted that the part of Maurice is being shared by two parents of cast members and one grandparent of a cast member, namely Mr. Tansley himself.

Beauty and the Beast Cast List from Auditions

Belle………….Kennedy Morris - Wamogo, Gabrielle Saucier - BSS
The Beast…..Jordan Elliott - Swift Middle School
Gaston……….Travis Karas - BSCT Alum
LeFou…………Benjamin Dressel – Memorial Middle School, Grace Altenburger – Chase
Lumiere…… Robbie Altamirano - Rumsey Hall School, Matthew Keating - BSS
Mrs. Potts…….…….Katherine Brown – BSS, Julia Mehlin – WAMS
Maurice…………..….Michael Altenburger, Theo Sevilla, Bob Tansley
Cogsworth…………....RJ Damato – SMMS, Michael Meier – BSS
Madame De La Grande Bouche….Ana Coyanda-Parkzes – SMMS, Claire Roberts – Judson
Babette……….…..Emma Denihan – BSS. Alexandra Jannetty – SMMS
Chip…….Logan Altenburger – Chase, Taylor Kunkel – Tinker, Johnny Murzyn – BSS
Monsieur D’Arque/Ensemble………………….Cristian Welcome - OLMC
Silly Girls…..Allison Bradshaw – DePaolo MS, Frances DiModugno - Home School
McKenzie Fairfax – BSS, Natlie Hodak – BSS, Lauren McDuff - BSS
Sophia Modica – Woodbury, Ava Mullin – BSS, Ariel Pierre – Cross Street

Ensemble…..Mark Albino – Polk School, Nick Bates – Midstate Christian Academy,
Sam Champagne – BSS, Sierra Cortes – James Morris School,
Louis DiModugno – Home School, Alyssa Dinklocker – Dodd MS,
Mia Gagnebin – BSS, Isabel Garcia – Rotella MS, Ariel Giglio – WAMS
Jason Hanis – Judson School, Mason Harper – Chase, Amanda Hodak – BSS,
Julianna Hodak – BSS, Lexy Izzi-Mancinone – BSS, Sydney Jason – OLMC,
Maura Kahuda – Chase, Teaghan Linhard – Chase, Carly Lombardo – BSS,
Ronald McNerney – WSMS, Natalie Nejaime – Chase, Matthew Paolino – Black Rock,
Grace Sevelowitz – Bunker Hill, Ciara Spears – WAMS, Jade Vasslliou – Carrington,
Sydney Rybczyk– BSS, Alexandra Welcome – OLMC, Elena Welcome – Brass City CS
Olivia Welcome – Brass City CS, Kalman Zold – Middlebury Elementary School

Congratulations to each one of these young actors. I can't wait to see you all on the BSS stage.

Beauty & The Beast

Sponsored by Mathnasium

Show Dates

June 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2016