Neighbor News
Community Youth Roar onto the Stage in ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr’
Yorkville and Plainfield Casts Perform May 18-19
Your Performing Arts Center will stage Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. May 18 and 19 in Plainfield. The show embraces the adage of “don’t judge a book by its cover,” according to Beth Jackson, Your Performing Arts Center’s (YPAC) Theatre Community Director.
“The students have embraced the characters of this “beast” of a show and have stepped up to the challenge of this Tale as Old as Time!”
The shows features youth, ages 5 to 16, who have been working closely together on the colorful, lively show since January. The 117 youth within the two casts represent several communities, including Yorkville, Sugar Grove, Plainfield, Plano, Montgomery, Newark, North Aurora, Oswego, Somonauk, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Lockport, Romeoville, Crest Hill, and Channahon.
“The students in the production have been working hard to create a vibrant show, with strong vocals,” said Jackson. “And with an eye catching set and costumes that are larger than life, this show is sure to please at any age!”
In addition to Jackson, the YPAC theatre team for the spring 2018 production includes Creative Director Mia Mellecker; Plainfield cast’s Director Aaron Flynn-Holbach, Choreographer Amanda Arnold; Assistant Choreographer Shaheen Kapambwe; Stage Manager Emily Schreiber; and amazing instructor and parent volunteers.
There are two casts – one from the Yorkville center and one from the Plainfield center – with four shows May 18 at 7pm and May 19 at Noon, 3:30pm and 7pm at Community Christian Church, 24035 Riverwalk Court, Plainfield. To order tickets through May 16 online, visit www.tututix.com/client/yorkvilleperformingartscenter and they also will be available at the door for additional fee.
This marks the 13th YPAC theatre production since the arts center was first opened in Yorkville by Brian and Emily Weber.
“We have a program at YPAC that is called The Learning Experience,” said Jackson. “We take students who have shown great leadership in their classes, along with a love and interest in learning the ropes behind the scenes, and we equip them to run a show from beginning to end!”
They are looking to continue to grow this program as early as this summer with their launch of Junie B. Jones JR. and High School Musical JR. productions! For registration information, you can go to www.ypacarts.com.
To learn more about YPAC programs in music, dance and theater, visit ypacarts.com.
