Lutheran North's Spring Musical Tells Tale as Old as Time

Parker McGoldrick isn’t one to brag, but when speaking of his character in ’s production of Beauty and the Beast, he has every right to say that no other actor can hold a candle to his performance.

After all, he is the musical’s Lumiere.

As the flirtatious, debonair candelabra, McGoldrick is one of almost 40 students who, under the direction of Heather Oechsner and Cheryl Marie Freeman, will bring the Broadway adaptation of the beloved Disney film to life this week at Lutheran North.  

“This is by far the hardest show we’ve ever done,” Oechsner said of Beauty and the Beast. “We call it ‘a whopper.’ There are so many musical numbers and the sets are much more grandiose than before.”

Although based on the popular 1991 film, the musical version of Beauty and the Beast features a much richer score, with Belle, the Beast, Gaston and even Maurice picking up a song or two.

For junior Salvatore Sbrocca, this extended score helps add another dimension to his role as the Beast.

“The musical elaborates the Beast’s back story and goes into greater detail,” Sbrocca said. “In the movie he’s mean and grumpy, but (in the musical) you see the man on the inside, the torment.”

Playing opposite Sbrocca’s Beast is sophomore Caroline Wolber. Although Wolber admits that in terms of Disney princesses she is more partial to Ariel, the self-proclaimed bookworm she said she identifies with Belle’s thirst for knowledge and has used that similarity to identify with her character.

As opening night approaches, Oechsner said couldn’t be more pleased with the work of her leads and indeed, the entire cast.

“Caroline (Wolber) is perfect for Belle and with Sal (Sbrocca) we really hit gold. He’s totally focused, talented and is going places. Lumiere is musically talented and Cogsworth, can I name everybody? They've all come so far."

With the first public show on Thursday, most of the cast and crew will find themselves filling the remaining hours of rehearsal running lines, checking lights and putting the finishing touches on their characters–McGoldrick will be perfecting the handless tango, performed with his on-again, off-again love interest, Babette the feather duster (Ashley Colby).

“We started rehearsing the tango with my actual hands and then we had to switch to get used to my candlesticks,” McGoldrick said. “It’s been a little difficult, but a lot of fun.”

Beauty and the Beast premieres Thursday at 7 p.m. in the high school’s auxiliary gym. Subsequent performances are Friday and Saturday.

Tickets to the show are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.