Tale as Old as Time: Seneca Valley Presents 'Beauty and the Beast'

will present a tale as old as time this weekend with its all-school musical production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Show producer and vocal director Aaron Magill, who also is choral director at the senior high school, said the lively fairy tale was selected as this year’s musical because it offered plenty of juicy parts for the school’s roster of performers.

“We have a ton of really great, talented seniors this year,” he said.

Magill said the classic tale of finding one’s inner beauty also should attract audiences from around the area to the show. Adding to the excitement is the fact that Disney recently re-released a 3D-version of Beauty and the Beast into theaters. The Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast also is coming the Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall in April, Magill said.

“We decided on the show before we knew that, but it didn’t hurt,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of free publicity because of this.”

Magill said there are about 180 cast and crew members in this year’s production. Junior Kristin Carmella will take on the role of bookish Belle, while senior Conner Gillooly will swagger on stage as narcissistic Gaston. Senior Ben Paget will play the role of the Beast. Also playing lead parts are Jamie Walters as sensible Mrs. Potts and Nick Traverso as enchanted candlestick Lumiere. Stephan Santa, who works with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, is directing the musical.

Magill said the students — and their parents — spent a considerable amount of time building the sets and transforming the entrance to the auditorium at the intermediate high school into a realistic-looking stone castle. He also expects the audience to be wowed by this year’s professional costumes, which were rented for the show.

The audience also will play an important role in the production. Magill said show-goers will be handed “enchanted” roses that they’ll be asked to use as the Beast (spoiler alert!) levitates above the stage during his transformation back into the handsome prince.

As exciting as this will be for the audience, the cast is even more pumped to be a part of the show. Magill said the students embraced Beauty and the Beast from the moment is was announced as this school year’s musical.

“They were excited right from the start, so I was happy about that,” he said.

If You’re Going:

Beauty and the Beast will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2, and on Saturday, March 3 at Sunday’s matinee performance is sold out. Tickets are $8 to $10. Buy your tickets at the door one hour before the show, or click here to buy them online. You also may buy tickets by calling 724-452-6040, ext. 1406. Visit the Seneca Valley website for more information.