Bellevue Youth Theatre's Beauty and the Beast Opens this Weekend

As mother of a maiden in the A Cast of 's latest offering of Youth Theater, excitement is building in our household.

White tights? Check!

Jazz shoes? Check!

Balance Bars and carrots for snacks? Check!

Dessert for the Cast Party Saturday afternoon? Check!

Since February, my hopeful young thespian, has been balancing school and rehearsal, learning her lines and dance moves and enjoying the mentoring of the more senior members of the Bellevue Youth Theatre staff and volunteers.

This marks my own daughter's third production with BYT and I can already see her in the future role of mentoring young participants as she enters high school herself. Last year it was Cinderella and previously, she debuted in Madeleine.

Storybooks brought to life by the children who loved having them read to them over and over again never fails to bring a sentimental lump to my throat as I watch my own daughter and her peers, just during rehearsal.  

Fearless and at all times theatrical, Director Norm Dalire is a joy to watch at rehearsals. He appears to stage his "outbursts" just so to keep the young and elder actors "focused" and "engaged" and he's just "crazy" enough to be taken "seriously."

Rehearsals moved from the to the Ivanhoe Theater the start of tech week and it's now two days to show time for Cast A and weekend #1 of the show that runs two weekends.

I thoroughly APPRECIATE the City of Bellevue and the Park and Recs Department for funding this program, even with budget cuts always in the air. What kids learn through theater can be applied to real life at school, at home and in their futures. 

No child who auditions was turned away. All were given parts. In the case of this production, two casts were formed, they had so many kids want to participate.

Learning the art of public speaking and performance art through theater is far more easy and appealing for some than a "speech and debate" course will ever be. 

Opening night is Friday night and a small tribe of us are going to enjoy Beauty and the Beast. I’ll have my heart in throat at least six times as I watch my very own say her lines as the young maiden friend of Belle. (Think I may skip wearing mascara, again…so when I start to cry my tears of joy, they won’t run my make up (smile).)

My final word: These shows deserve sold out performances and tickets are still available for most performances running Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. the weekends of May 4-6 and May 11-13.

Tickets can be acquired by calling Sheila Framke at the BYT Box Office at 425-452-7155.

And to the wonderful cast and crew of BYT, as they say in the theater, "Break a leg!"