‘Beauty and the Beast’ comes to Parkrose High

It looks as if they’re working hard to bring this classic musical tale alive. See why this looks to be a “pull-out-all-the-stops” family musical …

The inhabitants of the Beast’s Enchanted Castle perform a musical number for Belle, singing “Be Our Guest!” rehearsing their upcoming musical, Beauty and the Beast.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress is coming to the Theater at Parkrose High School, opening on February 26.

“We’re looking forward to ‘blowing the roof off the theater’ with our presentation of Beauty and the Beast,” said Parkrose High Theater Instructor Tom Cavanaugh and the director of the show.

Parris Le (playing Babette), Lynn Nguyen (as Belle) listens as Althea Murin (the Enchanted Wardrobe) explains that the castle is enchanted and they are under a spell.

“For our musical this year, we wanted to have a big show with a large cast, and major set pieces,” Cavanaugh told East Portland News. “And, we wanted to present a show that would appeal to the whole family and have a great experience.”

As the story of Beauty and the Beast unfolds, student actors portray normally-inanimate objects the come to life in the enchanted castle, including a suave, debonair enchanted candelabra, a maternal teapot cook, a saucy feather-duster castle maid, a former opera diva turned into a talking wardrobe, and a rather “tightly-wound” stuffy mantle clock who heads the Beast’s household staff.

Parkrose High Theater Instructor Tom Cavanaugh and the director of Beauty and the Beast starts another rehearsal.

“We had a great response from our student actors and musicians,” Cavanaugh said. “There was a strong turnout at auditions, with students coming from all over the school to do this show. We even have student athletes who have taken the season off to be the musical this year.”

Their production of Beauty and the Beast will feature a cast of 47 student actors and singers, a live, 15-piece band, and a 20 person technical crew.

Liz Hurliman (as sidekick Lefou); tries to cheer up Jonathan Boland (as the adversary Gaston) after he again fails to woo Belle.

“For the first time since I’ve been here, our band and choral instructors are working with our show,” Cavanaugh enthused. “We have advanced singers and musicians in the show, and in our orchestra pit.”

It has been exciting for him, Cavanaugh said, to see the cast enthusiastic about the production. “The cast is actually pushing me to do more rehearsals and more work on the show. There is a feeling that they really want this show to be something special.”

Lynn Nguyen (Belle) gets a tour of the castle, led by, Marlon Faber (playing Cogsworth, the enchanted mantle clock who supervises the Beast’s household) and Kai Fiser (as Lumiere the castle’s debonair enchanted candelabra).

Beauty and the Beast opens February 26
The curtain rises at 7:00 p.m. on at the Parkrose High School Theater on opening night. Beauty and the Beast also plays at 7:00 p.m. on February 27 and 28. It also plays the following Friday, March 6.

On Saturday, March 7 they offer a special Matinee Performance at 2:00 p.m., as well as a closing performance at 7:00 p.m.

Buy tickets in advance securely online at Ticketleap.com: CLICK HERE to open their shows page. TICKETS Adult $7.00 + $1.35 fee = $8.35 | Student/Senior $5.00 + $1.25 = $6.25 online. Or, buy tickets at face value, at the door.

The Parkrose High School Theater is located in outer East Portland at 12003 NE Shaver Street, 97220-1499.

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