Beauty & the Beast tours Chatham schools

Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - Principal cast, musicians, as well as senior dancers, actors, and crew took a preview of the Northwood Spring Musical to Pittsboro Elementary, Horton Middle School, and North Chatham School on Friday, March 23. Approximately forty students traveled with Northwood Arts Department faculty members Lori Carlin, Amy Loch, and Eugene Cottrell.

The assembly gave younger students an introduction to musical theatre and middle students an opportunity to speak to fellow students about each of the offerings in Northwood's Arts Education Department. Student representatives gave an overview and answered questions about classes in theatre, vocal arts, dance, visual arts, and instrumental music at Northwood. Chatham County eighth graders are currently making preliminary decisions about their freshman classes next fall.

Meanwhile back at the Benjamin J. Lee Auditorium, Leslie Burwell's art students were in the final phases of completing the Beast's castle and the "poor provincial town" that is home to Belle. Altogether, more than 100 students will contribute to the production.

The annual Northwood Spring Musical is an annual interdisciplinary, extracurricular, collaborative effort of the entire arts education department. Students and faculty put in hundreds of hours each year to prepare the performances for the community.

The 2007 cast features seniors Lily Smith as Belle and Steven Shore as the Beast. Shore's younger brother, freshman Lee Shore, takes on the role of Gaston.

Recognizing that this production should be of special interest to area children and families, the department has scheduled an additional "preview" performance. All shows take place at 7 pm in the Benjamin J. Lee Auditorium on the Northwood campus in Pittsboro. Ticket prices for the Wednesday March 28 Preview are $6. Prices for the March 29-31 shows are $8 for general admission, and $6 for senior citizens, students, and children under 4.

A study guide about the show that is available online. Visit to Broadway musical website http://disney.go.com/theatre/beautyandthebeast/ to download a copy.