Island students to perform ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’
The Sanibel School is set for its Performing Arts production and the public is invited to attend.
This year’s annual show will take place on May 25-26 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafetorium and will feature “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.” Each performance will also include a different opening act.
Music Department Director Joey Giangreco explained that Performing Arts is a middle-school elective class for students in sixth through eighth grade. The youths put together one show every school year.
“We work to prepare and perform a musical production,” he said.
Giangreco reported that the students go through auditions, including presenting a song, speaking part, resume and headshot. They learn about the production process, such as singing, acting and dancing.
“All of that is presented at individual auditions as we are casting the show,” he said.
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.” is based off of the popular movie and the Broadway musical.
“It has all of your favorite characters, from Belle and the Beast, to Gaston and Lumiere,” Giangreco said. “It also has many of the favorite songs that are in the original movie, ‘Beauty and the Beast.'”
“There are a few additional songs from the Broadway version,” he added.
The students will perform a mix of songs from both the movie and musical. There will be “Belle,” “Gaston,” “Be Our Guest,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Mob Song,” plus “Home” performed by Belle, “Human Again” — cut from the movie, but included in the Broadway show — and “Finale.”
Giangreco noted that the production was chosen for this year’s performance for a few reasons. It was his first production when he came to the island school and the students get to play multiple parts.
“There are many opportunities to become different characters and be part of different aspects of the show. It’s a large cast production,” he said, explaining that the cast also fit this year’s class of students.
“And ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is such a classic tale,” Giangreco added. “It’s beloved by so many.”
At the start of each show, there will be an opening act featuring other Music Department students. On May 25, the Orff Club and Elementary Choir will perform, with the Seahorse Chorale on May 26.
An after-school club for fourth- and fifth-graders, the Orff Club will do “Sur le pont d’Avignon” on xylophones, “Beserk” on tubano drums and a cup routine to go with “All Star” by Smash Mouth.
“Each of which showcase a different way of performing music,” he said of the songs.
The choir will perform “Sing” — which was made popular by the Carpenters — “Not So Boring Minuet,” “Better When I’m Dancin'” and “Bhombela,” which will also involve rhythm sticks.
The following evening, the Seahorse Chorale will do six selections. The school’s middle school choir will perform “Chatter with the Angels,” “When I Close My Eyes,” “The Wellerman,” “Let It Be” — which was made popular by the Beatles — “Go The Distance” from “Hercules,” and “Sisi Ni Moja.”
Available at the door, tickets are $8 for adults; Sanibel students are $5 with a coupon.
The concession stand will sell food and drinks.
“All of the funds raised through the concessions, as well as the ticket sales, go back to support our Music Department at The Sanibel School,” Giangreco said.
The community is invited out to enjoy an evening of live entertainment.
“Our students have worked so hard this year, especially considering the number of challenges as a school and as a community that we have gone through,” he said.
Giangreco explained that when the Performing Arts class started to prepare for the production, the students were attending an alternate school off-island because of the storm. The auditions and first few rehearsals took place there, which was challenging, but the class worked hard to pull it all together.
“The kids are sure to present an amazing production,” he said.
“With everything our community has gone through the last few months in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, we are hoping that ‘Beauty and the Beast’ brings some joy and inspiration,” Giangreco added.
For more information, contact 239-472-1617 or josephag@leeschools.net.
The Sanibel School is at 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.”
When
May 25-26 at 6:30 p.m.
Where
The Sanibel School, 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel
Details
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for Sanibel students with coupon
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email