NDP’s theater recently presented the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast on the weekend of November 10th. The nostalgic fairytale has been brought to the stage with the hard work of directors and the skilled peers who also attend school with you. The magical musical features songs from the original movie such as, Be Our Guest, Something There, and Gaston as well as brand new songs including, Home, and Human Again. This 2-hour production was packed with fun ensemble numbers, heart-wrenching solos, and performances that can make you forget it’s a high school show.

There are quite a few things that put this show over the top due to its newly introduced technology. During the prologue and the Beast’s transformation, dry ice was implemented to create a more mystical feel. While it certainly took a while to figure out how to make the machine work, the results certainly were worth it. On top of that, the use of the projector to set the scenes and mood really immersed the audience into the show with over 100 background cues. In tandem with the over 100 lighting cues, the stage crew certainly had their work cut out for them. All of these editions helped to create and change the tone of the show that made the production more professional and overall impressive.

Under the direction of Ms. Bilenki, the music was absolutely astounding. The wonderful talent and effort of the entire cast was solely centered on making the show the best it can be. In particular, Abby Bilenki’s (Belle) performance of “Home” certainly had a few in tears with the relatability of feeling trapped. The gorgeous melody questions all of the reactions up until that moment that led her to be where she was now. Another iconic performance by Claire Schafer (Mrs. Potts) led to establishing the chemistry between Belle and the Beast, which was done so wonderfully. “Beauty and the Beast” originally performed by legendary actress Angela Lansbury has become on of the most classic Disney songs of all time and was certainly brought to life. Lastly, one of the most fun numbers throughout the whole show was the action-packed number “Be Our Guest”. Senior, Becca Meyers did a positively amazing job in capturing the heart and soul of a carefree Frenchman.

The choreography, effort, and direction of the entire cast really put towards a fabulous show that was one of the best I’ve seen. A huge “thank you” to Ms. Poxon, Ms. Bilenki, and the cast and crew for putting in so much effort to produce a valuable show.