NMS Musical, With Cast Of 100-Plus Students, Fills The House

By Martha Coville

The Newtown Middle School produced a sold-out spring musical upon its return to the newly refurbished school auditorium.

“We knew we wanted a showstopper,” said director and language arts teacher Jennifer Sinal, who got her wish with Beauty and the Beast, for which she and musical director Susan Lang, who teaches social studies, cast more than 100 students. The play sold out on for each of its three performances, which began the evening of Friday, March 8, and continued the evening of March 9 before concluding with an afternoon matinee on Sunday. Math teacher Stephanie Gynn supervised the crew.

Student enthusiasm marked the production from the beginning.

“We auditioned about 150 students, so we had to cut many,” Ms Lang said. “That is the hardest part. But we are always gratified when students who do not make the cast come along to work on the crew. For many students it’s not what they do, but that they do something. Being in the school play gives them a sense of community.”

One hundred students, Ms Lang said, comprise more than one-tenth of the entire student population at NMS. “In addition to being on stage, students acted as running crew, painting crew, ushers, poster makers, and logo designers,” she said.  “It thrills us no end that we can involve that many students in something so wonderful; the sense of pride these kids have is well-earned.”

Ms Lang and Ms Sinal rehearsed their performers for six weeks.

“At this age, there are a few students who are already seasoned performers,” Ms Lang said, “but most of our young actors have never done it before. We start day one teaching them how to prepare, how to act, how to be young professionals.”

Ms Sinal said that parent volunteers and support were essential to the production. “Parents made costumes and ran concessions,” among other tasks, she said.

Principals in the enormous cast included eighth graders Kayal O’Leary as Belle, and Don Morrissey as the Beast. Also starring were Nora Murphy as Mrs Potts, the Beast’s housekeeper; and Tommy Harrison as the butler, Cogsworth.

Luke Shearin and Dana Greensfield played the parts of the servants Lumiere and Madame la Grande Bouche, whom the enchantment turned into a candelabra and a wardrobe, respectively. Jake Tolson was the boastful villain Gaston, and Sean Fahey his sidekick. Seventh grader Josh Goldman played Belle’s wrongfully imprisoned father.