For more information, contact Vern Fryberger, 620-792-9395.

February 11, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Jerke

Ticket sales started this week for Barton Community College’s spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast.” Barton’s 2010 musical is based on Disney’s 1994 Broadway theatrical production with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and the book by Linda Woolverton.

Barton’s musical event is set for 7:30 p.m. March 5 and 6, and 2 p.m. March 7 in the college’s Fine Arts Auditorium.

People planning to attend the musical may select their exact seats from the seats available and purchase their tickets by visiting www.bartonccc.edu and clicking on the “Beauty and the Beast Tickets” link. Those needing assistance in getting their tickets online may call the Fine Arts Office, 620-792-9391. All seats are reserved and ticket prices are $8 and $10. A limited number of general admission tickets will be available at the door, said Barton’s choral music instructor Vern Fryberger, music director and production manager for the show.

Erin Renard, Russell, who directed Barton’s fall play “True West,” is stage director and choreographer for the musical, and the college’s instrumental music instructor Steve Lueth conducts the orchestra. Alan Baxter, Great Bend, is in charge of set design and construction; Leon Sobba, Ellinwood, lighting and set detail; and Sharon Sturgis, Ellinwood, properties.

 “The fairytale style of this show requires some very specialized costumes and we will be renting a large number of costumes to bring this Disney story to life,” Fryberger said. “We hope to be as true as possible to the style of the original Broadway production.”

American writer Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay for Disney’s 1991 animated feature film of “Beauty and the Beast,” then went on to write the Broadway musical version. The story begins as an old beggar woman comes upon a castle belonging to a young prince. She asks for shelter from the cold and in return she offers to give him a single rose. The vain and uncaring prince turns her away, however, and she warns him not to be fooled by appearances, as true beauty lies within.

Seeing the prince as the heartless person that he is, she transforms herself into a beautiful enchantress and turns the prince into a hideous beast and his servants into household objects. She gives him a rose in an hour glass, saying the one way he can break the spell is to learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal falls. 

Cast members for Barton’s musical production include Barton students and community members. Listed along with the parts they play, the cast members are: Jordan Klima, Hoisington, as Prince (Prologue); Amanda Cargile, Abilene freshman, as Enchantress/Beggar Woman; Shelly Ramsey, Great Bend, as Belle; K.B. Bell, Great Bend, as Maurice; Stephen Mai, Great Bend, as Gaston; C.J. Bookout, Ellinwood, as Lefou; Cory Divilbiss, Great Bend sophomore, as The Beast; Josh Greer, Ellinwood, as Lumiere; Jeff Underwood, Great Bend, as Cogsworth; Ashley Dowgwillo, Great Bend, as Babette.

Playing the parts of servants who have been turned into household objects are the following cast members, many of whom play more than one part: Tiffany Harms, Great Bend, as Wardrobe; Lori Underwood, Great Bend, as Mrs. Potts; Allison Muth, Great Bend, as Chip; Ross Hildebrand, Great Bend, as Monsieur D’Arque; Allison Niederee, Joann Stacey, freshman, and Teresa Mazouch, all of Great Bend, as Silly Girls; J.W. Feemster, Ellinwood freshman, as Baker; John Sturn, Ellinwood, as Bookseller; Allison Niederee, Amanda Cargile, Becky Fryberger, Ellinwood, and Joann Stacey as Wolves; Taylor Schartz, Ellinwood, Jordan Klima, John Sturn and J.W. Feemster, as Flatware; Kjersti Olsen, Burdett, and Gabriel  Zorn, Great Bend, as Salt and Pepper; Ross Hildebrand and Jo Hildebrand, Great Bend, as Whisk & Grater;  Joann Stacey, Heather Connell, Great Bend, Shannon Somers, Great Bend, Taylor Jobes, Great Bend, and Kaitlyn Rodie, Hoisington, as Plates; Becky Fryberger, Allison Niederee, Amanda Cargile and Teresa Mazouch, as Napkins; and Kasey Starnes, Great Bend sophomore, as Double.

Townspeople and Mob are portrayed by Taylor Schartz, J. W. Feemster, Teresa Mazouch, John Sturn, Kaitlyn Rodie, Jo Hildebrand, Kjersti Olsen, Ross Hildebrand, Gabriel Zorn, Taylor Jobes, Becky Fryberger, Allison Niederee, Heather Connell, Amanda Cargile, Joann Stacey, Jordan Klima and Shannon Somers.

Josh Greer, Ellinwood, rehearses his part as Lumiere in Barton Community College’s spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” while in the background, Shelly Ramsey, Great Bend, playing Belle, and Cory Divilbiss, as the Beast, practice their lines.