Profound Impact presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.
COLDWATER – Area youth present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR August 17-19, 2018 at Tibbits Opera House as Pines Behavioral Health and Tibbits Young Audiences join forces for a free Profound Impact performance.
The beloved musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR is a fantastic adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance. It tells the story of Belle played by Ashlyn Britton, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast played by Colin Frank, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
The enchanted household includes Connor Sarles as Lumiere, Storm Tremblay as Cogsworth, Haley Robison as Mrs. Potts, Luke Marteen as Chip, Vicky Brown as Babette and Jaden Swartz plays Madame de la Grande Bouche. Also in the cast, Quentin Villa plays Gaston and Lexi Galliers plays LeFou, Jeffrey Harvey plays Maurice, London Elkins plays Monsieur D’Arque and Kaylynn Drumm plays the Old Beggar Woman. Bella Carrion, Abigail Robison, Ava Fosdick, and Maddie Fosdick narrate the story. The rest of the ensemble includes Gabby Armstrong, Jada Bell, Valentina Brown, Amerie Bradley, Alison Christopher, Isabel Christopher, Nakota Dayton, Kendalyn Haviland, Abrielle Ingram, Allison O’Dell, Ciaira Paul, Lily Roscoe, Kaylee Slusarski and Felina Stevens.
Profound Impact Performance Troupe, a youth performance troupe created by Pines, has been providing public performances aimed at increasing awareness of substance use and mental health issues since 2014. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR marks a collaborative arrangement between Pines and Tibbits. Providing prevention efforts through the performing arts has been found to be an effective way to reach a large audience in a safe, non-intimidating way. Pines’ expertise in substance abuse awareness, treatment and prevention and Tibbits’ resources and experience in theatre and the performing arts creates a valuable collaboration.
The show will be presented August 17 at 7 pm and August 18 at 7 pm and August 19 at 2 pm at Tibbits Opera House, 14 S. Hanchett St. Financial assistance provided by the Branch County Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council will allow the production to be presented to audiences at no charge.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. is directed by Diane Long, produced by Tirsha Odisher, stage managed by Alison Harvey and choreographed by Naomi Blansit. Musical direction is provided by Samantha Etoll. Set design and costume coordination is by Leon Kriser with assistance by Gail Langridge.
It is estimated that as many as 60 percent of youth having mental health or substance use concerns do not access care due to stigma. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR is embedded with themes related to stigma, social isolation, excessive substance use, and anger issues which connect to the risks of mental health and substance use disorders. The play allows an avenue for discussion and prevention. It also connects county youth to the arts which offers its own benefits— improved social competence and increased academic success— both of which provide resilience to health risk factors.
For more information call 517.278.6029 or go to www.Tibbits.org.
Profound Impact presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR August 17 – 19 at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI. The beloved musical features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice.