Hansen Fifth Graders Present Beauty and the Beast

This weekend, the musical will be presented by the fifth-graders. Directed and choreographed by , teacher at the Hansen, performances are  tonight at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday May 7 at 7:00 p.m. at .

The fifth grade at the Hansen presents a play each year and this year's spring production promises to be a wonderful re-telling of this “tale as old as time.”

The first published version of the traditional fairy tale was in 1740, with an abridged written version appearing in 1756.

In 1991, Disney produced an animated musical version on which the Hansen production is based. That film, Beauty and the Beast, won Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Original Score, in addition to becoming the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The Disney film was adapted for the stage and ran on Broadway from 1999 to 2007, closing after 5,464 regular performances (and 46 previews,) according to Wikpedia.

Fast forward to 2011, and the Hansen cast and crew is clearly ready to move up to the “big show." Patch visited the final dress rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast on Thursday. The production is musically tuned up, delightfully and brilliantly costumed and naturally and smoothly choreographed.

 “Most of these kids have never been on stage before,” said Katie Healy, one of the parent volunteers.  “The fifth grade at the Hansen is very busy, fun and exciting, and this kind of activity helps the kids broaden their experience, to stretch.”

At sound check, the principal performers appeared on stage, dressed, professional, and miked-up and set to go. Belle, Gaston, the Beast, Babette, Maurice and more, were all there.

Elizabeth Holderried, the musical director, said, “This experience gives the kids a chance to feel what it’s like to be on stage. It gives them confidence and poise.” 

Holderried taught classroom music in the Canton Public Schools for 39 years and while retired, still returns to accompany these productions.

The Assistant Director is Yan Yii and the CAPT Play Coordinator is Mary Beth Nelson. The Hansen CAPT is an organization run by the parents and teachers of the Hansen School. Their purpose is to provide financial support to the Hansen School community to enhance their children's educations, according to their website.

In the opening sequence, the hero poses the question, “Who could ever learn to love a beast?”

If the dress rehearsal is any indication, anyone who sees this artful production by the Hansen fifth graders will come away not only loving a Beast, but the entire experience.