[NEohioPAL]CVT feature -"Making Memories For Star-Struck Little Girls" - Beauty & the Beast
FSternfeld at aol.com
FSternfeld at aol.com
Thu Dec 28 09:59:42 PST 2006
-------------------------------1167328782
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
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=20
Bob Abelman, who is playing Maurice in Beck Center's production of Disney's=
=20
_Beauty and the Beast_=20
(http://www.fredsternfeld.com/beautyandthebeastencore06.htm) , is also a jou=
rnalist with the Chagrin Valley Times. Below is the=20
fourth (and final) installment in a series of articles he has written that=20=
have=20
been published in the Chagrin Valley Times to provide an inside look at the=
=20
production. You can view the first three articles _here_=20
(http://www.fredsternfeld.com/beautyandthebeastencore06reviews.htm#close) .=20
The show continues for five more performances this weekend, closing on=20
December 31. All of the remaining performances are SOLD OUT, however a han=
dful of=20
tickets for each show are being held back and will be sold at the door. =20
Arrive 45 minutes before curtain to have a chance at these tickets, but ple=
ase=20
understand that there is no guarantee that you will be able to be seated. =20=
=20
----------------------------------------------------------------=20
Making Memories For Star-Struck Little Girls=20
by Bob Abelman, Chagrin Valley Times=20
This is the final installment of backstage commentaries about the encore=20
production of Disney=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast=E2=80=9D at th=
e Beck Center for the Arts. =20
The show closes this weekend.=20
When an evening=E2=80=99s performance is over, most actors in most producti=
ons=20
quickly change into street clothes, arrange their wardrobe and props for th=
e next=20
performance and leave the theatre. Not so with the cast of =E2=80=9CBeaut=
y and the=20
Beast.=E2=80=9D=20
After every one of the 20 performances there is an audience =E2=80=9Cmeet a=
nd greet.=E2=80=9D
Actors, in full make-up and costume, flow from the stage into the theatre=
=E2=80=99
s lobby to share a few moments with the many children in attendance. They=20=
=20
are wide-eyed and quaking with anticipation. So are the children.=20
Some of the younger children are paralyzed with awe and can not release=20
themselves from their parents=E2=80=99 thighs. These little boys and girls=
are finally=20
face to face with the larger than life characters whose fairytale stories=20
were just told amidst bright lights, a cloud of dry ice fog and full orches=
tral=20
accompaniment.=20
When Josh Noble enters the lobby the first wave of admirers is comprised=20
exclusively of 10- to 14-year-old girls and their mothers. Josh, who plays=
the =20
delightfully villainous Gaston, has the symmetrical good looks of a Ken =20
doll. In his form-fitting, primary-colored costume and pony-tailed hairpie=
ce, he=20
is the spitting image of the cartoon movie character and is swarmed as the=20
girls vie for proximity and a photo opportunity. They stare, ask silly=20
questions about his perfect teeth, become embarrassed by how silly their qu=
estions=20
are, and run away in pairs. Their mothers linger a little, all smiles, =20
before fetching their daughters.=20
Then the younger girls, lower in the food chain, step up. One asks an =20
earnest question about why the Beast turned into a prince. Josh gives a lon=
g and=20
thoughtful response about the power of true love, to which the girl respond=
s,=20
=E2=80=9CYour hair is fake!=E2=80=9D and stomps off to find another victim.=
=20
Natalie Green, who plays Belle to perfection, is surrounded by adorable=20
pre-schoolers. They are not mere admirers and they are not merely star-str=
uck. =20
They are infatuated. Many come to the show dressed in Belle costumes, som=
e=20
of which are hand-crafted, bejeweled labors of love and lace. =20
During bows on stage, Natalie looks into the audience and makes eye contact=
=20
with as many children as possible, knowing how magical that exchange can be=
. =20
In the lobby, she kneels and tells every child how nice it is to see them =20
again. They give her long, full-body hugs, talk in whispers, and need to b=
e=20
pried away by a parent. Natalie stays until every child has been attended=20=
and=20
is guaranteed a cherished memory. =20
Even members of the ensemble, who on stage work hard at blending in with=20
each other, are singled out and asked for autographs. They sign creased, =20
candy-stained programs and dog-eared =E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast=E2=80=9D=20=
storybooks and always=20
as their enchanted characters. =E2=80=9CAll the best, Knife.=E2=80=9D Thank=
s for coming,=20
Flower Vase.=E2=80=9D=20
These =E2=80=9Cmeet and greets=E2=80=9D are not a contractual requirement a=
nd they are not=20
at the request of the theatre=E2=80=99s management or the show=E2=80=99s di=
rector. They=20
just happened, a natural outgrowth of a show designed to embrace its audien=
ce. =20
Live theatre can be an enriching, life-altering experience. No one =20
realizes this more than the cast of =E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast.=E2=80=9D=20=
As the lobby clears, it=20
is hard to tell if these apr=C3=A8s-show interactions were more enriching a=
nd=20
life-altering for the young children in the audience or the seasoned actors=
.=20
-------------------------------1167328782
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size=3D3></FONT></STRONG></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>Bob Abe=
lman,=20
who is playing Maurice in Beck Center's production of Disney's <EM><A=20
href=3D"http://www.fredsternfeld.com/beautyandthebeastencore06.htm">Beauty a=
nd the=20
Beast</A></EM>, is also a journalist with the Chagrin Valley Times. Be=
low=20
is the fourth (and final) installment in a series of articles he has written=
=20
that have been published in the Chagrin Valley Times to provide an inside lo=
ok=20
at the production. You can view the first three articles <A=20
href=3D"http://www.fredsternfeld.com/beautyandthebeastencore06reviews.htm#cl=
ose">here</A>.</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN> =
</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>The sho=
w=20
continues for five more performances this weekend, closing on December 31.&n=
bsp;=20
All of the remaining performances are SOLD OUT, however a handful of tickets=
for=20
each show are being held back and will be sold at the door. Arrive 45=20
minutes before curtain to have a chance at these tickets, but please underst=
and=20
that there is no guarantee that you will be able to be seated.</FONT> =20
</STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG>----------------------=
------------------------------------------</STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>Making=20=
Memories=20
For Star-Struck Little Girls</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG>by Bob Abelman, Chagri=
n=20
Valley Times</STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This is the final installment=20=
of=20
backstage commentaries about the encore production of Disney=E2=80=99s =E2=
=80=9CBeauty and the=20
Beast=E2=80=9D at the Beck Center for the Arts.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The show closes this=20
weekend.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">When an evening=E2=80=99s perf=
ormance is=20
over, most actors in most productions quickly change into street clothes,=20
arrange their wardrobe and props for the next performance and leave the=20
theatre.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not so with the cast=
of=20
=E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast.=E2=80=9D<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">After every one of the 20=20
performances there is an audience =E2=80=9Cmeet and greet.=E2=80=9D<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Actors, in full make-up and costum=
e,=20
flow from the stage into the theatre=E2=80=99s lobby to share a few moments=20=
with the=20
many children in attendance.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=
They=20
are wide-eyed and quaking with anticipation.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So are the=20
children.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some of the younger children a=
re=20
paralyzed with awe and can not release themselves from their parents=E2=80=
=99=20
thighs.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These little boys and=
girls=20
are finally face to face with the larger than life characters whose fairytal=
e=20
stories were just told amidst bright lights, a cloud of dry ice fog and full=
=20
orchestral accompaniment.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">When Josh Noble enters the lob=
by the=20
first wave of admirers is comprised exclusively of 10- to 14-year-old girls=20=
and=20
their mothers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Josh, who play=
s the=20
delightfully villainous Gaston, has the symmetrical good looks of a Ken=20
doll.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In his form-fitting,=20
primary-colored costume and pony-tailed hairpiece, he is the spitting image=20=
of=20
the cartoon movie character and is swarmed as the girls vie for proximity an=
d a=20
photo opportunity.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They stare=
, ask=20
silly questions about his perfect teeth, become embarrassed by how silly the=
ir=20
questions are, and run away in pairs. Their mothers linger a little, all smi=
les,=20
before fetching their daughters.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Then the younger girls, lower=20=
in the=20
food chain, step up.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One asks=
an=20
earnest question about why the Beast turned into a prince.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Josh gives a long and thoughtful=20
response about the power of true love, to which the girl responds, =E2=80=
=9CYour hair is=20
fake!=E2=80=9D and stomps off to find another victim.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Natalie Green, who plays Belle=
to=20
perfection, is surrounded by adorable pre-schoolers.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are not mere admirers and the=
y are=20
not merely star-struck.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They=20=
are=20
infatuated.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many come to the=20=
show=20
dressed in Belle costumes, some of which are hand-crafted, bejeweled labors=20=
of=20
love and lace. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">During bows on stage, Natalie=20=
looks=20
into the audience and makes eye contact with as many children as possible,=20
knowing how magical that exchange can be.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&=
nbsp;=20
</SPAN>In the lobby, she kneels and tells every child how nice it is to see=20=
them=20
again.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They give her long,=20
full-body hugs, talk in whispers, and need to be pried away by a parent.<SPA=
N=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Natalie stays until every child ha=
s been=20
attended and is guaranteed a cherished memory.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Even members of the ensemble,=20=
who on=20
stage work hard at blending in with each other, are singled out and asked fo=
r=20
autographs.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They sign creased=
,=20
candy-stained programs and dog-eared =E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast=E2=80=9D=20=
storybooks and=20
always as their enchanted characters.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
;=20
</SPAN>=E2=80=9CAll the best, Knife.=E2=80=9D Thanks for coming, Flower=20
Vase.=E2=80=9D<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">These =E2=80=9Cmeet and greets=
=E2=80=9D are not a=20
contractual requirement and they are not at the request of the theatre=E2=
=80=99s=20
management or the show=E2=80=99s director.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
=20
</SPAN>They just happened, a natural outgrowth of a show designed to embrace=
its=20
audience.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN><=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Live theatre can be an enrichi=
ng,=20
life-altering experience.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No=20=
one=20
realizes this more than the cast of =E2=80=9CBeauty and the Beast.=E2=80=9D<=
SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As the lobby clears, it is hard to=
tell=20
if these apr=C3=A8s-show interactions were more enriching and life-altering=20=
for the=20
young children in the audience or the seasoned actors.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"=20
align=3Dcenter><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></FONT=
></BODY></HTML>
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