By LAURA ROBISON
The Progress
Local students worked hard last week to present Beauty Lou and the Country Beast, which was presented in two showtimes on Saturday, March 2.
As part of the 2023-2024 Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council (MVPAC) season, the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) rolled into town on Monday, Feb. 26 to hold auditions for this musical twist of Beauty and the Beast. About 30 elementary and middle-schoolers were quickly cast in the play, and rehearsals began that very evening.
The MCT tour directors, Leigha Keitsock and Nolan Davidson arrived with scenery, props and costumes, and held rehearsals every day, about 4 hours per day, culminating in a complete play performance in only 5 days.
The play opens at a county fair where Papa/Buck introduces his seven daughters. Each of these is played by two students, the younger and older sisters of Beauty Lou. The country names of the sisters are: Sally Mae (played by Waverly Peterson, Brielle Williams), Donna Rae (Jade Houston, Sophie Gottschalk), Sandy Dee (Kaylee Draney, Kayla Bushman), Barbie Lee (Robin Washburn, Mattie Andrew), Bobbie Joe (Jane Moss, Annabelle Bushman), and Little Zoe (Isabella Hendricks, Ruth Solomon).
Audiences got a fresh look at an old favorite. Beauty Lou (younger and older, played by Macie Jensen and Hailey Kelly) is the oldest daughter of the bronc-bustin’ balladeer Buck (Tour director Nolan Davidson). At the local county fair, young Beauty Lou is upset by the ungrateful behavior of a miner (Josiah Huwe) who has won the blue ribbon for his beautiful roses. She calls him a beast and wishes upon a wishbone that he would look like one too.
Beauty then meets her imaginary friend (Sarah Muhlestein).
Years later, Hoping to win enough money to save the family farm, Buck sets off for the rodeo.Buck meets the miner-turned-beast after he steals a rose for Beauty Lou. She then agrees to befriend the Beast to save her family.
Beauty Lou and the Beast both learn to look beyond appearances and first impressions and to see the beauty that dwells inside.
Beauty Lou then un-wishes her wish upon a wishbone and turns the Beast back into a real person, who she realizes has been her imaginary friend all along, and is no longer invisible.
The musical was well-prepared, funny, cute, and the singing was joyful.
Jane Moss, who played the older Bobbie Joe, said, “I had such a great time. This is my first time doing this, I loved being on stage and making new friends.” She also stated tour directors Leigha and Nolan are fun, and they connected well with the kids.
Kent and Natalie Bennion were in attendance to watch their son Hunter perform as Dusty the farmhand.
“I could not stop laughing!” Natalie said. “The show was fun and cute. I didn’t know Hunter was an actor until tonight.”
Be sure to attend the next MVPAC sponsored event. The community Easter program will be held March 18, 7pm at Mack Lyon Middle School auditorium. Admission to this performance will be free.
