(Troy Dill-Reese as Beast and Hannah Reitter as Belle)
(Last month, by invitation, the cast performed the Beauty and the Beast Preview at the Campus Martius 2013 Kidz Summer Series event.)
The Birmingham-based Project DayDream will present the musical Beauty and the Beast July 18 and 19 at Seaholm High school (2436 W. Lincoln St., Birmingham). The production is performed entirely by 70 students ages 5 to 18 from all over the Detroit metro area; and is being directed by Project DayDream Founder and President Tiffany Victoria Sims, with musical direction by Megan Higle.
Hannah Reitter, 18, of Ferndale plays the brainy and beautiful Belle, who yearns to escape her provincial life and her brute of a suitor, Gaston (Thomas Montgomery of Southfield). Belle gets more adventure than she bargained for when she becomes a captive in the Beast’s (Troy Dill-Reese, 18, of Ferndale) enchanted castle.
The production is part of Project DayDream’s “Season of Dreams Series” and will include a score with favorites such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Be Our Guest” and “Belle.”
Beauty and the Beast imparts a lesson that Project DayDream embraces and shares with their cast and audience: that very different people find strength in one another and learn how to love.
“This is the 4th Project DayDream show I have participated in, and it is by far the most fun,” said 8th grade Troy Boulan student Tyler Bouque, who plays LeFou.
“The costumes are amazing, and I love all of the songs from this Disney favorite,” said Victoria Armenio, 17, of Royal Oak’s Shrine High School, who plays Mrs. Potts.
Now celebrating its 10th year, Project DayDream is committed to providing unique performing arts opportunities to families and communities.
“Our work is inspired by the belief that the arts produce phenomenal impacts within the lives of individuals and communities–leaving behind the most awe-inspiring fingerprints humanity has ever seen,” said Sims.
Beauty and the Beast marks the group’s 53rd production. PDD’s fall production is already on the calendar; A Little Princess will be performed October 18 & 19.
Curtain rises on Beauty and the Beast at 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.projectdaydream.org or at www.facebook.com/projectdaydreaminc. or can be purchased at the door.
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