Wylie senior Maddie Barnette got to do something most young girls dream of doing.
She got to be a Disney Princess and dance in a beautiful flowing gown with the handsome prince – or the ugly beast, depending upon where the Wylie Theatre Department was in its story.
Wylie’s High School Theatre students presented Beauty and the Beast as its annual Fall Musical in October, giving many of the students a chance to be in a Disney movie that they had grown up watching. And Maddie got to be Belle, the heroine of the story.
“She was one of my favorite princesses along with Ariel,” Mattie said. “It’s very exciting. It’s super fun.”
Fellow senior Madison Murgia had the same feeling playing one of the story’s major roles in Mrs. Potts.
“It’s definitely special to get to do something I grew up watching, and I get to be an iconic character that everyone knows,” she said. “We get to show everyone our take on a classic tale.”
Wylie’s Theatre Department has taken on numerous iconic productions in recent fall musicals, such as Grease and Footloose, but this year’s production was the most ambitious in terms of costumes and makeup.
The students had great fun dressing in elaborate costumes and putting on creative makeup. Many of the costumes were rented from a company in the Metroplex, but Wylie students did all of the makeup. Jon Baker, who played the role of Beast, especially spent a lot of time getting ready for his role.
“The costume doesn’t take that long,” he said. “The makeup is the longest part.”
The students spent months working on the production, learning songs and choreography.
Peyton Bourland, the dance captain, said some of the dances were pretty challenging, while others were easier to learn. Although Peyton has years of dance experience, she said some of the students came into early practices with no experience.
But the hard work is worth it, she said.
“It’s really fun,” she said. “Everyone did so great.”
Students in Wylie’s Tech Theatre classes made the elaborate sets, said director Chris Shoemake, Wylie’s theatre teacher. Madison said the sets turned out great.
“They did a really awesome job of hand painting everything and making it majestic and really fanciful and bringing the show to life,” she said.
Students who played a role included Maddie Barnette, Madison Murgia, Jon Baker, Melissa Huffines, Katie Garcia, Nic Pitman, Casey Jeter, Cooper Barnett, Eric Evans, Sophie Marcelain, Jared Vos Winkel, Corban Gililland, Kathlyn Messer, Anna Claire Boone, Rebecca Smith, Cassidy Coker, Olivia McCain and Abby French.
Members of ensembles included Alexis Gomez, Will Ochs, Jared Stamey, Earron Pye, Mackenzie Gilmore, Carlie Cooper, Avery Beard, Kobe George, Josh Shuler, Isaac Olson, Ashley Fenton, Peyton Bourland, Ashley Burns, Conor Widder, Frida Sundstrom, Thomas Javins, Dalli Albus, Marley Gamble, Kilyn Smith, Anna Javins, Jade Henning, Anisha Moolapuri and Rachel Butler.
Members of the crew were Nicole Wilkins, Peyton Bourland, Jillian Ruiz, Grace Neupane, Emma Gates, Graeme Reagan, Rachel Draper and the Tech Theatre classes.
Choir directors Brittany Gurganus and Robin Davis directed the music and Teri Wilkerson did the choreography.