Fox Valley Rep to collect books at 'Beauty and the Beast' performances
"Be our guest" for a "tale as old as time!" Filled with singing, dancing, humor and suspense, Beauty and the Beast is a beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another and learning how to love.
Get lost in the tale of brainy and beautiful Belle, her brutish suitor, Gaston, and the frightening, but tender-hearted Beast as the cast of Fox Valley Repertory Performing Arts Academy's advanced auditon-only spring musical will be performing an hour-long adaptation of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" on May 19-20 on the Pheasant Run Resort's Mainstage in St. Charles.
Samantha Marlowe, 9, of St. Charles remarks, "I like being in the Beauty and the Beast show because it was a favorite movie of mine when I was a kid, and the story and music are wonderful."
When asked her favorite part of being in Beauty and the Beast, Christina Calbeck, 9, of South Elgin states, "Making new friends and rehearsing scenes!"
Along with preparing for the show, the children are collecting donations of gently used or new books for children in the Chicago area who share in Belle's love of reading, but do not have books of their own through Bernie's Book Bank. Bernie's Book Bank is a non-profit organization funded entirely by generous individuals and caring companies. Founded in December of 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has collected over 500,000 books and distributed them to more than 35,000 children in it's first two years. In 2012, Bernie's Book Bank will collect, process and redistribute more than 600,000 children's books and expand the number of children served to 50,000. By 2013, we plan to be distributing 1 million books per year in the Chicago area alone, and then to expand to other cities.
"I love reading! It gives me imagination, and it's good for you!" says Carolyn Calbeck, 8, of South Elgin.
Cast member, Kaitlyn Crowell, 8, of St. Charles says, "I find a lot of fun and adventure in reading. I think it's great to give books to other kids so they can have fun and adventure, too!"
Admission to the performance is free, but the cast will be accepting donations of gently used children's books to be transported to Bernie's Book Bank in Lake Forest following the final performance. Books for infants, toddlers and all school-aged children are requested. In addition, as a non-profit organization, the FVR Academy accepts cash donations in lieu of admission to provide scholarships to local children who would not otherwise be able to participate in their programs.
Education Manager Tracy Whiteside has been teaching and directing children at FVR since 2006. "This is the largest cast we have ever had for a kids audition-only production. Our program continues to grow by leaps and bounds. I have really challenged the kids with the dancing in this show, so they are working extra hard. The show will be amazing thanks to the talent of the cast!"
"Beauty and the Beast Jr." will be presented with two casts in four performances. Showtimes for the "Hugs" cast will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19 and 11 a.m. Sunday, May 20. Showtimes for the "Kisses" cast will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 20. Both performances will take place on the Pheasant Run Mainstage and are free of charge.
Beauty and the Beast Cast members include: Kaitlyn Crowell, Katie Das, Kristen Das, Erika Denker, Keira Denker, Jamie Dowat, Heidi Heinz, Amelia Kuhlman, Nicole Luzi, and Samantha Marlowe, all of of St. Charles; Rhea Chandran, Macy Dressel, Kaia Ebel, Maya Hawkins, Rachel Lawrence, Reese Lydon, and Caroline Wenokur, all of Geneva; Christina Calbeck, Carolyn Calbeck, Cameron Conforti, and Taylor Sebesta, all of South Elgin; Jenna Kraus, Morgan Miller and Mary Kate Griffin, all of Elburn; Haley Hughes and Stephanie Skrabacz, both of Bartlett; Ceci Yasell of Elgin; Anna Laurich of Aurora; Madeline Hotham of Batavia; Hayley Troyan of Hanover Park; and Brenna D'Amico of Plainfield.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and is sponsored in part by Kane County Chronicle.
The Fox Valley Repertory Performing Arts Academy features some of the Chicago area's most respected teachers, directors and musicians. Classes are available for ages 3-18. For more information, visit www.foxvalleyrep.org/education or call (630) 364-0550.