Riverview To Tell "Tale As Old As Time" in Spring Musical

Be Riverview’s guest at its production of “Beauty and the Beast,” starting next weekend at the Tenth Street Elementary School auditorium.

This production, according to several cast members and those behind the scenes, is the one of the most challenging musicals to date for the school.

“This is a hard show,” said Michele Bartos, assistant director and dramatics coach. “The vocals are taxing. The choreography is taxing. Plus, there are so many sets and activities on such a small stage.”

If you’re familiar with the Disney movie or the Broadway musical, you’ll remember the elaborate characters and scenes. Inanimate objects dominate the main cast and sets, including a village, woods, castle and ballroom, present scenes like a transformation, burgeoning love and death.

“This is the biggest show I’ve been involved in at Riverview,” said Gianfranco DiPietro, a senior who’s been acting in plays at the school for six years. “The set is so intricate and this story is iconic.”

DiPietro plays the self-absorbed villain Gaston.

Aubrey Welschcox, a senior who plays Belle, said there’s extra challenge in playing a familiar character, not to mention the responsibility of being a Disney princess.

“I have to be overly dramatic like the princesses are,” she said, “but it’s fun being a character everyone knows.”

To get to know their characters and the story, the cast has been viewing the Disney movie, videos of the Broadway musical and working with directors John Paul Bertucci and Bartos.

“We repeat lines and scenes a lot,” DiPietro said. “JP works with us on our facial expressions and actions and Ms. Bartos helps with the emotions. We’re lucky to have two directors.”

DiPietro, Welschcox, and fellow leads David Saxon and Antonio Paris all said the cast has the benefit of two views of their performance with two directors.

“JP will be working with us on stage and Ms. Bartos gives her opinion from where the audience will be,” said Paris, a junior who plays Cogsworth, the Beast’s house-manager-turned-clock. “We’re able to know what the audience will see while being directed on stage.”

Paris and Saxon, a senior who plays Lumiere, the French maitre d' candelabra, both said the costumes take a bit of getting used to.

“I have to be constantly aware of my arms,” Saxon said.

As a candelabra, he has to hold his arms, which anchor two large fabric candles, up to complete the look.

Paris is completely covered head-to-toe in fabric and shuffles around the stage during his scenes.

Costume director Kris Kaiser said the task of outfitting all the characters was helped by rentals from Valley High School, which performed the story a few years ago.

“All the main characters’ costumes are rentals,” she said. “We just had to perform some alterations and then outfit the villagers.”

Kaiser said the Beast has the most elaborate costume and makeup for her team.

“He’s completely covered as the Beast,” she said. “He’ll be wearing prosthetics on his face, gloves with talons and a wig with horns.”

As of this posting, the Beast has yet to be seen in full makeup.

“It adds to the suspense for the whole cast,” Kaiser said.

With all the challenges, those involved say it’s worth it.

“This story was a good choice,” Bartos said, “and there are so many wonderful people involved.”

Paris and DiPietro said this show provided more opportunities for those in seventh, eighth and ninth grade, and they’ve been a great addition to the usually upperclassman cast of the spring musical.

“It’s amazing we’re able to put on the quality shows we do with the challenges we face, “Kaiser said. “We have a strong cast, though. They’re doing very well.”

Bartos sited parental involvement and the students’ own time management and commitment to the show, other activities and school work as reasons for successes thus far.

“The first night, during the curtain call, it’ll be indescribable how proud we’ll all be of their accomplishments here,” Bartos said.

“Beauty and the Beast” plays at the Tenth Street Elementary auditorium at 7:30 p.m. April 1, 2, 8 and 9 and at 2 p.m. April 3. Tickets are on sale Monday  through Thursday,  6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Tenth Street front lobby. The price is $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students. To reserve tickets, call 412-828-1800, ext. 1038. Any remaining tickets will be on sale before show time the day of the show.