Middle school actresses perform ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in new venue

By Maya Wernick, Voices Editor|May 18, 2018

Photo credit: Maya Wernick

Willow Stein ’22 performs as Beast in the middle school production of “Beauty and the Beast.” The students performed three shows at American Jewish University.

It’s a tale as old as time.

On May 12 and 13, the middle school production of “Beauty and the Beast” took place at American Jewish University [AJU].

The Archer middle school watched the show Friday, May 11. Due to the construction, this was the first time a middle school production has been held at AJU, where the Archer dance shows are held annually.

Unlike the restricted nature of the former Blackbox theater, the actresses were able to move up and down stairs and go through doors and wells on the set’s multi-tiered stage.

Isabelle Verdery ’23, who played Belle, said that the cast was in awe when seeing the sets for the first time on the “really, really big stage.”

“When we got to see the set; it was amazing,” she said. “It’s really fun to [perform] on. There’s a lot of energy.”

This was Verdery’s first Archer performance and “it has made [her] want to continue [Archer theater] for a really long time.”

Please see below for a gallery of photos from the show.

  • Willow Stein ’22 and Isabella Verdery ’23 pause before dancing together at the end of the show. This was Verdery’s first Archer performance.

    Photo credit: Maya Wernick
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  • Paola Hoffman ’22, who played Gaston. and Lucy Lassman ’23, who played LeFou. discuss Gaston’s plans to woo Belle. This was Hoffman’s last performance in Archer middle school theater.

    Photo credit: Maya Wernick
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  • Isabelle Verdery ’23 cradles Willow Stein ’22 as the Beast struggles with guilt and sadness. Pictured here is an interactive part of the set in which actresses were able to stand on and jump in and out of.

    Photo credit: Maya Wernick
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  • Some of the cast of Beauty and the Beast, encluding the ensemble. The cast did three performances on the weekend and one for the entire Archer middle school.

    Photo credit: Maya Wernick
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  • Paola Hoffman ’22 proposes to Isabella Verdery ’23. Throughout the show Gaston attempted to win Belle’s heart in various ways.

    Photo credit: Maya Wernick
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