Johnstown Drama Club presents “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” March 3, 4 & 5

* UPDATE (as of 3/2) – Friday’s performance has been moved up to 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., to try and avoid the incoming snow.

 

a group of teenaged actors pose together in costume on a theatrical set

Johnstown Drama Club will present “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” this weekend with performances on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. The show will take place at the Johnstown Performing Arts Center (JPAC) at the Jr.-Sr. High School (1 Sir Bills Circle, Johnstown, NY 12095).

teenaged members of a theatrical crew pose on a piece of the set to a play, on a stageGeneral admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door on in advance online at:  https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/70430 

Ashley Polidore is the director and choreographer. Jeanine LoDestro is the director’s assistant. Michael Bevington and Abigail McCann-Loomis are the musical directors. 

This year’s performance is dedicated to Christopher DeConno, a GJSD teacher who passed away suddenly on December 26, 2022, at the age of 34, just prior to the start of rehearsals for “Beauty and the Beast.” In her director’s note from this year’s playbill, Polidore writes, “The cast rallied together and decided that we would go forward with the show in his honor, and I could not be more proud of the work they have done. Every breath of what you are about to see is for Chris. We loved him more than words can say.” Prior to his passing, DeConno spent many hours on developing plans for the set of the show. He is posthumously credited as the set designer for “Beauty and the Beast.”

three photos, side by side, of characters in costume from a play

characters from a play pose in costume on a theatrical stage

Top Row (L to R): Alex DeMagistris (Beast), Natalie Williams (Belle), Molly Young (Babette), Jayden Elston (Lumiere), Ally Salamack (Mrs. Potts), Lindsay Sweet (Chip). Bottom Row (L to R): Autumn Kurtz ( Madame De La Grande Bouche), Ian Yucha (Cogsworth), Trey Naselli (Lefou), DJ Long (Gaston), Tyler Hutchison (Maurice).

a logo for Disney's Beauty and the Beast

CAST LIST:

  • Belle – Natalie Williams 
  • Beast – Alex DeMagistris
  • Gaston – DJ Long
  • Lefou – Trey Naselli
  • Maurice – Tyler Hutchison
  • Lumiere – Jayden Elston
  • Mrs. Potts – Ally Salamack
  • Cogsworth – Ian Yucha
  • Babette – Molly Young
  • Madame De La Grande Bouche – Autumn Kurtz
  • Chip – Lindsay Sweet
  • La Fille De La Ville 1/Enchantress/Napkin – Maya LaCoppola
  • La Fille De La Ville 2/Napkin – Nicole Wendolski
  • La Fille De La Ville 3/Napkin – Mercedes Milby
  • Monsieur D’Arque/Wolf – Gus Fagan
  • Narrator/Marie/Napkin – Ayla Naselli
  • Young Prince/Candle Maker – Mars Smith
  • Bookseller/Wolf/Gargoyle – Keegan Elston
  • Baker – Claudio Montano
  • Flower Seller – Michael Crisafulli Jr.
  • Shepherd – Jenna Cheney
  • Tavern Master – Crickett Antis
  • Laundry Lady – Alice Tomchik
  • Milkmaid – Emily Anderson
  • Sausage Curl Lady – Carly Smrtic
  • Hat Seller – Madison Barter
  • Crony – Willow David
  • Napkin/Wolf – Ayaka Sasaki
  • Napkin/Wolf – Kirsten Draper
  • Ensemble:  Emily Anderson, Crickett Antis, Madison Barter, Jenna Cheney, Michael Crisafulli Jr., Willow David, Kirsten Draper, Keegan Elston, Gus Fagan, Maya LaCoppola, Mercedes Milby, Claudio Montano, Ayla Naselli, Ayaka Sasaki, Mars Smith, Carly Smrtic, Alice Tomchik, Nicole Wendolski

CREW LIST:

  • Stage Manager – Axel Richter 
  • Crew – Oscar Amador Jr., Claire Anderson, Garrett Bobowski, Sophia Dittmer, Hannah Maxson, Madison Milby, Eugene Shaw, Alannah Sheckton, Radcliff Williams

Tags: ,