articles

A Tale As Old As Time...

Disney's Heartwarming Classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Comes to Life on Stage at StarStruck Theatre

June 23, 2016
How do you create a human clock with swinging pendulum, a talking candelabra with real wicks, a singing armoire, a full dinner party of human napkins and salt & pepper shakers and then top it off with a gnarly beast complete with fangs and wild hair? You immediately contact professional, local costume designer Beverly Millet. Ms. Millet has been a member of StarStruck’s professional production team for several years. Her award-winning designs have graced many stages and have wowed audiences with her creative use of color and fabric. StarStruck’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be a unique challenge in that she has only 3 weeks to complete her designs and craftsmanship.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST first appeared in animated format in November 1991. Then it made its Broadway debut in April 1994. Disney has recently announced the opening of a live action film to be released in March 2017. Martin County audiences will have an opportunity to see it live on stage at StarStruck June 23-26, 2016.

StarStruck’s popular summer programs began in 2000 with a production of GUYS & DOLLS. Since then, StarStruck has grown in every way in 16 years and now boasts a series of summer programs including year-round classes in every aspect of the performing arts: dance, acting, musical theatre performance, scenic construction and backstage crew.

Each summer is highlighted with a fully staged musical production that is rehearsed and performed on stage in StarStruck’s 200-seat state-of-the-art performance facility. Audience members weary of sitting through a “children’s theatre production” need not fear. So many happy StarStruck theatre patrons frequently boast that StarStruck productions are “better than Broadway.” Under the skillful artistic direction of Jennifer Jones, the young artists at StarStruck are surrounded by an adult, professional staff. The students are treated as professional actors, and the results are astonishing.

StarStruck is the recipient of several international awards for their presentations at Music Theatre International’s (MTI) Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta. StarStruck is a pilot school for MTI working in tandem with Broadway composers to help create student versions of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, RENT, SWEENEY TODD, DR. DOOLITTLE, HAIRSPRAY, CHILDREN OF EDEN, MY SON PINNOCHIO, and many more. Through this relationship, students get the unbelievable opportunity to work directly with these composers.

StarStruck alumni are represented at the nations top universities for musical theatre performance as well as several top law schools including: NYU Tisch, Carnegie Mellon, Pace University, Duke University, Elon, Davidson, University of Southern California, Boston Conservatory and more.To learn more about StarStruck, visit www.StarStruckFL.com.