What a joy it's been to experience my first year as part of the Renaissance Players team! I can honestly say that I have been blown away by the tremendous amount of support for this program. From the production team, to the administration, to the parents, the passion and dedication of the Renaissance community is truly unparalleled. I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of making this show happen!
Renaissance Players is a unique program, in that our students rehearse for the entire school year, but only one day per week. This structure presents some benefits, but it also comes with its own challenges. While it may seem like we have more time to put the show together, we actually end up with dramatically fewer rehearsal hours than you would find in a typical production schedule. This means that our actors are required to spend significant time in practice and preparation between rehearsals. And let me tell you, this group of students rose to the challenge! I am especially proud of how much they've grown this year as thoughtful, independent actors - building character studies, making strong choices, working to motivate their actions, and following their instincts. Thank you so much to all of our actors for your willingness to try new things and embrace the process!
Our vision for Beauty and the Beast was to create a production that pays homage to the original Disney version, while also lending itself to a slightly more realistic take. Our costume and wig/makeup team did an amazing job of setting the scene by researching period clothing and creating renderings that support the fantasy and whimsy of the story without being overly caricaturistic. Our ultimate goal was to focus on building authentic characters and relationships, making the story feel more relatable to all of us as it takes us on a journey of transformation.
Just as Beauty and the Beast is a show about transformation, our cast and crew have transformed together as a team over the course of this year. We have worked together to bring this "tale as old as time" to life, and I am proud of each and every person involved. I pray that we will move forward in a continual process of transformation - always learning, growing, and striving to improve. And may each one of you be transformed by this production as well - inspired to dream, to love, and to find beauty in all things.
Enjoy the show!
Warmly,
Ms. Annie
Renaissance Players would like to give special thanks to the following: Renaissance Academy, Oxford Virtual Academy, Amanda Williams, the Concordia University Theater Department, South Church Lansing, Debbie Trotter, Danny DiNardo, and The Village Theater of Cherry Hill.
