Grayslake high schools to perform musical together

The rivalry between sports teams at Grayslake Central and North high schools is nonexistent in the theater, noted Daina Fischer, a senior at Grayslake North.

The bond that has formed on stage between the students will be showcased as both schools put on "Beauty and the Beast" tonight through Sunday.

"Without having that strong bond, we would not be able to put on such beautiful shows," Fischer said. "Every person is so talented. I respect every one of them."

Grayslake North opened in 2004. Because of enrollments, neither school could hold independent theatrical productions.

Next year, Grayslake North and Central schools will hold shows independent of each other. The musical will stay combined.

Carson Will, a freshman at Grayslake North, said the change will be good and bad.

"It's good because we get a little bit more opportunity to get certain parts," he said. "But you don't see all the other people you already got used to."

There are challenges with trying to put together students from two different schools and two different schedules. But the kids are used to working this way.

"I never even thought about separation as being a problem. It is a good thing to see my friends from North. There is no competition at all," said Josh Wittenkeller, a junior at Grayslake Central.

Because North does not have a large theater, Abby Hackbert, a junior at Grayslake North, said it is nice the two schools still combine.

"It is very generous of both sides to come together. I love this stage," she said.

Renee Gugel, fine arts department chair for Grayslake School District 127 and director of the musical, said her goal is to create a community theater, a place for people to go not only because they know someone in the cast. She selected "Beauty and the Beast" because parents will want to bring kids.

"It's a neat way to start the connection," she said.

The stage version of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" includes all of the songs from the film plus new songs written for the Broadway version.

In the story, Belle, played by Hackbert, lives with her father, an inventor.

When Belle's father doesn't return from a trip to the local fair, Belle rushes off to find him. She discovers he is being held captive in an old castle by a beast, played by Josh Rubietta. She trades her freedom for his and the tale begins.

Many of the familiar objects come to life in the Beast's castle including Lumiere, played by Patrick Reed; Cogsworth, played by Richie Starzec; Chip, played by Jeff Wright; and Mrs. Potts, played by Fischer.

"She plays an important role with the beast," Fischer said. "She helps to bring out the softness and inner beauty of the Beast for Belle."

Among the villains is D'arque, played by Wittenkeller. D'Arque and Gaston, played by Ben Johnson, work up a plan to capture Belle's father to get Belle to marry Gaston.

Belle eventually tames the Beast and he ultimate transforms into a prince. Hackbert said Belle shows to be a kind person who tries to accept everyone as they are.

"It shows you can fall in love with someone who is hairy," she said.

"Beauty and the Beast" brings such an important message, Gugel said.

"Beauty is skin deep. Learn to care about people for who they are inside rather than what they look like outside," she said.

If you go

What: "Beauty and the Beast"

Where: Grayslake Central High School, 400 N. Lake St.

When: 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $8 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens. Save $2 per ticket if tickets are purchased in advance

Details: Call Grayslake Central at (847) 986-3300 or visit www.d127.org