High school musical

Disney writers couldn't have crafted a better script. Take a girl who always wanted to be a princess, team her with the seasoned teenaged thespian and the high school jock who managed a lead role and it almost sounds like a reworking of "High School Musical."

A Disney musical it is, but before one starts thinking that Troy and Gabriella are the stars, think again. It's Bartlett High School's production of "Beauty and the Beast," onstage this weekend.

More than 100 students will appear onstage, while more than 30 individuals will be part of the technical crew. Add the orchestra members who will perform the score and you have nearly 150 individuals in the Hawk community participating in "Beauty and the Beast."

"Just moving the numbers of people on and off the stage, getting them where they need to be is the biggest challenge for this production," said Marsha Vanek, Bartlett physical education instructor and play choreographer. "The musical numbers are long with large numbers of people so that poses a difference too."

Also working on the show are choral director Gay Rupert, and staff members Jennifer Nazar, Kathy Boller and Michael Schaeffer. Senior Alyssa Cannataro of Bartlett, who plays Belle, noted that having the lead female role is much different than being part of the chorus.

"You spend a lot more time being on stage," Cannataro said. "But this is everything I hoped it would be."

Playing opposite Cannataro as the Beast is senior Nathan Knox of Elgin. This is Knox's second production in which he played the male lead.

"It's less stressful this year because I know what's expected of me," Knox said. "The biggest challenge is the limits it (being a lead) puts on your schoolwork because you have to learn to manage your time well."

Playing the second male lead, Gaston, the town romancer who tries to charm and then bully Belle into marrying him, is senior Alex Thull of Bartlett, who was a starting tight end on the Hawk football team this season.

"I lost a bet with my sister, Carlie, who said if we lost in the playoffs last fall that I would have to try out for the musical," Thull said.

Although he rolled his eyes in recalling the bet, Thull was a closet singer and actor, having performed when he was younger. Surprised when he kept making callbacks, Thull was eventually cast into the role of the hunter, his size making him a perfect fit.

"I always liked singing and working with guys like Josh in the past and look to them to see what they are doing," Thull said, referring to Josh Conrad who portrays Lumiere. "Now that I'm back in this, I see how much I have missed doing this."

Rupert noted that Conrad, a senior from Bartlett, had the lead male role in the all-state high school version of the musical "Parade" in January.

"We have five students who made the all-state honors choir this year and that's the most we've ever had," Rupert said.

Only Conrad's face will be visible as he wears the costume of the candelabra, but that does not detract from his enthusiasm for the role.

"Lumiere is such a fun character," Conrad said. "He's so alive, it's so a euphoric rush to play him."

The technical aspect of the show posed a challenge because of the size and number of backdrops.

"Normally for the other musicals you only have one large set piece," said junior Eric Cooper of Hanover Park. "For this one, it was hard to find enough lighting to make the scenes come together."

And, yes, there will be flying effects when the kitchen objects become enchanted.

"It's pretty much a system of pulleys and cables," said junior Danny Faczek of Carol Stream. "Everyone thinks it's so complicated, but it's a cool effect for sure."

If you go

What: "Beauty and the Beast"

When: 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: Auditorium at Bartlett High School, 701 Schick Road, Bartlett

Tickets: $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, and $7 for students

Call: (630) 837-8817 or (630) 372-4700, ext. 4602