All-school musical auditions begin Aug. 30

Students+will+read+selections+from+the+script+of+Beauty+and+the+Beast+as+part+of+their+audition.

Jaren Tankersley

Students will read selections from the script of “Beauty and the Beast” as part of their audition.

Auditions for the school-wide musical “Beauty and the Beast” will begin Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. in the auditorium, with callbacks scheduled for the following day. Audition materials will be available beginning Tuesday, Aug. 24 in room 1413 and room 1407.

Auditions will consist of singing a short selection for either chorus or lead roles, followed by a brief reading from the script and a dance audition. The musical, based on the Disney movie of the same name, originally opened on Broadway and features music from the original Academy Award-winning film score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman.

“The basic storyline is very, very close,” theater teacher David Yirak said. “It follows the movie very well. You just have to accept the fact that there are going to be costumes and you’re going to see people’s faces, like for the wardrobe, or the clock Cogsworth, but other than that, most of the same elements are there.”

To help the audience adapt, an emphasis will be placed on characterization through song.

We’re looking for that big, breakout voice that really sells the character.

— Brandon Farren, Choir Director

“We’re looking for that big, breakout voice that really sells the character, both in the way that they present their monologue and in the way they sing their song,” choir director Brandon Farren said. “At callbacks especially, I love to see what kids start to do vocally with the little snippets of solos we have.”

Beauty and the Beast first appeared in movie format in 1991, making it a much newer musical than some previous Canyon High School productions, such as 2013’s White Christmas, which first appeared in 1954.

“I think when everybody gets into this rehearsal process, this music is going to be very accessible, as opposed to maybe something that’s really challenging,” assistant choir Director Kelli Harter said. “This is very lyrical with lots of lush melodies and harmonies, and that’s going to be a lot of fun for everybody to learn.”