Clay Central-Everly students to present Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"

The Everly school gymnasium promises to transform into a make-believe world filled with whimsy and romance this week when Clay Central-Everly High School students perform Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."

With close to 70 CCE students involved in the production -- and many community members also stepping forward to assist with the love story featuring Belle (Jacque Ginger ) and Beast (Kasey Kunzmann) -- Director Nancy Patrick guarantees the big show will delight young and young-at-heart alike.

"This show is going to be worth it," she said.

"A lot of the kids have come up through the ranks," Patrick said of the 50 or so CCE students on the "Beauty and the Beast" cast list. "When they were freshmen, they were in chorus. Maybe they might have had a few lines their junior year. Senior year, here they are front and center. They've all paid their dues and they've all done it, from the little to the big."

CCE's vocal music instructor is also pleased that chorus members will play such a large role in their school's annual musical this year.

"Usually when you have a chorus, it might be there for one or two songs. This is one musical where the chorus is a big, big part of the show," Patrick said. "Right away at the beginning, they're the villagers. They come back and are our guests as castle objects. The chorus then comes back again as villagers. So, they are an integral part."

The CCE teacher also believes it's important to get as many people on stage as possible -- but only if that's what they desire.

"The important thing about this show is it is student run," Patrick said, noting that the two stage managers running the show backstage are also being assisted by a multitude of other high school students who've signed on to help with set design and construction, lighting and sound, just to name a few areas. " ... We're not only saying, 'You as a performer, look what you can do,' but you can't do a show without this person on lights or this person changing sets or this person painting. Everybody is important, so there's something for everybody."

CCE's version of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" has, meanwhile, become a true community event. Parents and community members alike are readily volunteering to help with the large production, signing up to do everything from baking bread for the musical to designing the inventions seen throughout to assisting cast members with hair and makeup on performance days.

* The musical will mark the first time CCE students under Nancy Patrick's direction have presented a fourth show. Next Sunday's matinee is designed with families in mind.