First major production planned for theater at new Peters Township High School
Throughout the winter of 2020, Peters Township High School theater students worked on getting their production of the musical “Big Fish” ready for audiences.
“We were basically four days away from performing,” director Ray Cygrymus recalled, when the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic shut down nearly everything. “It was very devastating. My heart went out to all the seniors, particularly, who never got to do the performance.”
This winter, students are preparing for “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical” in the state-of-the-art auditorium at the new high school.
“It’s basically a big, huge spectacle,” Cygrymus said. “We wanted this opportunity to show off the new auditorium and what it can do in the capabilities of sound and lighting, and just the space that we have.”
Students, faculty and staff members moved from the former high school in January 2021, and a small-scale theater production, “Songs for a New World,” took place a few months later.
“Because of the limitations of COVID and social distancing, we picked that show because it’s mostly solos and duets, and it’s a small cast,” Cygrymus said.
For 2022, the cast of “Beauty and the Beast” features 81 students, backed up by more than 20 of their classmates working behind the scenes.
“The kids are very, very excited, and we’ve assembled a fabulous cast,” their director said. “They’re super talented. They’re super hard-working, which, to me, is even more important than the talent.”
For the public performances, scheduled for March 17-20, the students will don “pretty much Broadway-quality” costumes for their portrayals of various anthropomorphic characters, such as Lumiere the candelabrum, Cogsworth the clock, and Chip the teacup and his mother, Mrs. Potts.
Regarding the high school theater, one of its capabilities is allowing for the placement of substantial scenery backdrops. For example, beauty Belle’s sojourn into the woods will be set against a suitably frightening forest, and villain Gaston’s hangout will look like an old-timey tavern.
In terms of the sound quality, the theater features an array of strategically placed panels to augment what transpires onstage. And the accompanying orchestra sets up in a separate room, with an audio feed to the theater soundboard, allowing for significant volume and balance control.
Along with the regularly scheduled performances of “Beauty and the Beast” will be the opportunity for the show’s understudies to demonstrate their talents. And at 4 p.m. March 19 is a “Be Our Guest” meet-and-greet event, with the proceeds benefiting Peters Township High School’s Thespian Troupe 185.
Cast members include Andrew Rothhaar as the Beast/Prince Adam; Emma Fink, Belle; Aidan Cheek, Gaston; Nick Sampson, Lumiere; Wes Parker, Cogsworth; Brendan Bell, Maurice; Emma Hardy, Mrs. Potts; Madison Smith, Babette; Alaina Kulikowski, Chip; Alex Milchovich, Madame Wardrobe; and Austin Koerbel, LeFou.
A music specialist at McMurray Elementary School, Cygrymus is working on his 10th high school musical as director.
“I love working with the kids now that they’re older,” he said. “It’s just so cool to see them grow and see the young adults they’ve become.”
Tickets for “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical” can be purchased starting Feb. 14 at pths.ticketleap.com/beautyandthebeast. For the March 19 “Be Our Guest” event, tickets must be purchased by March 14 at ptthespianbackers.com.