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Cast and crew members of the Chisago Lakes High School fall musical, Beauty and the Beast, have already put in countless hours preparing for this year’s production and opening night is still a week away.

On Monday, as most district students enjoyed the day off of school, actors, musicians and technical crew members of Beauty and the Beast assembled for a rehearsal that went well into the evening hours.

Director Dave Seaburg told the students it could be a long night, as he expected them to hold a complete rehearsal of act one by night’s end.

“Be ready to stay past 7 p.m. – if that’s not okay, let me know now,” Seaburg told the cast and crew. The start of rehearsal included just a few brief minutes to try on clothes from the wardrobe supplies to see what fit and what was appropriate for each character in the musical.

It was the cast’s first rehearsal with live music, which will include piano and percussion throughout the play.

As the cast worked to perfect their lines, singing and choreography, the sound crew worked on balancing the music with the dialogue, while coordinating with the lighting and set crews.

The CLHS production of Beauty and the Beast will contain many of the same scenes, dialogue and songs that made the Disney version a huge hit, but audiences will also be pleasantly surprised to see additions that make the live musical truly unique.

Performances of Beauty and the Beast are Thursday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 19. Tickets are on sale at Wally’s BP station, Hwy. 8, in Lindstrom, and at the ticket window at the Performing Arts Center at the high school.

Participants in the musical are, cast: Anna Morris (Belle), Dan Hazel (Beast), Tyler Berg, Adam Bettcher, Brittany Bettcher, Stephen Boeh, Riley Cavannaugh, Angie Craig, Andrea Danielzuk, Chuck Doehr, Sam Duncan, Kristen Flanagan, Brittany Gadbois, Kurt Hattenberger, Johanna Hawkinson, Ryan Holmquist, Aaron Holt, Lindsey Johnson, Teresa Kemp, Kelly Langer, Christina Leaf, Kristin Lee, Rachel Lundberg, Jared Martin, Max Molina, Allison Mondville, Jeni Mondville, Destiny Peltier, Stacey Peterson, Alyssa Savino, Lauren Seaburg, Cami Sells, James Taylor, Heather Vogel, Alexandra Ward, Alyssa Ward, Kristine Weise, Ross Wolf. Crew: Allie Alldritt, Casey Andrus, Katie Christensen, Jessie Fiene, Brittany Flom, Juana Halker, Becca Harmon, Erin Kampa, Ethan Karwand, Bre Larson, Sophia Loosbrock, Gus Molina, Nicole Rodriguez, Madeline Simmons and Becky Vogel.

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