NW Valley Times

Students at Grand Canyon University have been preparing for the upcoming production of "Beauty and the Beast" at Ethington Theatre. The audition process began two months ago, with students showcasing their talents in acting, singing, and dancing.

Choreographer Madison Strider guided participants during callbacks by saying, "I need you to do it like the guy you like is in front of you." Director Cynthia Calhoun explained her thought process during auditions: “'Do I want to see them again?' is what I am thinking with each audition.” She emphasized the importance of not performing a piece from the actual production to avoid biasing the director's vision.

Junior theatre major Thomas Heggem shared his perspective on confidence: “Know yourself, know what you are good and not good at, focus on your strengths and play into those.” The auditions included dance routines judged by Strider and vocal performances evaluated by Music Director Mark Fearey. He instructed candidates to use a muffled British accent for characters such as Gaston, Lafou, and Lumiere.

Junior Sophie Ford expressed excitement about auditioning for "Beauty and the Beast," stating, “Since the second they announced it was 'Beauty and the Beast,' I wanted to audition.”

The show opens tonight at 7:30 p.m., kicking off a two-weekend run. It will feature more than 40 cast members bringing Disney's classic story to life.