Cover photo by Valory Schoenecker of Murphy News Service.
By Valory Schoenecker/Murphy News Service
Amid the wooden stage props, timeless Disney music and eager teenagers, Robbinsdale Cooper High School’s Theatre Director Gretchen Wurzer was reminding the cast members recently that they will have a real audience soon — Thursday, Feb. 19 to be exact.
“The biggest challenge in this production is the size. There are a lot of students with a variety of vocal and dance experience,” Wurzer said.
The Robbinsdale Cooper High School theatre department is preparing for the opening of its winter musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” tomorrow night at the Robbinsdale Cooper Theatre.
As the rehearsal continued Wurzer asked the cast to remember performance techniques such as matching levels, sides, and pushing beyond limits.
There was no sign of exhaustion or defeat as the students dedicated the rehearsal to perfecting their roles and fixing any errors. The auditorium was filled with high energy and positive personalities.
“These are great kids. They are outstanding citizens and I’m lucky to work with them,” Wurzer said.
The school’s first-ever production of the “Beauty and the Beast” musical will star 49 Cooper High School students from grades 9-12.
Graham Remple, a senior at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, said this is the 10th high school production in which he has acted. Wurzer said Remple’s vocal ability is extremely malleable, making it no surprise that Remple will play the lead role of the Beast.
“It will be a lot of fun,” Remple said. “I will try not to scare the little kids.”
Remple’s first play for Robbinsdale Cooper High School was during his freshman year. There were only two freshmen in the cast that year and his involvement with the program took off from there. Remple hopes to major in music performance when he attends college this fall.
Other cast members include Emma Shine (11th) as Belle, Riley Unzicker (12th) as Gaston, Seth Thompson (12th) as Lumiere, Diana Hernandez-Hernandez (12th) as Mrs. Potts, Deven Seltzer (10th) as Cogsworth, Sammy Lindquist (12th) as Babette, and Audrey Ekman (10th) as Chip.
“These kids have grown up with this story. It is interesting to see their personal flavor on characters they’ve known their whole lives,” Wurzer said.
Reporter Valory Schoenecker is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.
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If you go:
Cooper High School presents “Beauty and the Beast”
When: Feb. 19, 20, 21 at 7 p.m.
Feb. 26, 27, 28 at 7 p.m.
Feb. 21, 28 at 2 p.m.
Where: Robbinsdale Cooper Theatre
Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students/seniors
Box office: (763) 504-8535