Many people know the story of a young, beautiful girl who falls in love with a beast in a castle full of living objects. This classic tale, Beauty and the Beast, will be brought to life at Homestead High School on Feb. 18 through Feb. 20, at 7 p.m., and on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. The musical is directed and choreographed by Ms. Amelia Figg-Franzoi, drama teacher.

Ms. Figg is ecstatic to be making Beauty and the Beast come to life. “It (Beauty and the Beast) is one of my favorite Disney movies, and so doing it as a musical has been exciting–challenging beyond belief, but really cool.”

Ms. Figg is putting her own spin on the film by adding more dancing and her own choreography. “One thing that is really cool with this musical is that Beauty and the Beast has a lot of dancing to begin with, but I’ve added a lot more in regards to that,” she said.

For example, “[In] the prologue, where it is supposed to be the enchantress trying to give the rose that changes him (the prince) into a beast, has turned into a modern dance number now, so there is seven girls on stage dancing and you have this massive transformation scene,” according to Ms. Figg.

Mari Duckler, senior, plays Belle, and Dominick Cole, senior, plays the beast. Making the leading roles of such a popular story one’s own can be difficult, but these students own the stage. Duckler said, “I am the most excited I have ever been.”

Although the auditorium doesn’t look like much now, by opening night, the stage will be transformed into a beautiful ballroom. Andrea Griffin, freshman on stage crew, said, “There is going to be a breakaway railing for the beast to fall through.”

“Experience a moment in time where a fairy tale becomes a reality not only for the actors but for the audience,” Cole said. “It is not a show. It is an experience.”