Cast of Beauty and the Beast share the difficulties of “hell week”

Cassie Shaurette, Photographer|February 19, 2016

The set for Beauty and the Beast is completed and only a few last-minute updates are being made.

Staying at school after the dismissal bell and then leaving at 9 p.m. generally does not sound appealing to many students at Homestead, and although it is not preferred, it is certainly necessary for anyone involved in this year’s musical production of Beauty and the Beast.

The week leading up to opening night is referred to as “tech week,” but because of the grueling hours and difficult work that accompany opening night, the week is known by many as “hell week.”

Practice for those involved in the musical starts at 3 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m., but it can often run even later. “There are times when the cast members stay until 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m. desperately trying to get things done the day before opening, and I have to kick everyone out because they need to get their sleep,” Ms. Amelia Figg-Franzoi, drama teacher, said.

The actors are the ones who feel most of the stress during “hell week” because they must continuously study their lines until they have them memorized perfectly during this final preparation before the show.

According to Dominick Cole, senior, who is playing the Beast, “Tech week is ‘hell week.’ It exemplifies the rigors and fast-paced tempo of a performance. Every cue, line and note that we have is strictly enforced, and it is tough emotionally and physically.”

All of chamber orchestra and some band members are in pit to provide the music that is heard throughout the musical. While the musical is going on, the longest period that the pit goes without playing is only about 3-4 minutes, which is why countless hours of practice are needed by the members of pit because their role to provide music during the entire show is crucial.

“I think that because we are non stop working every single day that yes it can seem a little hellish because there is so much going on that I sometimes just feel overwhelmed,” Jazi Manetti, junior, said.

Those in charge of hair and makeup also find this to be a very busy time because at the start of practice there is a rush to get the actors dressed and ready to rehearse, but once they start rehearsing everything quiets down. “A lot of actors will come up to you needing their makeup done, but you need to prioritize between those who are leads and those who aren’t,” Katherine Glueckert, junior and head of makeup, said.

Set designers are busy for other reasons worrying about how the set is going to hold up with the actors constantly walking on it. “The most stressful part of this week is trying to make sure that your set does not fall apart after it has gone through weeks of people walking and dancing on it,” Lonnae Hickman, junior and head set designer, said.

However, this week is not only challenging for the students, but also for Ms. Figg who directs and choreographs the entire musical. “It depends on the show, but traditionally the directors and I spend more time on the show than the actors because we’re here working with the crew. I’m constantly making adjustments for the play, and I put in at least 10 to 12 hours for it. On Tuesday morning I arrived at school at 5 p.m. to work on the cue cards,” Ms. Figg said.

To provide a break from the constant madness that is practice, a 30-minute dinner break is given for all cast, crew and pit. Dinner is sometimes provided by the school, such as on Tuesday the Feb. 9 when Jimmy John’s was served, Monday the Feb. 15 when Tellos was served and Tuesday the Feb. 16 when Pizza Hut was served.

Among all the craziness of “hell week,” there are designated dress-up days to help bring awareness to the musical and provide something fun for the members to bond over. Monday was pajama day, Tuesday was wacky day, Wednesday was Disney day, Thursday was formal day and Friday was t-shirt day, in which Beauty and the Beast shirts were made and given out to those involved in the production.

Although the musical can be very stressful, it is planned to be a great production that many people, both cast and audience, are looking forward to. “It is a very stressful week because there is a lot of stuff going on at the same time, but this is the part that is the most fun because everyone bonds the most,” Alo Delgado, senior and helper with costumes and hair, said.