The Amity Creative Theater (some old timers may prefer the term Drama Club) has been soaring since Amity Alums Rob and Andrea Kennedy took over in 2007.
They brought the best of Broadway to the stage and, in doing so, brought the best out in the students who performed in them.
The unforgettable voices of Shaylen Harger, Ally Kramer, John Jorge, Kim Simon, Connor Deane, Alida Ballou, Ken Adair, Ryan Kennedy, and of course Marty Gnidula, are among the many who are forever in our hearts as we anxiously flip through the pages of the latest Amity Bill for Beauty And The Beast, searching through the faces of the cast members. Who will “Belle” be? What will the Beast look like? Will “Gaston” be strapping and hunky? Who will the comic relief character be in this play? What kind of magic did lighting director Dan Hassenmayer create for us this year?
The lights dim, the familiar strains of Alan Menkin’s heart-stirring score rise from the orchestra pit, and there is a stillness in the audience as the stage begins to reveal a handsome prince … and so the story begins.
The lights and scenery change, as does the mood — and then — there she is! It’s her! “Mommy, that’s Belle,” gasps a little girl dressed in a yellow ball gown, “It’s her!”
From the moment Grace Lupoli, “Belle” opened her mouth and began to sing, I agreed with the excited little girl, still hugging her mother’s neck as she gazed adoringly at the real live princess just a few yards away from us. The way she sang, the way she spoke, the way she moved, Grace Lupoli was a Disney Princess — there was no doubt about it. Her voice was so beautiful and clear, and you just believed every word she uttered. I haven’t “ugly cried” at an Amity play since 2010 when Ally Kramer sang “On My Own” in Les Miserables, but Grace Lupoli brought it out in me.
Declan O’Rourke portrayed a wonderfully arrogant Gaston, and the trio of lovelies who pine for his affection is simply delightful. But the scene stealer featuring these characters was Michael Perrone, who seamlessly became Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, offering the audience endless laughs with his sight gags and line delivery.
The enchanted residents of the prince’s castle all are wonderfully talented and memorable. Each stays true to his or her accent and you feel their desperation to become human again.
I was surprised and delighted to see the “other Grace” — Grace Kennedy, as Mrs. Potts show off her ridiculously strong and beautiful singing voice, and believable acting with an English accent in every scene. Her adorable sidekick “Chip” — child actor Brooklyn Adams also made you instantly fall in love with that character.
There was nothing I didn’t like about Beauty and the Beast. Watching the cursed prince, Spencer Fiske, perform in Beast form through 99% of the play was almost like watching an episode of “The Masked Singer.” You’re so engrossed in the story, the other characters, the dance numbers, and oh, the magic of the Amity Creative Theater, make you forget that you’ve already seen his face once when the curtains rose at 8 p.m.
Like all Amity musicals, Beauty and the Beast sold out fairly quickly. If you were smart enough to buy your tickets early, then you are definitely in for a treat.
Anyone who knows me will realize that I am married to the production of Les Miserables from 2010 — I absolutely loved that show, the cast, and crew, and everything about it. But Amity has had some Amazing shows since then, Legally Blonde, Tarzan, Sweeney Todd, In The Heights, and Anastasia, But this may be the best, biggest crowd-pleaser I’ve seen in years.
When the Sondheim Awards announces its nominees this year, my bet is that Amity will be one of the top choices in each and every category. If it doesn’t nab the Best Musical, best actress, best actor, supporting actor, supporting actress, outstanding lighting, orchestra, direction, costumes, sound, etc, etc, etc, then something is wrong.
Outstanding Job, Amity! Best of luck in the future to everyone.
NOTE: All photos are from the ACT Facebook page, and they were shot by the extremely talented Sydney Sheehan.