Donald
Teuma-CastellettI
NORWAY BAY July 21, 2017
The Centennial Hall in Norway Bay was transformed into a musical theatre last Friday evening, as it welcomed the community for a production of a classic tale.
Presented by the Norway Bay Municipal Association (NBMA) Musical Theatre Workshop, the production of Selections from Beauty and the Beast brought out well over 130 people and was met with cheers, whistles and laughs all throughout.
Bringing the timeless scenes alive onstage, and at times, through the audience, everyone saw their favourite characters, from Belle and Beast to Gaston, and of course, the talking furniture, portrayed by Norway Bay young actors.

The unbelievable part? No lip syncing.
Accompanied by the instrumental backgrounds, all songs were sung by the kids, as they twirled and danced in their well-constructed, homemade costumes.
“We decide [the play] in February or March,” said Sarah Murray, play coordinator, of when planning begins.
From there, Maya Harris-Harb, the play supervisor, begins her planning and brainstorming ideas of how she can bring scenes to life. With the choice of this production, the immediate reaction was pure excitement and they had no issues getting enough people to fill the roles.
By the time the summer roles around, the actors and actresses have only three weeks to memorize their lines and movements. The group would meet for two hours of the workshop everyday, but for a busy community of kids that generally work and play most of the day together at various programs, they had plenty of time to practice their songs as they went about their activities.
Murray used the actress for Lefou, Taylor McFadden, as a shining example of this. McFadden would go through her days running from event to event, sometimes swimming, biking, acting and canoeing all in one day, all the while practicing her songs with the other actors who did the same throughout.
Murray praised Harris-Harb’s vision and direction for the play as crucial for pulling it all off. Working diligently behind-the-scenes, Harris-Harb managed the 22 young actors, as well as stage hands, through to the final performance, gliding through with as few hiccups as possible.
“I think I’m most proud of how the parents and community came together to make the costumes and set,” said Murray.
The workshop and play was first offered as an opportunity for children in the area to experience more of the arts. As Murray explained, there have been plenty of sporty activities available, but until the Musical Theatre Workshop began, there was a significant void to fill.
Kids in Norway Bay can expect more musical opportunities on Aug. 6, when a special ‘air band’ event will be held in the evening.