The Curtain’s Up production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. had two performances at Weber Middle School. More than 40 talented kids sang/acted and danced up a storm on the Weber stage to large and enthusiastic audiences. Directors Allison Friedman and Stacey Medford had been rehearsing with the young actors since March. High school students Emma Goldman and Valentina Scotto worked hard as the stage managers of this large, multi-faceted musical production, and Alexandra DeAngelis was the assistant director. Additionally, many theater and drama students from Weber Middle School assisted with the sets, costumes, and props.
Curtain’s Up: A Musical Theatre Experience was founded in 2014 by Friedman and Medford. This unique and popular afterschool program is funded entirely by the nonprofit organization HEARTS. Curtain’s Up debut stage production, The Wiz, performed to sold-out audiences and rave reviews in November 2014. Middle school and high school students worked backstage and assisted Friedman and Medford in many aspects of the production. Emily Baxter and Lauren Blank staged a very successful musical workshop production in 2015 that was performed in multiple venues.
For more information on HEARTS and other 2016 grant recipients or to volunteer, donate or get involved, go to at www.heartspw.org, email info@heartspw.org or call 516-472-2699.
For more information on Curtain’s Up or information on how to register for the upcoming fall workshop of Alice in Wonderland, Jr, go to www.curtainsup.mrsfriedmanmusic.com or email pwcurtainsup@gmail.com.
(Photos by Jennifer Wilson-Pines)
