Preparations for this year’s spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” is already underway.

The roles have been cast following four hours of rehearsals which took place last Wednesday. Each student prepared their 30-second audition song and performed the required dance in hopes of achieving a spot in the limited cast.

Senior Bri Mosley, cast as Belle, has participated in the past four musicals. She said, “I prepared for auditions this year by downloading the script and studying it over the summer. I also studied the various characters and watched the live-action version to gain better knowledge of the different characters.”

About 75 people auditioned for the production, which came as shock to the directors, as well as the other students.

“There were so many more people auditioning than expected, the most I’ve seen in the past four years,” said Mosley.

According to senior Nick Korzhiletsky, who will play Monsieur D’arque, the best song to audition with is one from a Broadway musical, as most pop songs do not hold the right pitch ranges and notes needed to show off your voice.

Korzhiletsky chose to sing “If I Can’t Love Her” as his audition song.

Following the singing portion, the students prepared the set dance until director Larry Braun, as well as other co-directors, were done evaluating all the participants’ vocal auditions.

The dance was only 25 seconds long and will be part of the “Be Our Guest” dance number for the actual performance. The students danced in groups of four, and following the routine, some were announced to return for callbacks.

The cast list is now finalized, and rehearsals will begin after school resumes, around Jan. 12, 2020.

Senior and ensemble member Olivia Culp admits she’s excited to be a part of such an opportunity and cannot wait to begin.  “Musical season is my favorite time of year,” she said.  “I’m so happy to be a part of it again, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Mosley and other seniors know the show will have special meaning, as it will be their last of their high school career. Mosley said, “I hope that when I leave the show, I am sobbing because I’m so sad to leave. I want the show to mean something to everyone involved, and I know it will mean something to me as well.”