24-03-2025
A tale as old as time: West Jessamine Middle School is ready for the performance of a lifetime
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — One of the most beloved fairytales comes to life as a central Kentucky middle school performs Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr., and you shouldn't wait to buy tickets.
With more than 50 talented students working on stage and behind the scenes, West Jessamine Middle School's theater program is ready to take on the performance of a lifetime. One you won't see at any other Kentucky school anytime soon due to licensing issues.
'I've always wanted to kind of do Beauty and the Beast, and so it's really exciting to finally get to do it and especially be Gaston in my eighth-grade year,' said student Wyatt Brockman, who is playing Gaston.
However, due to licensing for Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr., it now has temporary restrictions in North America affecting organizations like community theaters, after-school programs, high schools, and more. For Katie Bashore, that only meant one thing: the show must go on.
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'They announced it last year when I was searching for musicals because I always like to think about the next year as we're wrapping up a current show. So, as I was searching for musicals for this year, they announced that they were closing it after this year and I said, 'Well, obviously I have to do it now because I love Beauty and the Beast. I've always wanted to do Beauty and the Beast,'' said choir and theater director Katie Bashore.
The good thing is all performances of this musical must be performed by March 31, giving students at West Jessamine Middle School plenty of time to display their talents.
'I definitely feel that it's a privilege and definitely a little bit more pressure. But I think that we can rise to the occasion and show that we are probably one of the best schools to do Beauty and the Beast,' said Mimi Brooks, who is playing Mrs. Potts.
It has been quite the journey for the cast; they auditioned in September.
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'It's been so cool watching it all come together, and I'm really excited to be able to show that off,' said Audra Brumfield, who is playing Belle.
If you want to check out Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr. at West Jessamine Middle School. The show dates are March 27-29. For a link for tickets, click here.
All rights to Beauty and the Beast Jr. belong to Walt Disney and are distributed by Music Theatre International.
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