Yuka Sooda
Compiled and edited by: Hiroki Yamashita and Yuka Sooda, G11
In preparation for the upcoming High School Fine Arts production of the stage adaptation of the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast”, the Saint Maur Newspaper Club has decided to interview the directors of the play, Mr. Nicolas Gregoriades, and Mr. Dale Geyer.
Here are the questions that were asked to each of the teachers regarding their personal experiences and opinions on the production process.
Mr. Geyer
1) What was it like to work on this production while adjusting to the Saint Maur community?
This production helped me integrate into the school community by offering me the opportunity to interact with many students I wouldn’t see in class. Rehearsals, especially early in the process, felt like a relaxed way to learn about individual cast and crew members on a personal basis without any academic pressures. Among the faculty, I think it gave me anchor responsibilities and helped me feel productive amongst the group. It gave me a focus and raison d’etre here.
2) Tell us a little about your previous work, and how that has helped you in Beauty and the Beast.
I was very fortunate in my professional performing career to work steadily in musical theatre, ballet, and modern dance companies. I spent many years working for the Mouse*, so I am very familiar with Disney material and Alan Menken music. I believe this is my fourth time working on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in some capacity, though I’ve never had the chance to play my dream role, Gaston. This deep familiarity with the show has made it challenging for me to not impose my own preconceived ideas on the Saint Maur production, but rather to let the original creative ideas of our students develop organically for this group of performers on this stage.
3) What are some of the comments you would like to make on the production itself?
Before joining the production team for this Saint Maur show, I had never worked on a production that was so heavily student-run. In university, I was in a few small black box productions organized by students, but even then they were in their early twenties. It amazes me that teenagers are creating props, costumes, animations, lighting designs, makeup, choreography, and so many other aspects of this Beauty and the Beast. Every successful moment in this show has a high school student behind it who worked really hard to make it come alive.
4) Any other comments?
Please come see the show! Show will premiere on friday November 29 17:00 and November 30 12:00 and 17:00
Mr. G
1) What was the inspiration behind choosing Beauty and the Beast for this year’s production?
The Drama Department’s goal has always been to have a musical once every four years. The last one, called “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, was in 2013 so we knew we were long overdue. As a Fine Arts department, we discussed several options and came up with a shortlist of three musicals which we thought would be manageable: “The Sound of Music”, “The Addams Family” and “Beauty and the Beast”. We then asked students to vote on which one they preferred and “Beauty and the Beast” was the winner.
2) What challenges did you foresee before getting into rehearsals?
We thought that singing and dancing would present challenges as these are not skills that all actors possess. However, we were confident that with practice and hard work, we would be able to overcome the challenges. Another challenge that I personally had was how to represent the “magical objects” in the castle. I really didn’t want actors walking around in cumbersome suits and dresses so I wanted to emphasize their transformation into objects through makeup and hair. Luckily, we have an excellent costume, hair and makeup team at Saint Maur, many of whom have already worked together on past productions. Speaking of transformations, I also knew that the transformation at the end of the story (where the Beast transforms back into the Prince – spoiler!) would be challenging but I think we have overcome that in a creative way.
3) What challenges are you facing right now with the production?
I think the major challenge we are facing right now is making sure that the actors are comfortable singing with the orchestra. Mr. Griggs is working very hard to guide the orchestra and the actors to make sure they get the timing right. Another challenge at the moment is making sure that the scene changes work smoothly. But I am sure we will get there with further practice (only two weeks to go!!).
4) What are your favorite moments so far within the production?
I have so many favorite moments. Bizarrely, one moment that stands out to me is when Sophia (Lefou) walks in on Renge (Belle) singing her big “Belle Reprise” number. Her facial expressions are priceless! I also love the dynamic between Sophia and Jan as Lefou and Gaston. Kake as Cogsworth and Charles as Lumiere have wonderful individual moments but they also work really well together. The chemistry between Charles and Diana as Lumiere and Babette is also very entertaining. I love when Renge and Ten fight each other as Belle and Beast, because their arguments are fierce but comical at the same time. But I also love watching individual ensemble members when they are in the middle of some of the big numbers, especially when their faces light up with energy or when they interact with each other or the audience. Every single person is contributing to this production in such a unique way and the combination of everyone’s personalities is mesmerizing to watch.
5) Would you consider doing another musical in the near future?
As stated above, I would love to stick to our policy of doing a musical once every four years. It depends a bit on the teachers in the Fine Arts Department but I hope that all the current members stay at Saint Maur for a very long time as we work well together currently. Ask me this question again in 2023!
6) Any other comments?
Directing this musical has been a huge task but I feel enormously privileged to work with staff and students who are this hardworking, committed and enthusiastic. It really is a drama teacher’s dream come true to work at a place like Saint Maur with the kinds of students who are here.
For both (to be discussed)
1) What is it like working with each other?
Mr. Geyer:
It is a pleasure to work with Mr. G! We have known each other for many years and worked together on several theatrical productions outside of Saint Maur. I admire his effervescence and his obvious dedication to the students at Saint Maur. Other drama teachers and theatre professionals in Tokyo and Yokohama gush over Mr. G; we all look up to him. When people learned I would be hired at Saint Maur, the first thing everyone said was, “You are so lucky to get to work with Mr. G,” and then, “oh yeah, congratulations.” I still feel lucky every day. For now, I am Robin to his Batman, but I hope I can prove myself and earn his trust this year.
Mr. G:
I’ve known Mr. Geyer for a while now, perhaps seven or eight years, and we’ve worked on some of the same TIP and TIP Youth projects together but we’ve never really worked directly with each other (mainly because I am a terrible dancer and singer and managed to avoid performing in any musicals in my whole acting career until last year’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”). I have always been slightly in awe of Mr. Geyer because he is such an expert dancer, choreographer and director. He is able to critique performances very precisely and succinctly and he is a great teacher. I have seen him develop highly complex choreography with both children and adults and I have been so impressed by his ability to communicate creative ideas. Working him with now is wonderful because he can identify aspects of performance that I have no clue about and give very precise direction about movement and dance. It is also slightly intimidating because I am so much in awe of him and I feel like I really have to step up my game now that he is here.
2) Were there moments or factors that you encountered that made you not want to do a musical? If there were, could you tell us about it?
Mr. Geyer:
The idea and commitment to producing a musical all happened before I came on board. Of course, I was thrilled to work on a big, beautiful show like Beauty and the Beast in my first Saint Maur drama experience. If it were up to me, we would do a musical every year! I do believe this is a big undertaking for a school without much experience with musical theatre in its history. Straight plays are a very different endeavor from musical productions. Musicals require all the work of a play, but with the additional layers of singing, dancing, and playing instruments, plus the acting has to be even more effective because there isn’t as much dialogue with which to develop characters. We have had some very challenging rehearsals, but I never thought we should not do a musical. I think we should work harder and rise to the occasion.
Mr. G:
I’ve always been a bit ambivalent about musicals. But, actually, the more I do them, the more I can see why audiences like them. What makes them challenging – the combination of music, singing, dancing and acting – is what makes them enjoyable. I could not direct one every year but every four years seems doable. There are just so many non-musical plays (Shakespeare!) that I am dying to direct that I could not do a musical every year.
3) How did you overcome those factors?
Mr. Geyer:
In a way, I think I am one of the solutions to the challenges of producing a musical here. I am a resource for movement and vocal performance with experience on stage, off stage, and in teaching performing arts to young people. It is my intention to continue developing students’ all-around performing arts skills in class and in extra-curriculars this year and beyond. Adding me into the fine arts department adds another dimension to our offerings for students and by extension our community.
Mr. G:
The only thing that I can do to overcome my fear is to spend time in rehearsal. Once I see people rehearsing – especially when they are having fun – all my fears dissipate and I am reminded of why I have chosen to pursue all things theatrical as my career.