NFT Youth Ensemble Presents BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 3/20-4/3

The Noble Fool Theatricals Youth Ensemble proudly presents Beauty and the Beast, a Disney fairytale that will come alive with the help from a cast of 32 energetic teens and kids from the Western Suburbs.

In this Disney classic fairy tale, the brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her provincial life and her brute of a suitor, Gaston. However, Belle gets more adventurous than she wanted when she becomes a captive in the Beast's enchanted castle! Dancing flatware, menacing wolves, and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills in this beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another and learning how to love.

Belle will be played by 15-year-old St. Charles resident Gabriella Marzetta, who is no stranger to Noble Fool Theatricals, having participated in academy camps, classes, internships and most recently in the Youth Ensemble production of High School Musical 2 last summer. "I started my theater experience performing in my middle school plays, and then taking theater classes. It wasn't until after I performed in Noble Fool's HSM2 that I started to feel more confident with my skills," says Marzetta. "After that, I started trying out for more shows and receiving starring roles, including this great opportunity to play Belle!"

New to NFT is Steve Sledzinski of Geneva, 19, who is excited to finally get his chance to play the Beast. "This will be my 3rd production of Beauty and the Beast and every time before I've always had a feeling on "how I would do the Beast". Now I get my chance to do just that," says Sledzinski. "The Beast is always shown as a whiny egoistic monster. I hope to bring something better to the stage by trying to show more of the prince that he really is and by showing more of a physical evolution of the Beast."

Beauty and the Beast cast members include from St. Charles: Alex Adams, Jessica Blakely, Kevin Chlapecka, Erika Denker, Nadia Handler, Mercedes Janis, Molly Knight, Amelia Kuhlman, Gabriella Marzetta, Austin Sellevold, Abby Stombres, Geneva: Maddy Donatelli, Haley Glover, Steven Sledzinski, Sadie Vaughn, Batavia: Jacqueline Scheer, Kelsey Skomer, Elgin: Arianna Nutile, Emma Perry, Juddson Updike, West Chicago: Yash Bhatia, Emma Roberts, Elena Tubridy, Carol Stream: Lily Defino, Lombard: Nathan Dittemore, Woodstock: Joey Javan, Elburn: Rachael Romba, Aurora: Sarah Jonke, Sugar Grove: Connor Madziarczyk, Wayne: Gianna Marchese, Winfield: Nadia Pelletier, Wheaton: Shayla Rogers. Director is Lisle resident Helen Buck, and Musical Director is Debra Stombres, resident of St. Charles.

Beauty and the Beast credits include: music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman Ashman and Tim Rice; book by Linda Woolverton. It is performed with special performance from MTI, Music Theatre International.

The NFT Youth Ensemble is an exclusive, audition-only program for the best and the brightest young talent. Students are responsible for memorizing lines, music and choreography, and learn the craft of theater through the process of preparing for live performances. For more information on upcoming youth opportunities, visit www.noblefool.org/education or call 630-364-0550.

Beauty and the Beast, rated G, will be presented Saturdays, March 20, March 27, and April 3 at 10:30 am, Friday March 26 at 10:30 am and Sunday March 28 at 7 pm on the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage. Tickets are priced at $15 for adults; $12 for children 12 and under.

Ample free parking and valet services are available at Pheasant Run Resort. The resort and theaters are wheelchair accessible and hearing amplification systems are available. Ask the box office about lunch packages with Pheasant Run Resort's award-winning Harvest Steak & Seafood Restaurant.

Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.noblefool.org.

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