Photo by: Jim Tatum/Journal Scene

The Summerville YOUTHDREAMS Junior Company will bring its interpretation of a well-loved classic musical, “Enchantment of Beauty and The Beast,” to the Knightsville Elementary School stage March 2 and March 3.

Photo by: Jim Tatum/Journal Scene

The young actors prepare for their roles during a rehearsal reading of “Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast.” Pictured here, front row from left are Caroline Searfoss  and Kayla Olszewski. Back Row from left are Eve Katz and McKenna Szemly.

Photo by: Jim Tatum/Journal Scene

The young actors prepare for their roles during a rehearsal reading of “Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast.” Pictured here, from left are Haley Brinson, Isabel Kay, and Olivia Ketchel.

An old favorite will soon hit the stage with a young and enthusiastic cast as the Summerville YOUTHDREAMS Junior Company brings “Enchantment of Beauty and The Beast” to life March 2 and March 3.

As most people know, the story is about a powerful witch who falls for and is rejected by a selfish prince. The witch places a curse on the young prince: he is destined to become a beast until he learns to love.

As the story unfolds, the audience meets a variety of memorable characters, including the two distasteful daughters and their greedy husbands who want the beast’s treasure, as well as Beauty, the kind and gentle daughter who is willing to take her mother’s place at the fierce Beast’s castle.

As time goes by, the beast falls in love with Beauty but the question remains, could Beauty ever love a Beast?

While the story has been a much beloved fable through the years, the real story is the talent and enthusiasm the young performers of SYDS bring to this production, notes SYDS Director/Producer Lucia Dantzler. All of them have passed fairly rigorous tryouts and all of them have committed a great deal of time and effort to the production, she said.

“You have to try out to get into the company, then you have to try out again for different parts,” noted Nora Stark, who is playing Madame Rondo for Saturday night’s performance.

Nonetheless, the hard work is definitely worth it, they all seem to agree. As far as theater goes, one is never too young to improve one’s craft and all agree that the whole experience makes them better actors.

But most of all, it’s a lot of fun, they say.

“It’s a lot of fun because you see a lot of new people and make a lot of new friends,” Olivia Ketchel noted.

One unique aspect of this production is that different actors will play some of the major roles for each performance, she said. For example, Bridget Bruce will be Friday night’s Beauty opposite Bailey Rudd as the prince. Saturday’s Beauty is Carolyn Searfoss with Mason Sauls as the Prince.

The Summerville YOUTHDREAMS junior Company’s production of “Enchantment of Beauty and the Beast” will run Friday, March 2 and Saturday March 3 at 7 p.m. in Knightsville Elementary School. Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students ages 5-18. Tickets at the door are $9 for adults and $7 for students ages 5-18. Children 4 and under 4 will be admitted free.

For more information call 871-1346 or 696-6744.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3