Teens Offer Taste of 'Beauty and the Beast' at Applebee's Fundraisers

patrons who frequent the South Main Street restaurant can get a taste of a stage classic along with their pancakes and eggs at two upcoming fundraisers.

The Drama Club will stage two "character breakfasts" fr to help fund its spring musical, "Beauty and the Beast." Young thespians will perform, face-painting will be available, and young girls can indulge their inner princesses at a special station.

"'Beauty and the Beast' overall is a very expensive show because of the costumes, props and sets," said Brian Stike, high school instructor of music/theater. "When doing 'Beauty and the Beast,' people want to see the costumes so we've got to do the costumes right. Everyone has to look perfect."

The drama club is self-sustaining, with the majority of its funds coming from ticket sales from the previous year's show.  

"We want the show to be much more elaborate than shows in the past have been," he said. "The costumes will be rented from a costume rental house."

Over the summer, Stike said he read several different shows, considered the audience and what would be good for the students. They chose "Beauty and the Beast" because it's a family-oriented show.

When performed this spring, there will be 50 actors on stage, 30 backstage, 25 to 30 students from the wood shop will build the sets, 20 from the art club will paint the set and kids from the graphic arts department will print the programs, with close to 150 students involved overall.

"Beauty and the Beast" will be performed on March 29, 30 and 31, with shows at 7 p.m. each night and an additional matinee at 2 p.m. on the 31st.

"We usually get great attendance and increase every year," said Stike. "With a show like 'Beauty and the Beast,' we expect to sell out."

On the menu for the "character breakfasts" are pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and choice of a beverage. The students will act as servers for the event, which is sponsored by the drama club's support group, Friends of Lacey Music.

The cost of tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children 10 and younger. Seventy percent of the ticket costs will go toward the drama club. For ticket information, call 609-971-5894.

"We're hoping to sell out both breakfasts, that's our goal," said Stike. "The money comes to us — to the school and to the kids."