The Narrators provide great opportunities to involve students who are more comfortable speaking than singing. The script is written to feature four Narrators, but you can incorporate more students (or fewer) depending on the size of your cast. Be sure the students you choose for these roles can enunciate and project, as they guide the focus and pace of this beautiful tale.
Belle is a smart, confident young woman from a small village. You will want a strong singer and actress who is able to stand up to Gaston while showing compassion for Maurice, the Servants and eventually the Beast.
Vocal Range G3 - F5
Maurice is an aging and eccentric inventor, but more importantly, the adoring and protective father of Belle. This non-solo singing role is perfect for the student who can have fun interpreting this "crazy old man" while conveying some very strong emotions: fear and fatherly love.
The Beast is a young prince who was hideously transformed by the Enchantress's spell. Choose a student who can handle this complex character: a dictator, a hurt child, a hero, a defender and a smitten prince. Although the Beast does sing a small bit during Something There and the Finale, this is truly an acting role (and his lyrics can be spoken if you cast a non-singer).
Vocal Range B3 - E5
Gaston is pompous and dim-witted and will do whatever it takes to win Belle's hand. Gaston has all the confidence in the world but lacks the humility to balance it. Finding a strong singer and actor is important. He has to be able to sell his big eponymous number with gusto and arrogance as well as lead the Villagers in The Mob Song.
Vocal Range A3 - F5
Lefou is Gaston's equally dim-witted lackey. This character needs to be Gaston's foil and should double the laughs for them both. Lefou should be able to sing, act and dance.
Vocal Range B3 - E5
The Silly Girls are in love with Gaston and will do almost anything just to be near him. Look for three girls who can portray the comic nature of these roles and enjoy playing off each other. The Silly Girls sing together in three numbers and their sound should mix well.
Vocal Range C4 - F5
Lumiere is a confident, charming French mâitre d' who (under the enchantress's spell) is becoming a candelabra. He has an incessant bickering rapport with Cogsworth. Lumiere should be a strong singer who can light up the stage in Be Our Guest. This role covers a range of emotions (from charming entertainer to brave soldier) and requires prominent song and dance. Vocal Range A3 - D5
Cogsworth is the British major-domo of the castle who is becoming a clock. Like all of the castle's Servants, he shows a fatherly compassion for Belle yet is perfectly submissive to the master, the Beast. Cogsworth enjoys feeling like the boss and has no problem getting into it with Lumiere. Cast a strong actor and singer.
Vocal Range A3 - E5
Mrs. Potts is the castle's endearing cook who is becoming a teapot. The actor you cast needs a strong, sweet voice and should be able to convey comforting, maternal qualities amidst the chaos that is breaking out in the castle.
Vocal Range F3 - E5
Babette is the maid of the castle who is turning into a feather duster. She misses the finer things in life. Babette is happy to be at Belle's service at a moment's notice, but her true heart comes through in Human Again. Look for a good actor with solid vocal skills to handle Babette's harmonies.
Vocal Range A3 - B4
Madame De La Grande Bouche (Madame of the Big Mouth 😉) is an opera singer who is becoming a wardrobe. Madame is larger-than-life in everything she does, including her singing and dancing. Look for that student who can portray the ultimate diva with a heart with an outsized personality and voice. Madame has some harmony lines with Mrs. Potts and Babette.
Vocal Range A3 - C5
Chip is Mrs. Potts's son who is becoming a teacup. Chip has a wonderful naïveté that endears him to all of the Servants. Cast an actor who can portray the honesty and spirit of a child and is comfortable singing Chip's few solo lines. Vocal Range D4 - D5
The Old Beggar Woman/Enchantress should be portrayed by an actor with a flair for the visually dramatic as this is a non-speaking role. Her transformation in the Prologue needs to entice the audience into the story. After the Prologue, this student will join the ensemble.
Monsieur D'Arque (pronounced "Dark") is the proprietor of the lunatic asylum. Cast an actor who can believably exude his sinister personality. Although Monsieur D'Arque has few lines of solo singing in The Mob Song, this is primarily a non-singing role. Monsieur D'Arque will join the ensemble for the rest of the show.
The Servants of the castle can include Statues, Flatware, Plates, Napkins, Salt & Pepper Shakers, etc. These enchanted characters are the Rockettes of the castle. They should be able to handle a potentially awkward costume while singing and dancing.
The Villagers are the inhabitants of Belle's town. There are some featured solos and lines that will come from this ensemble (Bookseller, Baker, etc.). The group must provide vocal power throughout the show and dance in the production numbers, so be sure to cast performers with a wide base of ability.
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