CECIL DESTINATION Tale As Old As Time

Perryville High School Performance Arts Students thrill audiences with Broadway’s Classic Musical

PERRYVILLE - The Perryville High School Performing Arts program put on a spectacular performance of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Broadway Musical this past week.

This is the third time Director Jill Welsheimer has directed the Broadway hit at Perryville. The last time was nine years ago in 2014 and most of those who attended the show this week were not even born yet.

The show was a huge success with over 1500 children and adults coming out to see the show.

The show had two performers in the role of Belle. Depending on which performance you attended you would have seen Senior Alana Guardipee or Junior Kinsey McCulloch in the title role. Both had wonderful performances that had children singing along and dancing in their seats.

“It was amazing!” said Felicia Rowland who attended with her family on Saturday night.

Director Jill Welsheimer has been at Perryville High School for 30 years and this marks her 26th live show at Perryville all starting with You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown in 1996.

“Many of the props we are able to save for future performances but we lost some of our original set so this year we had to rebuild a lot.” said Welsheimer.

The castle design is the most elaborate set we’ve seen of any High School production in the county. Perryville Math Teacher Kevin Forman has been working with Welsheimer since arriving at Perryville 17 years ago. He assists as the Technical Director, Set Design, Builder and Lighting. Forman has even appeared on stage as the Big Bad Wolf in a previous production.

Choreographer and Stage Manager was Caron Leath. Leath also PHS Color Guard.

Welsheimer has not considered yet what will be coming next year but she has proven that each year will be a stunning production with some of Cecil County’s most talented and gifted performers.

Senior Alana Guardipee is Belle of the Ball

Senior Alana Guardipee gave a magnificent performance in the title role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She has previously appeared on stage in Shrek the Musical, Lion King Jr., Newsies and Seussical. Her final performance on the Perryville stage would be her biggest role as Belle. Alana had the crowd on their feet cheering and young girls dressed as Belle were dancing in the aisles on opening night. Alana plans to attend Cecil College next year and major in Musical Theatre. While at Cecil she hopes to perform in productions with Milburn Stone Theater.