Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Friday, January 29, 2007

IQALUIT - Next week, the town of Iqaluit will pull together for that most illustrious of causes: the high school musical.

And not just any musical; this year, it's Disney's own Beauty and the Beast, a detailed and high-energy production.

"It is a fabulous one," said co-director Renata Solski of the choice for the biennial performance. "It's been a lot of fun."

Students have been hard at work since September, learning lines and dance moves, tweaking their singing, as well as working on costumes, sets, lighting and music.

"It is all high school- based, from the programs to the posters to the costumes," Solski said. "Everything is done here at the school."

Keeping everything in-house gives ample opportunity for all students to get involved, she said, even if they aren't onstage. This has allowed more than 100 students to put their mark on the production, which the school runs once every two years, so as not to conflict with the Arctic Winter Games.

But it's not just the students getting involved. Solski said a number of teachers and local musicians have come together to lend a hand, onstage and elsewhere.

"It has been so awesome for the school," she said. "You can walk down the halls and see teachers dancing. It's so cute."

Even Inuksuk principal Terry Young is getting in on the act, she said. During a rehearsal last week, Renata Solski, along with her husband and co-director John Solski, gave direction while students got into the act, though they could be persuaded to pause occasionally for interviews.

Grade 10 student Sara Tufts will be playing Lefou and a dish in the production, using the experience she gained in Grease two years ago.

"I love (this play) because everybody knows it, so it comes naturally," she said.

She said everyone in the cast gets along so far and promised "the craziest, best show ever."

Grade 9 student Emmanuel Morakinyo, meanwhile, takes on the role of the Beast, which he said will be a bit of a challenge.

"It's actually my first big performance," he said. "I have to act bigger than I am because the beast is historically like eight feet tall."

With just over a week to go, Solski said the biggest challenge is the music, which will be performed live by a full band.

"I know the people in the band are putting in countless hours getting the music to sound right," she said.

While she's looking forward to the event, she reminds theatre-goers that tickets are only available at the door, and that they disappear quickly.

"We do want to thank the community," she said. "Without them we wouldn't have a show.

"It gives us an opportunity on the stage and them an opportunity to enjoy the theatre."

Beauty and the Beast runs at Inuksuk high school Feb. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 11 p.m.

-with files from Chris Windeyer