How can you vacation on the Outer Banks – a land practically made of sand -  and not want to see and play on some sand dunes? And I mean the big, big sand dunes.

We decided to do just that, 0n one of the fair weathered days we had during our family reunion. Pictures tell the rest!

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-Kasie

News release! Angie and Kasie Willis have been selected to play the part of village women in Beauty and the Beast. The Willis sisters and over 200 amateur actors, singers and dancers auditioned for a nerve-wracking two days each vying for a part in the classic musical.116 were cast. Angie has decided to share her experience – which she continues to term a blast.

Kasie and I jumped on the chance to audition for parts in Beauty and the Beast (it having been  Kasie’s favorite movie back in the day, mine it was a close second after Cinderella) Upon arrival at the theater we were handed out application forms to fill out (personal info, plus acting experience, roles we would prefer, etc.), and then we were given a number.

A far cry from singling out contestants once by one on the stage, these auditions were group oriented and very calming and enjoyable. Different groups, say from numbers 1-40 would gather round the piano, exercise their voices and then sing together and then one line separately. We were also taught a simple dance routine (so the directors could see who could move and who couldn’t)

The second day of auditions got even better. 5 girls besides Kasie and I, and 5 guys were called after everybody else had read lines or sang again. This time the directer called us “Belles and Beasts”! I couldn’t help but get excited. The directer made sure that each of us sang as a duet with one of the “Beasts”. After my audition the vocal director approached me and asked with a sigh, “Are you sure than you don’t want to be Belle?  This is a kissing role! (The day before I had made an extra note regarding kissing) I looked at her hopelessly, and pleaded “Is there any way to get around it?”

The vocal director just chuckled in disbelief, and from that moment I knew I wouldn’t get the part of Belle!

All the same, it was a long wait wondering if we would get any parts at all.We we so thankful a few days later when we found out that we were village women. Hurrah! It’s the chorus people who get all the fun with no pressure involved.

We had our first rehearsal last week. (Next time I promise we’ll have pictures!) I play the “Sausage Curl Girl”, and Kasie plays a shopper. My lines ( in the first scene) are: “Bonjour!” (the 4th one), “Good day”, and “Never part of any crowd…” as well as the group parts. It is already so much fun to be behind the scenes of Beauty and the Beast!

Coming up in the next couple of months, rehearsal pictures, and one of my favorite aspects of theater, costumes!