Arts & Entertainment

Congrats to Young Beauty & The Beast Reviewers!

Youngsters headed to see show at NJPAC.

Patch offers its congratulations to the young talents from Morris and Somerset counties who'll be reviewing Beauty and the Beast at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center!

Each of the youngsters below sent in submissions to Patch, explaining why he or she should get to see the show. . Then they'll write up their reviews, which we'll publish on the site Friday.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast opens at NJPAC on Wednesday, June 22, 7:30 p.m. and continues Thursday, June 23, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 24, 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 25, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 26, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $24 to $100 and may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark, or online at www.njpac.org.

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Here are the winners, and the notes they sent Patch.

Kaitlin Hands, 12, Hillsborough

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     I would love to see "Beauty and the Beast" for many reasons. First, I would like to see the performance because I am very much into performing arts such as dancing. I have always wanted to see ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and if I win this contest my dream will come true! Also, I  want to be an actress so whatever experience I get to see plays and musicals, benefit me and will help me fulfill my goal to becoming an actress. Seeing the production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will also be very interesting for me considering I have always loved the movie and will most likely enjoy the play as well. Next, seeing the live production of my favorite Disney movie will allow me to experience it as if I were actually in the performance. Lastly, I would love to see this musical because I have always been a fan of seeing live shows including plays, musicals, dance recitals and concerts, so experiencing this opening night performance of ’Beauty and the Beast’ will just add to my love of shows. As you can see, choosing me to view the opening night performance will be the best choice you will make.

There are many reasons why choosing me to review the performance of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will benefit you and the readers of the Patch.   First, it will benefit you because I am an excellent writer and try my hardest when I work so I can make myself and others feel proud. Also, it would be best to choose me because I have always been able to give good reviews of books and movies when I have had to do them for school and reviewing plays would be no different than reviewing a movie or book. Next, I would be a great reviewer because I want to be a journalist and would write my own newspaper articles about baseball games and town events. Lastly, you would benefit because I am very passionate about my writing and would honestly do a good job on the review because I know people will be looking to see my review to see if ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is worth seeing. As you can see, choosing me to see this performance will benefit both you and the Patch’s readers  

Ella Buono, 3, Basking Ridge (with Mom's help transcribing):

I would love to see the beast play. I love beauty and the beast a lot. I like the part when the kitchen sings and dances. Gaston is mean, but I love Belle. I watch the dvd a lot. I also like Chip and his mom, Mrs. Potts. The show will be great! I want Luca to come with me.

Laila Kirstein, Second Grade, Parsippany:

Hi! My name is Laila and I am in second grade.  I think I should see and review the show Beauty and the Beast because at my school, my singing group was doing Broadway songs, but then my drama teacher had to quit. Two other teachers came in the class and they changed the show from Broadway songs to American songs, which was a little disappointing because I love Broadway! I already know songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast. I really think I would be pleased to see the play. I want to be an actress and Belle looks like me. I could imagine that the actress is me!

I really like writing books, poems and jokes, but I have never written a play review before. I am a little nervous, but I'm hopeful because I really like princess plays, stories and books because they have happy endings. I want to write the review because it seems so professional. It seems like I am the president! I really love plays and I really want to be a theater writer. Thank you!

Roderick McNeil Jr, Second Grade, Morristown

My name is Roderick McNeil Jr, my friends call me Ricky.  I am in the second grade at Alfred Vail School in Morristown.  I have been writing a book this year  at school which the parents have been helping us to publish.  My book is titled I was a Second Grade Primplup.   It is a story about me waking up and turning into a Pokemon.    I really like imagining, and Disney.  My family has takes me to Disney World in Florida every year for vacation.  I have seen the movie Beauty and the Beast and I have seen it performed at Disney World.  I think that I would do a very good job writing a review of the play.  I would be able to tell everyone what I liked the most and I would do a very good job describing it, so that people would feel like they were really there with me.

I enjoy going to see plays and performances.  I also like to perform.  This spring the second grade at Alfred Vail put on a mini circus, Circus Around the World.  I was a tumbler from Japan.  I know how much work goes into practicing and performing.   I enjoy reading and writing.  My mom signed me up for a reading group and a writing workshop at the Joint Free Public Library for the summer.  Right now I am reading Big Nate, it is a funny book.   I hope you pick my letter because I would really like to go see Beauty and the Beast and write a review.


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