In a land far, far away, the most iconic fairy tale characters are back after 25 years for a brand-new adventure. Redwood Theater is bringing you a fun and spoofy play following Belle and her now-Queen friends’ journey to try to find the mysterious witch who cursed Belle into a ferocious beast.
By: Madalynn Martinez, Cynthia Adame-Luna
Long before the black curtains rise and the applause begins, the real magic happens in the cramped dressing room of the Rotary Theater, filled with nervous smiles and excitement. This is the backstage world of the Redwood Theater annual fall play. The Redwood Cast for the 26-27 production of Beauty is the Beast, October 7, 8, and the 10th, welcomes the characters of Belle, Lebron, Cinderella, Snow White, Narrators 1 and 2, and many more.
Once again this year, Redwood is hosting their fall play. Beauty is the Beast stars our lead Belle, played by Lola Sullivan, ’28. Sullivan has been in theater for several years, appearing in the musical Anastasia 25-26, playing the role of Countess Lily.
Sullivan feels she will be able to represent her character differently from her previous roles on stage. She said, “I just feel like once I get on stage, I am Belle, I can’t explain it, but I just am.”
Our lead is accompanied by her reason and best friend for her grand new adventure, Cinderella, played by Ella Noblitt, ’27. Noblitt has been in multiple previous musicals and plays, such as The Little Mermaid and Anastasia.
Her time with Redwood’s Theater has taught her many things about acting as a whole. Noblitt said, “There’s an acting process that a lot of people have. [I can be] handed a script, and [I] can just make a character, [I] can just see who they are through the page.”
Cinderella’s character is a mother who has been divorced from her Prince Charming. On this journey, she is not the only one learning a lesson. She begins to learn that even after she thought she had found her “true love,” she can still love again.
After all those years since the events of the original Beauty and the Beast, many things have changed. Copyright claims have not changed whatsoever, so in this fun spoof, our Gaston now goes by the name Lebron, played by Connor West ‘27. This being West’s last year here at Redwood, he has had quite the journey himself, taking on a variety of characters such as Vlad in Anastasia and Sebastian in The Little Mermaid.
West shared details of his new character, he said that, “He survived, got therapy, and he became a good person.” West also described his character in comparison to his past roles, he said, “I’m still just as cocky as he used to be.” Is our new Lebron really a changed man, or is he up to another scheme like in the past?
who plays Snow White in the RHS fall Play Beauty IS Beast
on September 1, 2026. Photo N. Miller/ Gigantea
Our protagonist and Cinderella can’t find this witch on their own, so they must gather some help from their friends. Years after Snow White has been cursed and saved with a kiss, she has become a housewife to her prince instead of the many dwarfs from before. Although she is now obsessed with cleaning and still just as princessy as ever, she still spends her time with the Unpleasant Dwarf. The princesses suspect that Snow White’s witch from her story might be back for one more act of revenge.
Her character is portrayed by Rozalia Longbottom, ‘27, who has also been in many other plays and musicals during her time with Redwood. Longbottom is very excited for this mysterious and fun new story, she especially likes the humor in it, as she said, “It’s funny, but it’s not just funny because someone falls, it’s funny because the joke lands. You know all these aspects of the princesses, and that’s why it’s funny.”
With the start of every iconic fairy tale, “Once upon a time” is almost always said by a mysterious voice, usually just a voice that the characters don’t interact with. Zarena Bernadino-Coles, ‘27, narrates this story alongside our second narrator, Juan Agredano, ‘27. As being our helpful narrators, it is their job to read that line. Together, they guide us along this spoofy and engaging story. Both have been in the Redwood theater for quite some time now, but in this play they must learn how to work together and be in unison. Agredano said, “With Zarena, I think I’m gonna really complement her style, I’m gonna play off of her, and whatever she does I’ll connect with that.”
Beauty IS the Beast participates in a read-through at fall play rehearsal.
Photo N. Miller /Gigantea
As the days for Redwood’s production grow near in just 4 more weeks, Zarena would like to share 5 words she feels would best describe the play coming up.
“Obviously spoofy, number one, [and] flowing because it just keeps [on] going. Once you start, there [are] no pauses, it’s a journey of self-worth and friendship.”
Madalynn Martinez
Madalynn Martinez '30 is starting journalism for her first year and is a writer for the Arts & Entertainment section. She hopes to write many stories this year involving theater, music, and the student opinion on art.
Cynthia Adame-Luna
Cynthia Adame - Luna '30 is a first writer in journalism, for her first year she is in the Arts and Entertainment section. She hopes to write stories of the many artistic creates and events at Redwood.
Tags: Art & Entertaiment, play, rangers, Redwood, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rotary theater, Theater Department, visalia ca
