BRUNSWICK

Brunswick’s Midcoast Youth Theater will present a production of “Beauty and the Beast” this weekend at Crooker Theatre in Brunswick. Shows will run Friday to Sunday.

“Beauty and the Beast” is the theater’s final show of the season, and one that MYT president Julie Meyer said has been highly anticipated.

“We asked the community about a year ago what their top pick would be for a show, and it was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ by a landslide,” said Meyer.

MYT produces six musicals each year — two in the spring and fall that are open to all ages, and four in the summers that are divided by age groups.

Meyer said that more than 100 people from Midcoast Maine volunteered for parts in “Beauty and the Beast,” and the cast now stands at nearly 100. The team includes Director Tammy Holmes, Music Director Courtney Babbage and choreographer Linda Gardener, who is also the choreographer for Brunswick High School’s theater.

Holmes said that this is one of the biggest casts she has worked with, but Meyer credited the director for working double time.

“Tammy has done a tremendous job directing this many people,” said Meyer. “It’s just a remarkable cast. The level of talent is outstanding.”

Meyer said the talent level was obvious from the first rehearsal, when the cast did a read through of the play with musical accompaniment. Meyer said that when Julia Nadeau, who plays the lead character Belle, sang along with the recording, “you could hear a pin drop.”

“Her voice is so spectacular,” Meyer said.

Said Holmes: “She literally sounded like someone out of the professional show.”

Meyer said Nadeau — who is a graduate of Dickenson College in Pennsylvania and lives in Topsham — is a good example of the deep talent pool Midcoast Maine has to offer, and a great roll model for many of the youngsters who come through the theater.

“She has been in a few of our shows in the past, and she always impresses,” said Meyer. “This is the first show I’ve seen her in since college.”

Midcoast Youth Theatre invites a variety of cast members to audition for their musicals. Meyer said that “Beauty and the Beast” cast members range in age from four years old to 70.

“A lot of parents and children work together on our shows, and even grandparents with grandkids,” Meyer said. “It’s very much a team building experience and community building experience, but it also helps build relationships within families.”

Cast members hail from Brunswick, Bath, Freeport, Topsham and Gray.

While actors of all ages are important, what sets Midcoast Youth Theatre apart is its commitment to young, aspiring actors, Meyer said. That commitment is apparent in the director’s casting of the character Chip.

“She chose five different kids to play Chip,” said Meyer. “It’s a small enough part that it’s not overwhelming. We love to give young kids the experience they need to blossom into actors.”

Holmes agreed that, at the end of the day, it’s about getting the Midcoast’s youth involved from a young age.

“A big part of my job is finding those little places where each kid gets their moment,” said Holmes. “Most of them are just dying to be in the limelight. It’s fulfilling to see their faces light up.”

The next showing of “Beauty and the Beast” begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Crooker Theatre in Brunswick, followed by multiple showings on Saturday, Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

bgoodridge@timesrecord.com