INTERMISSION

The question you're answering.
January 17, 2011
Login to flag as inappropriate
Where is the best place in "Beauty and the Beast Jr." to have the audition?
9 Answers

January 18, 2011
According to the MTI site this is a "One Act" version of the show. With a run time of 60-70 minutes (from a different site pushing the same title). As such.. why would you want to have an intermission? (And apologies for not answering your question directly. I don't have the script, nor any experience with it. I do know that all the "Junior" titles that I have done have always worked out as never requiring an intermission.)

January 18, 2011
I too, like putting intermission into the Junior shows, for several reasons: One, you get sell more concessions! and since they attract lots of kids to the audience, its nice to have a break...even if it is just 30 minutes into it. Its also nice for the young actors to have a little break! Remember, that a middle schooler will only have an attention span of 30 minutes. That being said, the touring show put intermission after "If I can't love her." This is not in the Junior version, but happens after "Be our Guest." I haven't done Beauty Jr, but I like putting intermission after a large group number like "Guest." It just gives the audience a nice memory as they are taking their break, and makes them want to come back in for more!

January 18, 2011
I realize I'm risking side-tracking the original thread, but I have to challenge this notion that middle schoolers can't sit through an hour long show. A typical cinematic feature these days is anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hrs in length, and the kids seem to sit through those without issue. We just finished a 6 performance run of Seussical (Theatre Young Audiences) here, and had no issue with kids in the audience (or in the cast) remaining focussed for the 72 minute production. Now is you are talking about the "toddler" crowd (say three and under), then I would agree that they will be challenged to sit for the entire show. Best to provide them with a wide/empty lobby, and TV monitor. That way they can stretch and run, while their parents can still keep tabs on the show. Trying to squeeze extra revenue out of the concession is a different matter.

January 18, 2011
We did the show last summer, and put the intermission immediately after "Be Our Guest." This seemed logical for a few reasons. 1) It's a great number that keeps the audience singing and humming. 2) It allows for any type of clean up if you use confetti or any type of effect. 3) It allows for a costume change, since most of the ensemble will be in the number. 4) It's about midway in the production. When I saw another junior version of the show, they put it there, too.

January 18, 2011
We used Cogsworth's line "Good Show, Good Show..." to take us into the intermission. After intermission, we just picked up where the scene had left off, starting with Belle's line, "Oh Lumiere, thank you for dinner..."

January 18, 2011
Thank you all for your inputs - My thought was after 'Be Our Guest' but I also like the idea of keeping the audience waiting after Cogsworth's line of 'Good Show, Good Show ...' I will look into that too. We have been doing Jr plays for several years and have always had an intermission - the reasons mentioned above are good ones: we have great income from concessions sold, it gives the stage crew a rest and time to set up for the second act, it allows the audience to talk amongst themselves to gain enthusiasm for the second half. We have never been able to do the shows in the prescribed time because we have intricate choreography for some numbers and several costume changes.

January 18, 2011
Don't tell anyone, but after Cogsworth's line, we had him look down at his pendulum and then at the audience and say, "It looks like it time for an intermission!" Then as the house lights came up, we played "Be Our Guests" again, and without singers, it was just an instrumental, as intermission music.

January 17, 2011
In the lobby?? (Or did you mean the "Intermission"?) :)

January 17, 2011
Thank you. Where is the best place in "Beauty and the Beast Jr." to have the intermission? Between which Scenes?