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Baylor Stages Beauty and the Beast as Spring Musical

Barbara Kennedy

Apr 12 2024 12:33 PM

Updated Apr 16 2024 2:17 PM

Due to ticket demands, an additional performance has been added for Saturday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m.

When the curtain rises of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, more than 55 cast and crew members, as well as 21 members of the orchestra, will play a crucial role in bringing the enchanting tale to life on stage.

The play is directed by Beth Gumnick with set design by Garrett Walsh, and costumes by Laura Smith (a portion of the costumes are being rented from the Chattanooga Theatre Centre). Mae Weiss serves as conductor, Ben Sposet is choral director, and Allison Lamb is prop designer. Lamb is also overseeing 20 Middle Schoolers who are assisting with the set and props as part of the crew.

Music is by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton.

Don’t miss your chance to see it come to life April 24-28, (7:30 p.m., Wed.-Sat., and 2:30 p.m.,on Sat. & Sun.) Tickets are $10 and go on sale Wednesday, April 17 and may be purchased by clicking here. Baylor Backers may access their discount codes for tickets starting Monday, April 15 by contacting Rheagan Hall.

In the meantime, we caught up junior Maggie Tansor, who is double cast as Belle (along with senior Mya Houston), three of the four fanatical female followers of Gaston (seniors Ellie and Emery Carico and junior Harper Kelly) and Gaston himself (sophomore Wesley Chi).

The four represent a range of stage experience and hope other students will be inspired to get involved in theater after seeing the production. “Theater is just a really fun experience no matter what part you get. We have space for anyone who wants to be on stage, and we also have a plethora of roles behind the scenes for people interested in theater but not acting. Putting yourself out there can be scary, but it also is really rewarding and gives you a who new group of friends you see after school every day,” says Kelly.

This is Tansor's first Upper School theater performance, although she has been a steady presence on the stage as a member of Verve'. Splitting the lead role of Belle with Houston has helped them develop a friendship, and she has also enjoyed getting to know the rest of the cast and meeting new people. "There are students from all different after school activities and grades, and being able to engage with people that I wouldn't normally see has been really exciting," she said. "I think the challenge for newcomers is keeping up with everyone else who has been in musicals and productions before. Even though this is a challenge, the people in the cast who have done other productions before are extremely supportive and inclusive."

Chi says he has always been drawn to theater because he has a natural love of performing but also finds it to be “just really fun,” but getting into character of Gaston has been particularly enjoyable. “He's such a cartoony character which makes him really fun to portray.” Chi, who most recently played Professor Plum in the fall production of Clue, said he acted “a decent bit before Covid, put it aside for a few years, and came back to it halfway through Middle School at Baylor. Ever since then, I've been in six or seven both small-scale and large-scale productions…forming a sense of community during a production has always been a blast.”

Other than a stint in a Signal Mountain Playhouse production of Peter Pan when she was in elementary school, senior Ellie Carico was committed to her varsity sport and not able to perform in a play until recently. “It’s my senior year and I finally have time to do it. I love that I have made new friends that I would have never met before,” she says, admitting that she was not expecting the work that had to be done outside of afternoon and evening rehearsals. It does not feel like a task though. It feels like a fun activity that I get to do.” She advises other students to audition for a play before their senior year if possible. “It has been one of my favorite experiences at Baylor so far, and I wish I had been involved with the program before my senior year.”

Senior Emery Carico is also performing on stage for the first time, and like her sister, Ellie, she is a committed athlete and is no stranger to teamwork. “I hope the audience realizes the effort it takes to put on a performance as big as Beauty and The Beast. I can say for myself that I never realized all the time and effort it takes from everyone for the shows to be as good as they are.” She said acting has been challenging due to her lack of experience, but she has enjoyed being surrounded by a new group of peers. “I think at times we can become separated between the people who enjoy sports and who enjoy the arts but it’s fun when we can do things together.”

Gaston's groupies also include freshman Matilda Joels, and Kelly, who has been involved in Baylor plays since middle school and does theater year-round in tech and as a cast member. She is also an officer in The Baylor Players. “Theater would not be so exciting without all the wonderful friends I get to hang out with. Everyone is so kind and welcoming and wants to build each other up. We also have some pretty cool teachers who add even more to the experience.” Even though she is no stranger to the stage, Kelly finds combining singing and dancing together to be a challenge. “We have a limited time to learn our harmonies and dances and then have to put them together,” but adds that she hopes “audiences will allow themselves to simply enjoy the show as we take them on Belle’s journey. I am excited to share our spin on the classic Disney tale that the whole family can enjoy!”

“I hope the audiences not only enjoy the show, but really appreciate how much work goes into the show behind the scenes,” adds Tansor. “Not only is the cast hard at work, but the entire production utilizes the hard work of our teachers, the band and orchestra, the dancers, and the countless talented students that make up the tech crew.”

**Freshman Hank Long (left) and senior Charles Liu (right) at a recent orchestra rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast.**

**Senior Mya Houston, who plays the role of Belle along with junior Maggie Tansor, rehearses with the orchestra and other cast members.**

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Baylor Names Quinn McDowell Head Basketball Coach

April 12, 2024 11:30 AM

Updated April 12, 2024 12:39 PM

Baylor School has named Longwood University’s Quinn McDowell as the boys’ varsity basketball coach.

Baylor School has named Longwood University’s Quinn McDowell as the boys’ varsity basketball coach. McDowell brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience to the Baylor program including roles at Lehigh University, Taylor University and Virginia Wesleyan University.

“I’m incredibly proud to welcome Quinn McDowell as our next head basketball coach at Baylor School. Quinn has had the privilege of playing for and coaching alongside highly esteemed coaches during the course of his career. He has done this at institutions that mirror the values of Baylor. Our student-athletes will reap tremendous benefits on and off the court from Quinn’s leadership and mentorship,” said Baylor School Athletic Director Mark Price.

“I am thrilled to welcome Coach McDowell and his family to the greater Baylor family,” added Head of School Chris Angel ’89. “Quinn is not only recognized nationally for his expertise in basketball, but he is also revered for his exemplary character, embodying integrity, dedication, and a positive spirit that inspires both on and off the court. With his proven track record of leadership and success, we are confident that his guidance will empower our student-athletes to excel and uphold the proud values of Baylor. We eagerly anticipate this exciting new chapter in Baylor basketball.”

McDowell has served as the assistant coach at Longwood University since July 2022, where he played a critical role in helping Longwood win 20 games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, and helped Longwood qualify for NCAA March Madness for the second time in three seasons. Prior to Longwood, he served as an assistant coach for Lehigh University (2019 – 2022), Taylor University (2018 – 2019), and Virginia Wesleyan University (2016 – 2018).

As a collegiate player, he was a four-year starter at The College of William and Mary, earning two-time All-Conference Selection and was team captain for two years. He is the only two-time winner of the Colonial Athletic Conference Dean Ehlers Leadership Award and was also named Scholar Athlete of the Year for the same conference in 2009.

Following college, he competed for four years in top professional basketball leagues including the NBA G League, VTB league in Russia, LEB Gold in Spain, and SBL in Australia.

“I am grateful to Mark Price and Baylor Head of School Chris Angel for the incredible opportunity to work at what I believe is the best school in the country! My family and I couldn’t be more excited to join the Baylor community as I serve as the next head boys basketball coach,” said McDowell. “Baylor is a special place that closely aligns with my mission to build leaders through the context of competition. Our program will strive for excellence each day as we try to build a team that plays with toughness, leads with purpose, and lives with humility. I am humbled by the opportunity to uphold the rich tradition of Baylor basketball while helping guide the program to new levels of success. Our program will work each and every day to pursue championships and build leaders who positively impact the world. Our entire family can’t wait to become part of the Chattanooga community and the Baylor family.”

McDowell holds a B.A. from The College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. from Virginia Wesleyan University. Quinn and his wife Lindsey have four sons: Titus, Ezra, Malachi and Judah.

McDowell replaces Mark Price in the role, who stepped aside from his 26-year coaching career at the collegiate and high school levels to exclusively serve in his current role as the school’s full-time athletic director.

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Follow the Jamaica Trip Blog

March 21, 2024 11:39 AM

Updated March 21, 2024 11:39 AM

Six student leaders in Baylor’s Community Service program are in Kingston, Jamaica. Follow their blog!

Pictured above (front row, left to right) are juniors Isabelle Cox, Tova Ajayi, Alisha Chandra, Oona Cruikshank, and chaperone Donna Marie Siegel ’14; (middle row, left to right) chaperone Keelah Jackson, and juniors Meghan Royal and Grace Simmons; (back row, left to right) chaperones Sergeant Wise ’14, Joli Anderson, and Takisha Haynie.

Six student leaders in Baylor’s Community Service program were selected to travel to Kingston, Jamaica March 19-25, where they worked in an early childhood center and the community of Ferry. An important component of the Jamaica Trip are the orange duffel bags, which are loaded with school supplies and transported to Kingston for children who live in Ferry.

Follow the blog here.

They were accompanied by Takisha Haynie, community Service director; Keelah Jackson, assistant director, Joli Anderson, who remains involved with the program on an as-needed basis, Donna Marie Siegel ’14, Baylor's multimedia communications specialist who will be documenting the trip, and Sergeant Wise ’14, who will be helping with the playground construction project at Ferry Basic School.

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The Hill is Alive with the Sound of Music!

March 6, 2024 3:21 PM

Updated March 6, 2024 3:22 PM

The Hill at Baylor is alive with the sound of music and it's celebrated in the latest episode of The Quadpod.

The latest episode of The Quadpod features some of Baylor's most fluent speakers of "the universal language." Enjoy listening to it here.

First, senior Vincent McClure sits down with Vic Oaks, director of Baylor's choral program and chair of the Fine Arts department to get an overview of the value of an arts and music education. Next, senior Alana Zavala brings us the story of fellow classmate Mae Bender, who is taking singing to operatic heights. Then, junior Tate Harrison speaks with freshman Shepherd Sewell, one of the top young cellists in the state about his path to mastery. And finally, Mike Kelly, director of applied humanities and Quadpod creator, talks all things banjo with Jennifer Averbeck, the director of Baylor's learning centers.

This episode is hosted by seniors Alana Zavala and Anya Wiisanen.

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February 22, 2024 9:33 AM

Updated March 6, 2024 4:01 PM

Don't miss out on summer fun at Baylor!

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The Reverend Matthew Farr ’03 Named Baylor School Chaplain

February 20, 2024 4:50 PM

Updated March 6, 2024 3:22 PM

Following a national search, Baylor School has named Rev. Matthew Farr ’03 the school’s new chaplain.

Following a national search, Baylor School has named Rev. Matthew Farr ’03 the school’s new chaplain.

“What excites me most about this opportunity to return to my alma mater is that as Baylor's chaplain, I am entrusted with the care and keeping of the spiritual well-being of all who live, learn, and work together in this special place,” said Farr. “It is the honor of a lifetime to be invited to return as Baylor's next chaplain.

Since 2018, Farr has served as the School Chaplain for The Episcopal School of Knoxville, a coeducational school for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. In addition to his role as Chaplain, Farr plans and teaches weekly religion classes for all grade levels at ESK. He was the Curate for the Southeastern Tennessee Episcopal Ministry in Franklin County, Tenn. from 2017-18 and has served as a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserves since 2022.

“I am excited for the student body and the entire Baylor community to have not only a chaplain of Matt’s caliber but also someone who is returning to his alma mater,” said Head of School Chris Angel ’89 in the announcement.

Following graduation from Baylor, Farr earned a B.A. from Sewanee, The University of the South in 2007. In 2010 he joined Sewanee’s development office and served in various roles before being named the Associate Director of Annual Giving in 2014. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Sewanee’s School of Theology in 2017 and recently completed the requirements for a Certificate of Graduate Study from Sewanee.

Farr replaces Rev. Alex Gallimore, who recently accepted the senior pastor position at Heritage Baptist Church in Cartersville, Ga.

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