The Artistic Magic Behind the Beauty (and the Beast)

By Krit Subash | December 1st, 2022

The Woodlands Art Club’s current project is a collaboration with the Woodlands Drama Club. They’ve been given a big challenge, as they have been asked to prepare the sets for The Drama Club’s production of Beauty and The Beast. Art Club sets a high standard, making this production look absolutely stunning, above and beyond all expectations.

While set creation is more than just fancy backdrops, those that Art Club is making are incredibly impressive. Painted with great detail and effort by Mr. Lascot, one of the two art teachers leading the set design, and his crew, these paintings of the castle library bookshelves and many more settings will blow the audience away. Looking at the depth and dimension, it's easy to imagine reaching out to grab a book, despite knowing it is only a painting.

One of the painted bookshelves that will be used on the set of the production.

Of course, no set is complete without props. One major aspect is the trees of the Black Forest. Made from huge cardboard tubes, with newspaper rolls added for the texture of the bark, and plaster covering them entirely, these trees are tall enough to seem like the real thing. The branches made from wire were inserted into drilled holes in the trunk and fastened securely. The branches were then wrapped in newspaper, and finally duct taped or plastered in place. Once they’ve been painted with careful attention to detail, the trees look like they must have been growing in the art room secretly for many years, in preparation for the production.

Crates and carts have been made by the school's very own Mr. DeBeck, one of the drama teachers leading the production. He has also helped to create several other key components to the set of the Beauty and the Beast, such as a jail cell and a bed. These carts were painted by the members of the Art Club to provide texture, looking as if they were actually made from wooden planks.

Set designers working on props and sets for the production.

A major focal point of the play is the incredible and infamous Enchanted Rose. Ms. Jurcic, the other art teacher leading the set design, and Mr. Williams, a tech teacher, have worked together to make this rose live up to its name. The petals of the rose were created from melted plastic, painted red, and coated with a light sheen of gold to give it a magical shimmer. A truly magical aspect of the rose is made possible through technology. In the story of The Beauty and the Beast, the rose’s petals fall off one by one, showing the time that the Beast has left to find true love.

Ms. Jurcic and Mr. Williams have made this feature possible by using solenoids, devices composed of a coiled wire, the housing, and a moveable armature. These solenoids will be used to push the rose petals out. The wires of the solenoids go through a hollow metal stem provided by Mr. Meneshian from the auto shop. Ms. Jurcic described the creation of the rose as, “both a stressful and interesting process as there is no manual for making this type of piece, just a lot of trial and error.” This Enchanted Rose is going to bring some truly enchanting effects.

Both students and teachers are excited to see the rose and other props bring the magic of theatre to life during the musical. The musical will be showing on December 7th, 8th, and 9th and ticket sales have begun, so get your tickets and make sure you don’t miss out on seeing this enchanting performance!