GIRARD — St. Rose School Principal Anthony Catale said he made the right decision when he hired Hannah Corbett as the new school secretary.

“When I first took the job, Mr. Catale said he was interested in (the kids) doing a performance, and I have a theater background. I said ‘I would love to teach these kids theater. Let’s do a show,'” Corbett said.

Her theater background includes theater camp performances, high school and college shows and “Wait Until Dark” with Trumbull New Theater performed at the Robins Theatre in Warren.

The school created a drama club and the musical, “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” was selected for their initial performance. Rehearsals began in January after students auditioned with a song from the show.

“It is one of my favorite Disney movies. I did it in high school. I was familiar with it and I thought being a first-time performance, let’s do something that I know. I know how to block (tell the actors where to move and stand during a scene). I know how to choreograph (dance moves). I am familiar with the songs,” Corbett said.

She, along with first-grade teacher Amanda Leone, co-directed the first theatrical production at the school in more than 40 years.

“Since we are co-directing, I can take some of the kids and work on maybe choreography while Hannah has another group onstage working on another part of the show,” Leone said.

There were 50 students involved in producing the musical, with three performances that took place over the weekend.

“They are really excited for the performances. The kids do everything from lights to sound to building the sets to performing on stage,” Leone said prior to the first show on Friday.

For many of the students — other than a dance recital — this was the first time they appeared in a musical where they had to not only dance, but sing, say lines, learn choreography, have costume changes and know when to enter and exit the stage.

Other students have more theater experience. Addison Cann, a fourth grader who played Babette, has appeared in Easy Street Productions and eighth grader Ava Melfi, who portrayed Belle, has performed in improv shows through Hart’s School of Performing Arts.

Family and friends showed their support by attending the show and marveled at their loved one’s talent.

“Neither her dad or I are musically inclined, though her dad can draw. We don’t know where she gets her talent,” Tracy Melfi said about her daughter, Ava.

“She is so calm. I am nervous for her,” said Ava’s grandma, Monica Merrell.

It takes more than just the cast onstage to create a live performance. The stage crew is an extremely important part of the production, and not every child wants to be onstage in front of the audience.

“I like being backstage and helping the production,” said sixth grader Noah Hicks. His sister, Eve, is in the show.

Eighth grader Olivia Thompson performed onstage and backstage tasks during the performance.

“I was Assistant Stage Manager. I also helped Ava with her costume change into the yellow gown,” Thompson said. She begins the show as the Old Beggar Woman / Enchantress who turns the prince into the beast.

Although the students run the show, Corbett and Leone are on either side of the stage to help them if the need arises. Many of the older students had younger siblings who also were part of the cast.

Olivia Bugzavich, an eighth grader, portrayed Lefou, while her sister, Annabelle Bugzavich, a sixth grader, was Lumiere. Sixth grader Kyrene Shylock portrayed Mrs. Potts, and her siblings, Oliver Sharlock and Clara Sharlock, were sheep.

Also, Addison’s sister, Aubrey, was one of the sheep.

Younger students are hopeful to perform when they reach third grade.

“My son, Jace, is in kindergarten so he is not old enough to be in the play, but he wants to do so when he is in third grade,” Dana Creatore said. Her older daughters, fifth grader Gracie Anderson portrayed Maurice and fourth grader Avery Anderson was Narrator No. 2.

St. Rose School Drama Club members are in grades three through eight.

“For dress rehearsal, we performed the show for the students in kindergarten through third grade. This gave the performers experience in front of a live audience. I had to explain to them that some of the things they say during the show are funny and people may laugh,” Corbett said.

With the enthusiasm of the audience and the performers, the newly formed St. Rose School Drama Club should look forward to a future performance in the next school year.