by Jen Oemig

CHELMSFORD – The Chelmsford High School Theatre Guild has announced the cast for this year’s musical, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Lily Rogers and Hadi Al Dayaa will be playing the lead roles of Belle and the Beast.

Gaston will be played by Ben Grant, Adam Pinto will bring life to Lumiere, and Armaan McCarthy will take on the role of Cogsworth.

The roles of Maurice and LeFou will be portrayed by Alex Kurth and Aditya Bura. Mrs. Potts will be played by Jocelyn Pica and Chip will be portrayed by Liam O’Neill.

And finally, Bella Travers and Mads Meehan will take on the roles of Madame and Babette.

Directing “Beauty and the Beast” will be Erica Lundin, a Chelmsford High School graduate who has assisted with choreography during past CHS Theatre Guild performances.

“I’ve been in theatre my whole life,” she said. “I started as a dancer when I was really young, and in fifth grade, I did my first show at a children’s theater in Concord … And fell in love with doing theatre.”

Lundin said she choreographed two shows during her junior and senior year at Chelmsford High School. Since then, she has performed in, choreographed and directed shows at college, as well as in community theaters throughout the region.

But it wasn’t long before Lundin found her way back to Chelmsford.

“[Former CHS theater teacher] Lauren Cochran asked if I would choreograph and help out with ‘Pippin’ and I said sure,” she said. “It was their first musical after COVID, so I choreographed that … and I’ve choreographed here the last three years.”

So, when Theatre Director Erin Maitland announced she would need to bow out from directing this year, Lundin said she jumped at the chance to take on that role.

“I felt like I was a good fit,” she said. “I know all the kids, I like doing this and I like working with the kids.”

Lundin said auditions, which were held the week of Sept. 9, went really well.

“All the students were really professional and did a great job,” she said. “We had a great turnout. Our cast is right around 56-57, which is awesome.”

Members of the main cast and ensemble are already hard at work rehearsing the songs and dance numbers for the show.

“I’m most excited about working with the students because I’ve known most of them for four years,” Lundin said. “They are all really talented, too. … They seem really invested. And I think a lot of students are really excited about this particular show.”

Though preparations are just getting started, Lundin said she has high hopes for this year’s production.

“Our set is going to be really cool and our production is going to be really great,” she said. “I’m excited to have people see it.”

Audiences will have four opportunities to catch the show, with evening performances slated for Nov. 21, 22 and 23, as well as a matinee on Nov. 23.