One Christmas, when I was five years old, we visited my extended family in Arizona. This was around 1992, when Beauty and the Beast had just come out. I loved that movie. Maybe that is an understatement. I was obsessed with it. Yes, that is better; I would watch it over and over, and I had the entire movie memorized. I went through days of dreaming and acting like I was Belle. So, it should not come as any surprise that on this Christmas, I convinced my family that we needed to put on a play version of the movie.
We got out our video recorder and started taping. I naturally was Belle, however, since I was the one that knew it best, I could also be seen breaking character and directing my family throughout this home video. Little did I know that I would really be directing and teaching as a career later in life! That would have saved me a lot of headache wondering what I should do with my life, if I just would have realized that directing was my passion at five years of age!
Needless to say, Beauty and the Beast holds a special place in my heart. I grew up with being mesmerized by the music and the love story. I also always loved how Belle is a bright young woman who has independent ideas, but is also fiercely loyal. While she is beautiful on the outside, it is her light and inner beauty that breaks through the dark curse.
This story today is still very important and relevant. It reminds us that goodness and light are more powerful and can overcome darkness. Just like Jesus overcame death on a cross. When things seem bleak, we must remember that there is always hope and there is always light. Belle overcame the darkness and saw through the outer appearance of the Beast. She looked deep into his heart and saw all that he could be. This is what Jesus does for us; He sees all that we can be and encourages us to be the best version of ourselves. With God, there is light and hope, and as Christians we are created to be bearers of that light, to be His hands and feet in the world.
At St. Anthony of Padua, we all strive to teach content, but we also strive to be bearers of the light of Christ and to share that with everyone we meet, especially our students. That way, even the darkest situations can be overcome, just as Belle is able to do in this beautiful musical!
It is no accident that the first show we are doing again is Beauty and the Beast Jr. We did this back in 2017, and I’m overjoyed that we are able to bring it back to the St. Anthony of Padua stage. I am so pleased to present to you a story as old as time, Beauty and the Beast! Sit back and enjoy this timeless tale about how light and hope with always conquer evil!
God bless you all!
Mrs. Jessica Garcia
