Teacher Resource and Study Guide for Grades K-3
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
PACE Center January 20 – February 12, 2017
Contents
Pre-Show Activities:
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How to be an audience
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Theater words
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Pre-performance discussion
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Musical Synopsis
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Musical Words
Post-Show Activities:
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Musical Review
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Actor Bio
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Higher Level Thinking
21st century skills of creativity, critical thinking and collaboration are embedded in the process
of bringing the page to the stage. Seeing live theater encourages students to read, develop
critical and creative thinking and to be curious about the world around them.
This Teacher Resource Guide includes background information, questions, and activities that can
stand alone or work as building blocks toward the creation of a complete unit of classroom work.
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How to be a #1 Audience!
Here are a few guidelines for being a respectful audience member. Every person has a job to do to
make sure the live performance goes on! Here is how you can play your part!
1. Stay sitting in your seat.
2. Keep your hands and feet to yourselves.
3. If the actors ask the audience questions, it’s okay to answer!
4. You can laugh when something is funny!
5. Pay attention! Watch and listen carefully to what is going on.
6. Get ready to clap at the end of the show when the actors bow.
7. Have fun, enjoy the show, and be sure to share the story with your parents!
The Audience Game
Learn the difference between a #1, #2 and #3 audience
Teachers, here is a theater game to play with your students. It’s a fun way to reinforce what it
means to be a #1 listening audience and prepare for watching a play in the theater.
#1 Audience is quiet, stays still, and pays attention to what is going on.
#2 Audience whispers, fidgets a little, and looks around.
#3 Audience talks loudly, moves around, and doesn’t really care about what is happening on the
stage.
After explaining the differences among the different audience behaviors and having your class
practice each one, hold up one, two or three fingers to signal which audience the class should
pretend to be. Switch from one audience number to another to get the appropriate response. To be
tricky, you can hold up the same number finger twice or change numbers really quickly. You can also
have students, one at a time, take your place, allowing them to be the leader of the group by
holding up fingers and directing the class themselves.
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Theater Words!
How many theater words and their definitions do you know?
Actor – a person who uses their mind, body, and voice
and pretends to become a character on stage to tell a
story
Adaptation – when a story is changed from one form into
another; for example, a book can be changed into a play
or movie
Applause – when audience members clap at the end of
the show to thank the actors for a job well done
Audience – the people who are watching the show
Aside – a brief remark made by character and intended
to be heard by the audience and not by the other
characters
Audition – a brief performance done by actors for the
director of a play to decide what role the actor should
play
Backstage – areas intended only for actors and
crewmembers behind the stage
Blocking - the specific movements of actors on stage
Booth – small room for crewmembers to manage the
technical elements of the play, lighting, sound, and audio
“Break a leg” – a superstitious good luck wish exchanged
by actors who feel that saying “good luck” is a jinx
Call – time at which an actor is supposed to be at
rehearsal or performance
Calling the Show – the process of calling out lighting,
sound and scene-change cues during a performance;
usually done by a stage manager
Character – a person in a play created by the playwright
and represented by an actor
Choreographer – the artist in charge of creating the
dances and movements used by actors in the play
Composer – one who writes music
Conductor – one who directs the orchestra or band
Costumes – the clothes worn by actors in a play designed
to fit the era, mood and personality of the characters
Critic – a writer who reviews plays
Curtain – end of a scene or closing of a curtain to end
the act or scene
Curtain Call – the process of actors taking their bows,
receiving applause or being reintroduced to the audience
at the end of the play
Director – a person responsible for interpretation of the
play and making all final decisions on the production and
directs actors how to perform
Downstage – front area of the stage, nearest to the
audience
Improvisation – to make up as you go along
Lyricist – one who writes the words to a song
Makeup Artist – one who applies cosmetics to a
performer’s face and body
Mezzanine – the middle section of seats in a theater
between the orchestra and the gallery
Offstage – areas on the stage which are not seen by the
audience, where action can take place and be heard by
the audience or where actors wait for their entrances
Playwright – author of a play
Plot – the story of the play
Prop – any moveable item used on the set of a play or
handled by an actor
Proscenium – a form of staging in which an arch frames
the stage
Rehearsal – the time period before a play opens involving
the practice of the dialogue, movement, or rhythms of
the play
Script – the written words and stage directions created
by the playwright
Set – the background scenery that is on the stage to
show where the story takes place
Set Designer – one who creates the scenery for the
stage
Sitzprobe – the first rehearsal with both the performer
and the orchestra, no staging or dancing
Sound Board – a desk comprising a number of channels
where each sound source is provided with its own control
channel through which sound signals are routed to
change the sound
Stage Left – side of the stage on the actors’ left as
they face the audience
Stage Right – side of the stage on the actors’ right as
they face the audience curtain to end the act or scene
Technical Rehearsal – a rehearsal incorporating the
technical elements of a show such as the scene, lighting,
sound and special effects
Thrust Stage – a stage which extends out into the
audience area and the audience surrounds the stage on
three sides
Upstage – the part of the stage farthest from the
audience. Also means to steal the scene from another
actor by moving upstage
Wig Master/Mistress – one who obtains and customizes
wigs for performers to wear
Wings – the areas offstage right and left hidden from
the audience
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Before Seeing the Musical
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is an adaptation (when a story is
changed from one form into another; for example, a book can
be changed into a play or movie), of a fairy tale dating back to
the 18th century.
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Read an original version of the fairytale. The earliest truly
similar version to the one we know today was written by
Madame Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont in 1756.
Talk about how this is different from the Disney movie
version.
Why did the spirits want to punish the Prince by turning
him into a beast?
What were they trying to teach him?
How is Beauty different from her sisters?
Why do Beauty’s sisters dislike the beast and not want her
to go back to him?
What does the Beast learn about friendship? Describe what you think a friend should be like.
Synopsis of an early version of Beauty and the Beast:
O
nce upon a time, a handsome and arrogant young prince ventured into an Enchanted
Forest in search of a fabled palace full of gold and riches. While traveling, he is observed by
several forest spirits, who find him to be surly and rude. They decide the Prince should be
punished for his behavior and cast a spell that transforms him into a hideous beast to suit his
manners. To teach him a lesson, the spirits decree that the spell shall not be broken and he shall
remain frozen in time in the Enchanted Palace until the cruel Prince’s heart is softened enough
to win the love and marriage of a maiden.
Many years pass, and the heart of the Beast has indeed softened somewhat when a business
man finds himself lost in the forest and is guided by the spirits to the Enchanted Palace. He stops
to pick a rose to take home to his daughter, Beauty, but is discovered by the Beast who becomes
angry and threatens to kill him. The Beast decides to spare the man’s life, but requests that he
return home and send Beauty back to the Enchanted Palace. The man refuses to endanger his
daughter, but against her Father’s will, she goes to meet the Beast to save her Father’s life.
Beauty is brave and demands courtesy and kindness from the Beast, who finds even more
success in taming his temper with Beauty’s help. It isn’t until the Beast releases Beauty to go
care for her now ailing Father that she realizes she does truly love the Beast. She returns to the
Palace just in time to profess her love, accept his marriage proposal, and break the beastly spell.
In a magical moment, the Beast is returned to his Princely appearance and explains to Beauty
the transformation and the spirit’s curse. The Prince, Beauty, her Father and sisters are now free
to dance and rejoice in their good fortune!
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Musical Synopsis
The Prince, living in a glorious castle, is disturbed one winter’s night by an old beggar woman. She
comes and offers him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. He is repulsed by her
appearance and turns the old woman away. The old woman’s ugliness melts away to reveal a
beautiful enchantress. Though the Prince is apologetic when he sees her beauty, the enchantress
turns the cruel, unfeeling Prince into a hideous Beast. His stubborn pride compels him to remain in
his bewitched castle with Lumière, the love-struck candelabra; Cogsworth, the pompous clock; the
kindly Mrs. Potts; and an inquisitive teacup named Chip. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to
love another and earn her love in return before the last petal falls from the Enchanted Rose. If
not, he will be doomed to remain a Beast for all time.
Belle is a beautiful and intelligent young woman who
lives with her father, Maurice, in a small village. When
the Beast imprisons her father, Belle offers herself
to the Beast in return for her father’s release. The
Beast accepts Belle’s offer to exchange places. Later
in the story, the Beast falls in love with Belle, but is
afraid to tell her. He offers instead his Magic Mirror
and her freedom to rejoin her father in the village.
Belle unknowingly betrays the Beast to Gaston, who
leads a frenzied mob to destroy the Beast. At the
Castle, the Enchanted Objects repel the mob, but
Gaston manages to stab the Beast in the back. Gaston
is thrown to his death.
The Beast, dying from his wounds, tells the weeping
Belle that he is happy that he got to see her one last time. Belle tells him that she loves him. The
last petal on the Enchanted Rose falls. A magical transformation changes the Beast into the Prince
once again. The spell has been broken! All the servants are also now human again, and everyone, as
the saying goes, lives happily ever after.
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Words from the Musical
Acceptable: adjective; Worthy of being accepted.
Appalling: adjective; Causing dismay or horror.
Appearance: noun; Outward aspect.
Arbor: noun ; A shady resting place in a garden or park, often made of rustic work or latticework
on which plants, such as climbing shrubs or vines, are grown.
Bloodthirsty: adjective; Eager to shed blood.
Chamber: noun; A room in a house, especially a bedroom.
Civilized: adjective; Polite, well-bred; refined.
Command: verb; To direct with specific authority or prerogative.
Conversion: noun; Change in character, form, or function.
Demand: verb; To ask for urgently or peremptorily.
Departure: noun; The act of leaving. Starting out, as on a trip or a new course of action.
Disappointed: adjective; Depressed or discouraged by the failure of one's hopes or expectations.
Disgust: verb; To excite nausea or loathing in; sicken.
Envious: adjective; Feeling, expressing, or characterized by envy.
Foolish: adjective; Lacking or exhibiting a lack of good sense or judgment.
Hero: noun; A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has
risked or sacrificed his or her life.
Honor: noun; A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction.
Humiliating: adjective; Lowering the pride, self-respect, or dignity of a person.
Impatient: adjective; Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless.
Inn: noun; A public lodging house serving food and drink to travelers; a hotel.
Merchant: noun; One whose occupation is the wholesale purchase and retail sale of goods for
profit.
Merit: noun; A quality deserving praise or approval; virtue.
Mock: verb; To treat with ridicule or contempt; tease.
Monster: noun; A creature having a strange or frightening appearance.
Ninny: noun; A fool or simpleton.
Noble: adjective; Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity,
or honor.
Port: noun; A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships.
Repulsive: adjective; Causing repugnance or aversion; disgusting. Tending to repel or drive off.
Resolved: adjective; To come to a definite or earnest decision about.
Shelter: noun; Something that provides cover or protection, as from the weather.
Unlucky: adjective; Subjected to or marked by misfortune.
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Write your own Musical Review!
A reviewer’s job is to see a play and write about what they liked and what they did not like. Now it
is your turn to write or draw a review and share your ideas!
Parker Arts Press
Who was your favorite character and why?
Hot off the press! Read the latest review by:
Teachers, if you would like to share your students’ reviews, you can mail them to:
PACE Center, Attn: Kirstin Fletcher, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave. Parker, CO 80138
We look forward to reading them!
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Create your own Actor Bio!
Actors write bios or short paragraphs about themselves for the audience programs so that we
learn about who they are, what other plays they have been in and what sorts of things they like to
do. Now is your chance to write an actor bio about yourself!
(name)
is a student at (school)
and is in the (number)
grade. He/She loves going to see PACE
Center shows, especially Beauty and the Beast!
(Name’s)
favorite subject at school is
(favorite subject)
because (why?)
.
After school, he/she really loves to play (activity)
and also (activity)
If (name)
.
had three wishes, they
would be:
(wish #1)
,
(wish #2)
, and
(wish #3)
.
He/She would like to thank (name of person to thank)
because (why?)
.
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Higher Level Thinking
Comprehension and Reflection - Engage your students in the following questions:
1. Think about a character in Beauty and the Beast. What are his/her character traits? How
are you like the character? How are you different?
2. How did the music and sound effects help tell the story?
3. What feelings did each character show (joy, sorrow, fear, amazement, surprise, etc.)?
4. After seeing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, what questions do you have (“I wonder. . .”)
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138
Higher Level Thinking
Writing and Discussion - Engage your students in the following questions:
1. Are “ugly” people beautiful?
In this story and other fictional tales (remember The Frog Prince?) we have discovered that
behind an unattractive face is a very attractive person. This happens in real life too. Perhaps
you have read about or known someone afflicted with a disfiguring disease who is very kind and
loving. Have you ever experienced this personally or known anybody like this? Is it fair to say that
unattractive people have unattractive personalities and vice versa?
Write a couple of sentences relating your opinion. Then, consider whether how someone looks
physically is a good measure of their personality or perhaps useful in predicting how they will
behave if you interact with them. Maybe hair color and imperfections don’t matter, but the way
someone smiles, sneers, laughs, or shakes your hand matters a great deal?
Discuss with your classmates. Be sure not to use anyone’s real name in your explanation.
2. Can beautiful people be ugly?
Sometimes the most attractive person can also be the meanest and ‘ugliest.’ Someone may be
pleasant to look at, but nevertheless cruel and hurtful. Have you ever experienced this? Has a
‘beautiful’ person tried to make you feel ugly? If yes, jot down the details of your experience. If
no, use your imagination to make up a fictional experience in which you meet someone beautiful who
is in the end ugly nonetheless. Then, consider whether you would prefer to meet someone who is
beautiful on the outside, or someone who is beautiful on the inside.
Explain your reasoning in the class discussion that will follow. Be sure not to use anyone’s real name
in your explanation.
www.ParkerArts.org/Education Box Office: 303.805.6800 Education: 303.805.3374
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue Parker Colorado 80138