Elizabethtown townlively.com
APRIL 2, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 8
Unified bocce program champions inclusion BY CAT SHANNON
Just three years after its formation, the Unified bocce team at Elizabethtown Area High School has wrapped up a very successful season. The team,
The cast and crew of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.”
which features 10 members, took first place in its league at the end of February. The players went on to compete in regionals in early March, earning third place. For both the players and the See Bocce pg 7
Middle-schoolers invite you to be their guest
“We’ve done a lot in just a little amount of time, and I think it’s going to be amazing.” Her favorite number is the song “Home,” which showcases Belle’s feelings about being imprisoned in the castle and wanting her freedom before she realizes home is where the heart is, regardless of location. “I was really excited when I got this role,” Adalei shared, noting that she played ensemble parts in last year’s musical as a sixth-grader. “My No. 1 favorite song is ‘Home’ because it’s a very emotional song, and I really get
a chance to express how Belle is feeling. I really love the song.” She said embodying such a well-known character has been a fun challenge. “It’s not just about memorizing words and lyrics,” she shared. “ You have to put yourself in their shoes. Belle is sad, scared, nervous, excited. How would you feel if this story happened to you? You don’t want to be that boring kid that stands out there on the stage and just reads the lines like they’re reading from a book with no emotion.” Her castmate Callen McFeaters said playing one of the enchanted castle objects - Lumiere, a candelabra - has provided a chance to step outside of his comfort zone. “A lot of people might think it’s just about putting on the costume and playing the character,” said the eighth-grader. “It’s a lot more than that. You have to learn their personality. You have to be this personality. You have to act the role but also do it in your own way.” Callen has been working on perfecting a French accent for his role, and he’s excited for the opportunity to showcase his talents in Lumiere’s big number, “Be Our Guest.”
The Elizabethtown Area High School Unified bocce team
Shop for a cause with online auction BY CAT SHANNON
From now through the evening of Saturday, April 12, you can suppor t or phaned and at-risk children without leaving your home. Brittany’s Hope, an Elizabethtown-based nonprofit that supplies adoption grants for children with special needs, will host an online auction as part of its annual fundraising event, Brittany’s Ball. While the ball is sold out, the auction is open to anyone.
“There will be a huge variety of items - gift cards for outstanding and fun restaurants and adventures, spa and Botox packages, cookware and other home goods, even a ‘Bluey’ package, complete with a fun car!” shared Dana Myers, director of charitable giving for Brittany’s Hope. “There are fabulous items. So, if you are Easter, graduation or spring shopping, check out what we have to offer. Every single dollar you spend directly supports these amazing children and allows Brittany’s Hope
See Guest pg 9
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t’s a tale as old as time, and it’s coming to the stage at Elizabethtown Area High School. Students from Elizabethtown Area Middle School will present “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.” in the high school auditorium, 600 E. High St., Elizabethtown, at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. The stage adaptation of the animated classic, with music by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, also features new songs by Menken and Tim Rice. Set in a picturesque French village, the story follows Belle, a bright and independent young woman who longs for a life beyond her small town. When her father, Maurice, loses his way on his journey to showcase his latest invention, he stumbles upon a mysterious castle and is captured by the fearsome Beast. In an act of courage and love, Belle trades her freedom for his, embarking on a journey that will reveal the Beast’s hidden heart and the true power of love. “Because it’s a ‘junior’ show, there’s no kissing or anything like that,” said Adalei Marcarelli,
a seventh-grader who plays Belle. “A lot of people have asked me about that, but I told them, ‘This is the junior version of this show.’” She explained that the show is a bit shorter than the Broadway musical version, and while some scenes have been cut or reduced in scope, the show does include new songs that may be unfamiliar to the audience.
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See Auction pg 4
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BY CAT SHANNON