DePaolo Student Brings Talent to Area Stages

Southington's Bridget Corcoran, a.k.a. "Belle," will make her hometown debut as a leading lady next month in a traveling performance of the musical Beauty and the Beast.

The 14-year-old star of the stage has been touring the Northeast since February with the Newington Children's Theater and, after performances throughout the state in recent weeks, she's looking forward to the upcoming stop in Southington on April 10.

Corcoran has been on stage since the second grade, first falling in love with theater when she performed in The Little Mermaid. She joined Newington Children's Theater three years ago, scoring her first leading role this year.

"I was really excited when I got the part, but I was really nervous for the first show," Corcoran said. "Now, because we've rehearsed so much and we've done about 10 shows, I'm not so nervous."

Children's Theatre President Richard Roth said about 50 children, ages 10 to 18, auditioned from 12 towns for the touring company. The cast is comprised of 28 kids, who have been touring towns including West Hartford, Burlington and Hamden since February.

Connecticut's oldest operating children's theater and the state's only touring theater, Newington Children's Theater mission is twofold, Roth said. First and foremost, he said, the theater fosters teamwork and commitment, encourages self-discipline and self-esteem, and inspires creativity.

"That's what it's all about," Roth said. "I've seen kids come in who were incredibly shy and now they're very comfortable being around each other and on stage."

The theater's second goal is to offer families the opportunity to experience quality live theater at affordable prices.

Newington Children's Theater is a volunteer-run non-profit organization with many community members and parents helping out on stage design, costuming and more.

"Sometimes it's a challenge because some of the stages are smaller, so we have to rearrange things," Corcoran said. "At one point I do a dance scene, and I had to be careful not to fall off the stage."

The S0uthington performance will be exciting, but bittersweet, she said.

"I'm excited because more of my friends might come and it will be fun being in my own town," Corcoran said. "But it's always sad when it ends because we spend so much time together, and after it's over we watch slide shows and that kind of thing."

The Southington performance, which is the last show in the tour, will take place on Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. in the Derynoski Elementary School auditorium. Tickets can be purchased by calling 860-666-6282.