Two Athlone secondary schools taking their musicals to the stage this week

The preparations are almost over for two Athlone secondary schools which will be performing their musicals on stage this week.

Athlone Community College is staging its production of Beauty and The Beast over four consecutive nights in the Dean Crowe Theatre, starting tonight (Tuesday).

And the 2023 Transition Year class at Coláiste Chiaráin will also be performing their annual musical performance - which this year is a pantomime by Paul McCarrick entitled Star Warz - A Panto Menace - in the school gymnasium on Wednesday and Thursday, November 22 and 23.

The Athlone Community College performances of Beauty and The Beast will begin at 8pm on each of the four nights.

Tickets are on sale through the Dean Crowe website for €16.50 (Concessions €13.50 for tonight's show only). Many of the tickets have been snapped up already, with some of the nights very close to being sold out at the time of writing.

Under the experienced tutelage of musical producer Hilary Cunningham, and music director Eva Coyle, the cast members have been polishing their lines and stretching their vocal ranges during rehearsals in recent weeks.

The set design and costumes for the show have also been created by the students, who have been displaying a wide range of artistic and creative skills in preparation for the show.

At Coláiste Chiaráin, Star Warz - A Panto Menace is being produced by Claudia O'Sullivan, Declan Gardiner and assisted by music teacher Lucy Nally.

The show will be staged at 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets, priced €10 (adults) and €5 (students), are on sale now but the school said they are "almost sold out".