After an intensive search for talented youngsters to play the cute little teacup Chip, who is the son of the teapot Mrs Potts, the Beauty and the Beast team has settled on an awesome foursome: Yarin Neuhaus (8), Joshua Wolpe (9), Benjamin Hack (7) and Thulasizwe Cruickshank (10).

The announcement comes as rehearsals for the South African version of the hit Broadway musical got underway last week, after the international creative team from Disney Theatrical Productions arrived to supervise the production’s progress in cooperation with their South African counterparts. The Disney team includes associate director/choreographer Jacqueline Dunnley-Wendt, assistant choreographer Scott Owen, music supervisor Paul Christ and production stage manager Jeff Norman.

“The Chip auditions revealed some wonderful junior talent in this country,” says resident director Alan Swerdlow.  

“It was very tough choosing between all of those who hoped to play Chip, but in our search for charm, presence, personality, humour and musical talent, we found four very special boys who are sure to delight and endear themselves to all the audiences who come to experience the magic of Beauty and the Beast.”

Yarin is a Grade 3 learner at Crawford Preparatory School in Sandton. He has already featured in print and television commercials, and apart from singing and acting, he loves reading, playing the saxophone and practising the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira.

Another Crawford pupil, Benjamin revels in singing and dancing in front of an audience. This young extrovert has excelled in school productions and “approaches life with passion and an enquiring mind”, making sure he has lots of fun along the way.

Thulasizwe is in Grade 5 at Blairgowrie Primary, and this sporty lad loves tennis, boxing and soccer, and has Central Gauteng colours in gymnastics. He is also a dab hand at ballet, and has appeared in productions both at school and at Wits.

Rivonia Primary Grade 3 learner Joshua is an achiever both in the classroom and on the sports field, where he excels at soccer and cross-country running. Popular and outgoing, daring and adventurous, he gets a kick out of BMX trick riding and riding his motorbike.

The four lads will be alternating in the coveted children’s role of Chip, the little boy who has been transformed into a teacup after a spell was cast on the Beast and his servants, during Beauty and the Beast’s run at the Teatro at Montecasino, starting in October 2008.

The musical, produced by Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman and featuring a selection of South Africa’s top musical talent, will move to Cape Town’s Artscape in February 2009. Booking is open at Computicket.