Aug 26, 2026
School is back in session, but what did students and staff do all summer? For a group of Central Decatur students, alumni, and staff, they performed or worked behind the scenes in Leon Community Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Current students Jazlyn Byrd, Reese O’Dell, Livvy Reed, Bianca Swartz, and Alex Williams, along with former elementary student Daniel Murphy and recent graduates Cadence Clark, Maggie Layton, Aries McGuire, Seth Reed (LeFou), Dayson Short (Cogworth), and Kendra Williams were in the show. Sophomore Anden Hall worked the spotlight and Junior Janelle Johnson did projections. Former alumni Cierra Clark Fountain ’15 (Belle), Jerri Eakes ’95, Annalise Minnick ’15 (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Tyler Reed ’00 (Gaston), and Sam Wengryn ’07 (Monsieur D’Arque) also joined in the fun on stage while Danielle Sandage Reed ’08 worked on the backstage crew. English teacher Ms. Emily Layton was Ms. Potts, and Mr. Steve Neilssen, band director, played the Beast. It was a fun production and the community packed the house!