Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's Logan Sejas Cast in Nat'l Tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

He's gone from Beef & Boards to a Broadway tour - in less than three months!

Logan Sejas of Greenwood charmed audiences as young Michael Banks in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of Mary Poppins earlier this season. And now he's been selected to perform in another Disney musical, but this time for a national audience!

According to his mother, Kandra Sejas, it all happened rather quickly.

Logan's cast mate Kelly Teal Goyette, who played Mrs. Brill in Beef & Boards' production of Mary Poppins, had been cast in the upcoming National Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. She told the Sejases a young actor was still needed to play Chip, the inquisitive teacup who is the son of the enchanted teapot, Mrs. Potts.

"When I heard they were still looking for a Chip I knew he'd be perfect," Kelly said. "I really took to Logan. I've worked with kids before in shows and it's one of my favorite things because I'm in awe of what they are capable of and Logan was pretty much a pro. He even stuck it out one night when he had the flu - in pain off stage, but the biggest smile on stage - you never would have known!"

However, because Logan was on stage daily in Mary Poppins, he was unable to travel to New York City for the auditions. So his mother had him perform a few songs which she recorded on her phone and submitted to the tour. She said she didn't hear anything for a while, and had pretty much forgotten about it.

"Then we got a call and they said they'd like to see him for a callback," Kandra said. So less than two weeks ago they went to the Big Apple, where Logan auditioned in person.

For Logan, the trip to New York City itself was exciting. "It was really fun - we got to go to a lot of places like Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and we got to see The Lion King and Newsies!"

The audition itself was brief. "We were in and out in like 20 minutes," Logan said, admitting while he felt he'd done "pretty good," he couldn't be sure it had been enough. "After an audition I can usually tell if I got the part, but I had no idea this time!"

He auditioned on a Tuesday. Kandra received the call that Friday. "They called us and said 'We'd like to have Logan on board," Kandra said. "I was so surprised - after seeing how many people were in New York and how talented they were - I was shocked!"

Shock soon became excitement. Life is about to change, not only for 10-year-old Logan, but for the entire Sejas family. Kandra will be Logan's chaperone for the tour, and with him every step of the way.

"I will be homeschooling him during the day," she noted. Logan, who has attended St. Rose of Lima in Franklin, will be in the fifth grade this year. The tour will last the entire school year, with the final performance taking place at the end of May. Logan happily reported that he will be in Miami for his 11th birthday on Jan. 5 - then suddenly realized he'll be gone for another major event, too.

"I can't believe we won't be home at Christmas," he exclaimed. "What are we going to do?"

But the rest of his family, including his father, Dan, sister, Gabbie, 8, and brother, Corbin, 6, won't be far from him. Kandra explained that thankfully, her husband's job allows him to work from almost anywhere, so the family won't have to be apart during the tour. They've purchased a large van that will allow Dan, Gabbie and Corbin to hit the road and meet up with Logan and Kandra along the way.

There are more than 200 performances scheduled in the U.S. and Canada, and as Logan shares the role with another young performer, Kandra anticipates he will perform in about half of them.

"Logan is such a charmer," said Sam Scalamoni, associate director of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. "At the audition he was so good at being himself - just an adorable young man. I know he will be a great addition to our tour, bringing his dazzling smile to audiences across the country!"

"Logan is a fantastic young talent," agreed Eddie Curry, artistic director at Beef & Boards. "His professionalism and maturity go far beyond his years. He makes strong character choices and listens and executes direction better than some adults I have worked with. The future is bright for this kid."

Kelly Teal Goyette, who will play the role of Madame De La Grande Bouche (The Wardrobe), is excited to share the stage with Logan again.

"So happy to have a Beef & Boards family member on the road with me!" she said. "He should feel really great about himself. The actors hired for these parts not only have to be approved by the tour director, but they also have to be approved by the original Broadway creative team. They are in the final callbacks for these roles and they have that final say!"

Logan and his mother head back to New York City soon so he can begin the month-long rehearsal process. "I can't believe we're going to be there for a whole month," Logan said excitedly, adding he's eager to travel on the tour.

"I went Texas and to Chicago once," he said, "and we go to Florida sometimes for vacations, but nothing like this. My mom said it's going to be a whole year of adventure!"

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