The senior class of Newnan High School will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” April 29 through May 2 at NHS’s auditorium. Tickets are $8 and will be sold at the door. The performances are 3 p.m. April 29; 2:30 p.m. April 30; and 7 p.m. May 1 and 2.

Directed by NHS Choral Director Kathy Bizarth, this familiar “tale as old as time” is sure to be a hit for the entire family. In it, the lovely and bookish young Belle, played by Mary Anna Hendley, submits herself to living with the dreadful Beast, played by Brady Sumner, in exchange for the Beast’s sparing the life of her father Maurice (Joel Mosely).

The Beast is actually a young Prince (James Haney) who has been placed under a spell by a powerful Enchantress (Ashley Booth). Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast conceals himself in his bewitched castle with his faithful staff: Lumiere, the love struck candelabra (Justin Thompson); Cogsworth, the pompous clock (Corey Thompson); the kindly teapot Mrs. Potts (Melissa Porter) and an inquisitive teacup named Chip (Caitlyn Sweet). The Beast's only window to the outside world is a magic mirror. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn their love in return, before the last petal falls from the Enchanted Rose. If not, he will be doomed to remain a Beast for all time.

Other characters include the insufferable village bully Gaston (Rorry Hadden); his sidekick LeFou (Lee White); the Silly Girls who flirt with Gaston (Laura Bryan, Cari Hipp, Emily Kinrade, Abbie Schaffer); the Bookseller (Grayson Lyles); Babette, the sexy feather duster (Lauren Brown); the Enchanted Wardrobe (Kelsey Crow); the Rug (Spencer Lovvorn); the Bread Man (Taj Stephens); and the Wolves (Dylan Adam, James Haney).

The ensemble is made up of Jessica Baysinger, Justin Brown, Chelsea Brown, Madeline Brown, Megan Burrell, Cayley Byars, Elizabeth Dorrell, Gloria Ruth Finney, Marranda Hose, Katie Jeter, Leah Glazier, Katie Hendley, Lucy Hensley, Rebecca Holman, Preston LaMance, Ashlee Lewis, Jocelyn McConnaughey, Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Beth Moseley, Brittnay Parker, Jessica Swenson, Kristin Traylor, Robin Vance, Alan Walker, Jordan Wray, and Rachel Zechiel.

The conductor for the pit orchestra is John Erdogan; choreographer is Laura Prout. Set design is by Tyra Elliott, and lighting design is by Bob McKoon. The student director is Justin Thompson, who also serves as a student choreographer along with Mary Anna Hendley.

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