The Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” is slated for the Musical Theatre Guild's fall offering.

The show will run Oct. 13 to 15 on the Succop Theater on the Butler County Community College campus.

The show is under the direction of Larry Stock with Jenny Martin as musical director and producers Barb Osche and Matt Stalman.

Whitney Angeloni Ruediger is both choreographing the musical and starring as Belle.

The tale is about a beautiful young woman who trades her life for that of her imprisoned father in the castle of an ugly beast, who may not be what he seems.

Beautiful Belle teaches the beast to tame his anger and learn some manners. The pair weave a desperate and conflicted love story.

This stage adaptation of the animated Disney film is based on the original fairy tale adapted by Andrew Lang. This version is based on the 1991 Disney movie which dates back to the 18th century French fairy tale.

The large cast is comprised of many of Butler's best actors.

Jeff Carey of Butler plays Cogsworth, the English butler in the enchanted castle.

“I like the camaraderie between Cogsworth and Lumiere in the show and it is fun to play such a silly iconic character,” Carey said.

Carey's wife was asked to play the piano for rehearsals, so he decided to audition so they could do the show together.

“I was in 'Beast' one time before in the first staging that Sing Hosanna! produced. I played an ensemble part because they needed people to round out the cast,” he said of his experience.

In the role of Babette is Hailey Patsy of East Brady.

“Babette is a very flirtatious French maid. She is in a relationship with Lumiere, although she loves flirting with other men, which often makes Lumiere jealous. Babette, although very flirtatious and somewhat scandalous, has a very loving heart, and is always ready to help any of the other characters,” Patsy said.

The Karns City High School senior said she is enjoying the role.

“The thing I enjoy most about portraying Babette is being able to let my guard down on stage. Babette has an extreme amount of confidence within her that I love being able to capture on stage,” she said. She also noted that being able to play a feather duster is a pretty cool thing.

Her flirtatiousness is often over the top and that is a stretch at times for Patsy.

“I have never had the challenge of portraying a character quite like Babette, as I've always played serious roles in previous productions,” Patsy said.

The show is one of her favorite Disney movies, and she was eager to be a part of bringing it to life on stage.

“I have appeared in this show before. At the time, I was only 7 years old as I portrayed a teacup in Karns City High School's production of 'Beauty and the Beast,'” she recalled.

Tackling the role of the villain, Gaston, is Matthew Buzanoski of Butler Township.

“He is a unique villain when compared to other Disney baddies in the sense that rather than starting off inherently evil, he starts off as an arrogant, yet harmless, pretty boy,” said Buzanoski.

“It is when he is denied the one thing that he truly wants that he becomes a truly evil character,” he said.

He was delighted with the role because Gaston is his favorite Disney bad guy, he said.

“I get to sing some of my favorite Disney songs and am allowed to put a lot of creativity in a character that has a unique combination of comedic and heinous moments on stage,” he said.

The role of the Beast is being played by Patrick Erkman, and LeFou is being portrayed by Tyler Pollock with Mrs. Potts and Chip by Beth Ackelson and Gracie Persichini respectively. A myriad of others join in the cast and ensemble.

WHO: Musical Theatre GuildWHAT: Disney's “Beauty and the Beast”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, and 3 p.m. Oct. 15, with a special matinee at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 that has discounted children's tickets sponsored by the Butler EagleWHERE: Succop Theater at Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS: $17, available at www.mtgbutler.org