The fall musical for Sing Hosanna! will be “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” which opens Nov. 11 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.

A large cast of 80 actors from age 8 through their senior years is busy learning lines and accents in preparation.

The show is under the direction of Ralph Christy Jr.

Playing the Beast is Don Hixon of Forward Township.

Hixon directed this show at his school and knows it very well, he said.

“Each role is unique to every show. Every performance is a new opportunity to bring the story to life,” he said of how taking the stage is always a new experience.

“I just love the story and the music. Being the Beast has always been a role I wanted to try,” he said. “It is a timeless love story of learning to see a person's inner beauty.”

Hixon last took the stage as the Chairman of the bank in “Mary Poppins” for Sing Hosanna!

The role of Belle will be played by Catherine Fuellgraf Mowery of Union Township, Lawrence County.

“Belle is a smart, strong-willed young woman whose dreams are too big for her small town life. She yearns for adventure and never strays from her beliefs no matter what challenges face her,” Mowery said.

Mowery has been obsessed with the show for as long as she can remember, she said.

“It has been my dream to play the role of Belle. When I found out about the audition, I knew nothing would stop me from trying out,” said Mowery, who works in human resources for Fuellgraf Chimney & Tower.

Dale Riemer of Jefferson Township will portray the lovable Mrs. Potts.

“She has a son and has worked in the kitchen in the castle for many years taking care of the Prince/Beast. She adores her castle family,” said Riemer, who by day is the office manager at the Riemer Gas Co.

“We have many similarities: Mrs. Potts loves to cook and loves her family as much as I do,” Riemer said.

She reprises the role that she played nine years ago. She last played the Bird Lady in “Mary Poppins” with Sing Hosanna! She is looking forward to putting out a story that reminds us what it is like to believe in happy endings.

In another character role, Lumiere the candlestick will be portrayed by Nathan Rockcastle of Butler Township.

“Lumiere is always looking for the 'brighter' side of things. He is ever hopeful that we will achieve our happy ending, becoming human again,” said Rockcastle.

“He is one half of the comedic duo for the show, and the back-and-forth banter that he shares with Cogsworth is refreshing and upbeat,” he said.

Rockcastle is no stranger to the Sing Hosanna! productions, but he said he is always learning.

“I continue to develop various accents to fit characters and am able to bring comic relief where it is appropriate,” he said.

His comic relief partner, Cogsworth the clock, will be played by Matt Nocera of Butler.

“Cogsworth is the uptight leader of the servants. He tries to make sure that everything in the household runs smoothly,” said Nocera, a teacher at Butler Senior High School.

He said that he and Cogsworth have a few things in common. “I like to think I bring my sense of poise and need to have things in order. It's who I am in real life,” he said.

Nocera last played Horton the Elephant in “Seussical” with Sing Hosanna!

The other piece of furniture, the wardrobe, Madame de la Grand Bouche, will be played by Alisha Stephenson of Butler.

“She is a diva opera singer that was turned into a wardrobe,” said Stephenson, who said she has always wanted to be a part of “Beauty and the Beast” since she was a child.

Her love of singing blends well with that of her character. “I had to research some opera singers to see how they presented themselves as well as a famous opera piece to use with some of my lines,” she said.

Stephenson believes the Butler audience will definitely be pleased with the show. “There is so much talent involved plus it allows adults to go back to their childhood and share the memories with their kids,” she said.

In opposition to the Beast character is Gaston, being played by Duke Loring of Butler Township.

Loring describes Gaston as “loud, presumptuous, conceited, bit of a bore.”

The 53-year-old district sales manager by day said he is “loud, large and in charge” with a “very deep voice and a bit imposing.”

Though he thinks he's “not as talented at singing as the rest of my fellow cast members,” he said, “ I really enjoy working with this group; there is so much talent there, just glad to be a part of it.”

Loring said he has also played Clayton the villain in “Tarzan” as well.

WHO:Sing Hosanna!WHAT: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. Nov. 13WHERE: Succop Theater at Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS: $15, available at May’s Music ShoppeINFO: 724-287-8362