Alethea Koskey as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” which opens at 4 p.m. Sunday at Parkersburg South High School with a dinner show. Other shows are at 7 p.m. April 20, 21 and 22 and 2:30 p.m. April 23. Tickets are available through the Parkersburg South High School “Beauty and the Beast” Facebook page. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — An ageless love story takes the stage at Parkersburg South High School where the theater department will present “Beauty and the Beast.”

The production opens with a dinner show at 4 p.m. Sunday at Parkersburg South High School. Other shows are 7 p.m. April 20, 21 and 22 and 2:30 p.m. April 23. Tickets are available through the Parkersburg South High School “Beauty and the Beast” Facebook page.

“Beauty and the Beast” is the story of a prince turned into a beast as punishment and, to become his former self, must gain the love of a beautiful woman, Belle. They find true character and beauty is that which is within.

Playing the Beast and Belle are Caleb Rowan and Alethea Koskey, respectively. Both are excited to be in the production.

But the Beast’s costume took a little getting used to, said Rowan, a junior.

Caleb Rowan as Beast in Parkersburg South High School’s production of “Beauty and the Beast.” (Photo Provided)

“It definitely had some issues,” he said.

Koskey at first struggled with memorizing the lines, but things have come together and she realizes the moral of the story.

“Home is where the heart is, and sometimes home changes,” she said.

Rowan has been in theater since the sixth grade, appearing as Geppetto in “My Son Pinocchio” and the Rev. Shaw in “Footloose the Musical.”

Koskey, a senior, is vice president of Thespian Troupe 1540. She has performed in “Godspell,” “Footloose the Musical” and as woman No. 2 in the South competition show “Conflict.”

The orchestra rehearses for “Beauty and the Beast,” which opens with a dinner show at 4 p.m. Sunday at Parkersburg South High School. Other shows are 8:30 a.m. April 19, 7 p.m. April 20, 21 and 22 and 2:30 p.m. April 23. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors, $10 general adult, and are available through the Parkersburg South High School “Beauty and the Beast” Facebook page. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Director is Doug Parks, director of the Theater Department.

“It’s going really smoothly,” Parks said. “It’s really satisfying getting all the performing arts departments working together.”

The musical is a product of the choir, band and theater departments working together, he said.

“I actually let the seniors pick the show this year. I thought it was fair since they were the class that didn’t get to put on a show their freshman year,” said Parks.

Members of the cast are: Clara Scholl, narrator; Greyson Erb, Young Prince; Olivia Raber, Old Beggar Woman; Alethea Koskey, Belle; Braden Deguzman, Gaston; Felix Ozanick, Lefou; Andrew Hanna, Maurice; Jayme Short, Monsieur D’arque; Dillon Fountaine, Shepherd; Cate Evans, Marie; Nicholas Fowler, Tavern Master; Erin Miihlbach, Laundry Lady; Jantzen Karcher, Baker; Lexi Hoover, Milkmaid; Alexis Smith, Flower Seller; Isaiah Albertus, Candle Maker; Jordan Riddle, Hat Seller; Britney Henthorn, Bookseller; Zane VanFossen, Cronie 1; Henry Cain, Cronie 2; Vanessa Mackey, Les Filles la Ville One; Sarah Ervin, Les Filles La Ville Two; Ali Evans, Les Filles La Ville Three; Caleb Rowan, Beast; Kaleb Windland, Cogsworth; Isaac Bradley, Lumiere; Ashlyn Limer, Babette; Madison Binkney, Mrs. Potts; Zoe Koskey, Chip; Alexandra Deshetler, Madame De La Grande Bouche; Kendall Abilmona, Persian Rug; Zander Parks, Nic Amos, Gargoyle/company; Emma Cain, Willow Casto, Miley Hoover, Kaelynn Seebaugh, Anna Ware, Ryanne Erb, Elaina Koskey, Analeigh Bennett, Eisley Morrison Adams, Averie Whitacre, Erika Heasley, Kloe Hickel, Stacia Knowlton, Alayna McIntosh, Chaylen Underwood, Arianna Petty.

The cast of “Beauty and the Beast,” the production by the theater department at Parkersburg South High School that opens at 4 p.m. Sunday with a dinner show. (Photo Provided)

Pit band and technical crew: Caytlin Matheny, percussion; Kelly Bargeloh, clarinet; Alyssan Dowler, clarinet; Garrett Lewis, saxophone; Issabella Wilcoxen, flute; Paul Smith, trumpet; Aiden Shreeves, piano; Audrey Sundstrom, piano; Abbey Ferrell, saxophone; Ethan Perry, French horn; Adam Woolard, bass guitar; Patrick Arnold, student TD; Jamie Wilcoxen, stage manager; Lydia Gump, tech crew.

Staff: Douglas Parks, director; Kristen Allodi, assistant director; Jennifer Ratliff, vocal music director; Gracie Parks, choreographer; Delainey Parks, assistant director; Jennifer Parks, production assistant; Jason Osborn, set design and construction; Justin Rowan, construction; Lori Ullman and Shauri Morrison, hair and makeup; Craig Arnold, sound and lighting; Vanessa Mackey, costumes; Patrick Arnold, sound, lighting and projections.