It may be a tale as old as time, but it is still a crowd-pleaser. The Neumann University Players invite everyone to be their guest at Disney's Beauty and the Beast on March 16 through March 19.

John Baxter directs this show with help from NU alumna Catherine Callahan '20, who worked on many shows when she was a student. Baxter refers to her as a "natural" and says her specialty is her knowledge of big musicals. She is working closely with choreographer Ashley Diamond '22 and music director Dr. Rick Sayers. There are 27 students in the production.

"We always try to get a musical that we can tailor to our available talent, and I knew that we would have no problem filling this one out. Plus, it's light, uplifting, and the kind of musical that plays well here," Baxter said.

Watch Matt Glass as he portrays the Beast trying to break the castle spell by wooing Belle, played by Hayley Hughes. The enchanted objects that come to life in this endearing tale, along with the original score written by Alan Menken, make this production a favorite of audiences, young and old.

"I wanted the role of the Beast because it has been one I wanted since I was in middle school. When my sister was in high school, she was in all of the musicals, and this was the first one I saw her in. When I saw the guy in her cast who played the Beast, I realized I wanted to start acting and performing in general," he explained. "So not only is this character one that seemed really intriguing to play, but he also sparked a new passion of mine that would continue for roughly ten years."

Meagher Theatre showtimes are March 16, 17, and 18 at 8:00 p.m. and March 19 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $10, $5 for seniors and students. On March 16, all students with an ID are admitted for free. For more information, call the box office at 610-558-5626.