The magic of true love, inner beauty and dancing teapots is what鈥檚 in store for audiences at D.W. Poppy Secondary from Feb. 28 to March 3, as the school鈥檚 theatre and music departments join forces to present Beauty and the Beast.

And Disney fans of all ages are invited to be their guest.

鈥淲e wanted to do a family show, especially after doing Grease last year,鈥� said Poppy drama instructor, Amber Inglis.

And the timing couldn鈥檛 have been better, she said, thanks to a touring production of the Broadway show that just came through Vancouver.

鈥淭hey did all our advertising for us,鈥� she laughed.

Because the play is based on the 1991 movie, the story follows the Disney screenplay almost to the letter, Inglis said, so it will be very familiar to audiences.

And, as anyone who is acquainted with the tale knows, inanimate objects 鈥� candlesticks, clocks and dishes 鈥�  must be brought to life and a convincing beast created to reign over the chaos.

To that end, 鈥渃ostumes were my number one thing,鈥� Inglis said.

Designed and sewn by Stephanie Dieleman (the mother of one of Inglis鈥� students) with help from other parents and the school鈥檚 sewing teacher, the costumes are expected to be breathtaking.

鈥淚 know they鈥檙e going to be spectacular,鈥� Inglis said.

鈥淪he was the first phone call I made when we decided to do Beauty and the Beast.鈥�

Make-up was less of a concern, however. Because the beast has to transform on stage into a handsome prince, the best option was a mask and wig.

Musically, the show is fairly advanced, Inglis said.

The production features 50 performers, accompanied by a student orchestra.

With musicals having become the norm for high school productions, it鈥檚 important for students to have that background, she said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky to have a fairly strong music program at Poppy.

鈥淎ll our leads are accomplished singers.鈥�

That doesn鈥檛 happen by chance. At the beginning of the school year, anyone who expresses an interest in theatre is strongly encouraged to join one of the school鈥檚 vocal ensembles, Inglis said.

Grade 12 student Glen Jackson, who plays the beast, performs in a band and Amara Gelaude (Belle), who is also in her last year at the school, is a long-time choral student as well.

This year鈥檚 show contains a good mix of veteran performers and newcomers, Inglis said.

鈥淲e had some pretty strong Grade 8s show up for auditions and there are some pretty strong Grade 12 students we鈥檙e going to lose next year,鈥� she said.

鈥淵ou always look at the cast and think, 鈥極h, no. What are we going to do next year?鈥欌��

But experience has taught her that there are always younger students who have been literally waiting in the wings for their turn to step into the lead roles and shine.

And if beautiful, well-executed songs and elaborate costumes aren鈥檛 enough to tempt you, the promise of a fairy tale ending ought to do the trick.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of humour in it and it鈥檚 a very touching story,鈥� said Inglis.

鈥⑩赌⑩赌�

D.W. Poppy鈥檚 production of Disney鈥檚 Beauty and the Beast runs from Feb. 28 to March 3 at 7 p.m., with a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 3.

Evening performances are $10 for adults and $8 for students, seniors and children. Matinee admission is $7/$5.

Tickets are available from the school office or at the door. Poppy is located at 23752 52 Ave.