The Beast is in the details of putting on a tight production - but the Beauty will be in the magic of the performance.

Linda Alsept and students from the Williston School District have been working around the clock to bring Walt Disney's version of "Beauty and the Beast," to life in the high school auditorium next week.

"I haven't been home before 8 p.m. in the past two months," said Alsept.

Alsept is the drama and chemistry and physics teacher for the Williston-Elko High School.

Alsept - along with 42 high school and middle school students and five other adults - have been perfecting their lines on "Beauty and the Beast," and getting ready to take it out in the public spotlight.

The play is on Feb. 4, 5 and 6 at the Williston-Elko District auditorium.

It is a play Alsept has been wanting to do it for the last three years.

"It has beautiful music," said Alsept on the the Alan Menken score with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

Alsept plays piano and Elisabeth Davis accompanies her on digital keyboards.

When The People-Sentinel spoke to her Jan. 24 by telephone, she was busy directing students and helping move parts of the set around during the interview.

She has been staging plays and guiding students across the stage in the district since 1995.

"Mrs. Alsept has taught us a lot and we all love her," said sophomore Jordan Raska.

And it's a love and respect that extends back for many of the students in "Beauty and the Beast."

"A lot of the kids in this play were the orphans in "Oliver," said Alsept. "This is a great cast."

"Oliver" was performed in 2005.

Rehearsals for the play began in September, said Alsept.

The stage features a two-level castle with full staircase and Gothic architecture that took 200 hours to build, said Alsept.

David and Lisa Phillips of Williston as well as Beth Anderson built the set.

"This is my fifth year doing plays and this is the best set design I have ever seen," said senior Monica Carpenter.

Playgoers can expect a two-hour plus show, said Alsept.

"It is one of the more complicated plays we have done because of the black lights," she said.

And it will be different kind of show that Barnwell County residents haven't seen before when the lights go down in the auditorium.

"The theatre conventions are different and lends itself to special effects," said Alsept.

During a recent play rehearsals, the students and Alsept showed an enthusiasm and dedication that won't be leaving the stage soon.

"Mrs. Alsept is so dedicated to her work - she will come back and haunt this theater. The lights will flicker and you know it will be a good show," quipped sophomore Paul Walkup.

The price for "Beauty and the Beast" is $7 and 3-year-olds and under are free if they sit on a lap.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and show starts at 7 pm. No reserve seats are allowed.

For information and tickets see a cast member or call Williston-Elko High School (803)266-3110.

Disney's Beauty And The Beast is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.