Belle and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, portrayed by Elaine Cotter and Joey Birchler

WARSAW — Wagon Wheel Theatre kicks off its summer, 2016 season, with Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”  Wednesday, June 1, through Saturday, June 11 at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts. The production is sponsored by Zimmer-Biomet.

The classic fairy tale tells of Belle, a French girl who dreams of more than her provincial life. While lost in the woods, she stumbles upon an enchanted castle ruled by a monstrous beast, who is really a handsome prince under the spell of an enchantress. If he can fall in love before the final petal falls from his magic rose, the spell will be broken.

The Wagon Wheel’s take on the “tale as old as time” will feature Elaine Cotter as Belle and Joey Birchler as the Beast. Both Cotter and Birchler are recent graduates from Indiana University’s BFA musical theatre program. This is Cotter’s second season at the Wagon Wheel and Birchler’s first.

According to Wagon Wheel staff, at least two shows are sold out, so those wishing to attend are encouraged to reserve tickets soon.

Tickets are $36 for adults, $16 for children 12 and under, $20 for students 13 through college, and $28 for seniors (opening night, as well as Sunday and Thursday matinees).

Tickets can be purchased online at www.wagonwheelcenter.org, over the phone at (574) 267-8041, and in person at the theatre.

The box office is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, and Saturday 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Summer hours, which begin on June 1, are 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.