Director Grant Johnson and musical director Leanne McCready have assembled one of the largest casts in many years, with 50 people set to take to the stage.

Mr Johnson is thrilled with how the show is shaping up and how the cast have taken to their characters.

"The character list is huge, with each person in the cast bringing to life at least three different roles on stage, and they are all doing a brilliant job," he said.

Belle and the Beast are the best known characters in the show and are being played by the very talented Eliza Seres and Riley Mason.

There are also the lovable enchanted objects in the Beast's castle, including Cogsworth the clock (Richard Draper), Lumiere the candelabra (Derek Pope), Mrs Potts the teapot (Kristine Hughes), Babette the feather duster (Jan Pope), Chip the tea cup (Jaelyn Brand), and Madame de la Grande Bouche the wardrobe (Deb Slorach), as well as bad guy Gaston (Ian McCready) and his side kick Lefou (Rhys Sheffield), Maurice, Belle's father (Doug Koschel), Monsieur D'Arque (Daryl Chaplin) and the narrator and marble caryatid (Jamie Hartwich).

Then there are also a bunch of villagers, wolves, cutlery, plates, napkins and other assorted household objects, making for a fantastic cast.

"It's a great show for people of all ages and delivers really important messages interwoven into a beautiful fairy tale," Mr Johnson said.

"I can't wait for audiences to see all the hard work of the cast and crew brought to life on stage.

"It is a show for all the family and tickets are sure to sell quickly."

Because of the family friendly nature of the production, the society has decided to stage two matinees of Beauty and the Beast.

Show dates and times are Friday June 21 - 8pm, Saturday June 22 - 8pm, Sunday June 23 - 2pm, Friday June 28 - 8pm, Saturday June 29 - 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are available at the Ararat Performing Arts Centre or through www.trybooking.com.au