Fairy tales are the stories of childhood, but as the two high school shows opening this week in the northern suburbs demonstrate, they're also the stuff of more grown-up entertainment.

"Disney's Beauty and the Beast," which opens tomorrow, "may look cute, but it's a difficult show," said director Deborah Frauenholz.

Based on the 1991 Disney film, the story follows bookish Belle as she is imprisoned by the Beast, never suspecting he is an enchanted prince who must win her love to be returned to human form -- along with everyone in his castle, all of whom have been transformed into objects.

The score "isn't easy, and the orchestra is playing almost constantly," Ms. Frauenholz said. The music is by Alan Menken, composer for "Little Shop of Horrors" and numerous other Disney films, such as "Pocahontas" and "The Little Mermaid."

In addition, there are huge set demands plus specialty costumes that are required for the enchanted objects, Ms. Frauenholz said.

But, she said, the technical obstacles are nothing compared with the affection people have for the show. "When I announced it last fall, it was instant effervescence," she said of the students' reaction.

She added that the status of "Beauty and the Beast" as a children's classic has made it easier for her to recruit talent from the younger grades, which is important because Avonworth holds auditions for seventh- through 12th-graders.

Andrea Weinzierl is a 10th-grader who plays Belle. Despite her youth, she's an avid student of voice and dance, Ms. Frauenholz said.

The production also stars Mark Hartman as the Beast, Houston Hunt as Gaston, Ben Herchenroether as Maurice, Casey Cunningham as Cogsworth, Jen Kurtz as Mrs. Potts and Alex Righetti as Lumiere.

Ms. Frauenholz said she and the cast aim for a performance of professional quality, and she treats them as professionals.

"It's all about quality. I think my students are as close as they can be to professional performers."

"Disney's Beauty and the Beast" -- 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday and April 18 and 19 at Avonworth High School auditorium, 304 Josephs Lane, Ohio Township. Tickets: $10, $8 for students and seniors. Information: 412-366-6360 or avonworthtickets@aol.com.

Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" may be about fairy tales, "but it's not really a children's show," director Dan Franklin said.

The show, which opens tonight, debuted on Broadway in 1987 and includes characters from "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rapunzel," "Cinderella" and "Jack and the Beanstalk," but it was inspired by child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim's Freudian interpretations of fairy tales.

The characters and their stories may start out in familiar ways, but they quickly take off in new directions, and Mr. Franklin said Hampton's "Into the Woods" is the same way.

"We added an ensemble to it. That was a challenge," he said, referring to the fact that the play is written to be performed mostly by its main characters, without backup dancers and singers.

He said he and producer Andrew Halter also worked with the student dance captains to add lots of choreography, including a pack of female wolves that help the wolf in "Little Red Riding Hood."

Mr. Franklin said two of the characters, the baker, played by Dan Petrovich, and the baker's wife, played by Rachel Perry, are particularly dynamic onstage because of their friendship. "They co-directed the fall play, and that has carried over to their roles."

"Into the Woods" also stars Chelsea Waldo as the narrator, Lindsay Montgomery as Cinderella, Steve Benton as Jack, Maddie Georgi as Little Red Riding Hood, Melanie Thomas as the witch and Maddie Arnold as Rapunzel.

Mr. Franklin said despite the challenges, everyone connected with the production has risen to the occasion. He said the orchestra is made up of students, students built and painted the sets and they made about half the costumes. "I'm so proud of them all."

"Into the Woods" -- 6:30 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday at Hampton High School, 2929 McCully Road, Hampton. Tickets: $7. Information: 412-486-6000 or halter@htsd.k12.pa.us.