Beauty and the Beast Tickets
Opened: April 18, 1994
Genre: Musical
Beauty & the Beast Director: Robert Jess Roth
Beauty & the Beast Music By: Alan Menken
Beauty & the Beast Lyrics By: Howard Ashman & Tim Rice
Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Almost everyone is familiar with Beauty and the Beast. The classic 1991 film is considered to be one of the best animated movies of all time and was the first to be nominated for Best Picture. Its memorable characters, music, and resonating message have made it almost required viewing for children and adults worldwide. With such a popular story, it's no surprise that the musical based on the Disney movie has become just as successful.
The show first hit Broadway not long after the movie, and started a trend of Disney movies forming wildly successful stage shows. The Lion King, Tarzan and The Little Mermaid have all received similar treatment. When it kicked off in 1994, Beauty and the Beast was an immediate hit and featured all the songs that made the movie a favorite of audiences of all ages, from "Be Our Guest" to "Gaston" to "Beauty and the Beast."
For the stage adaptation, there were also a number of other new songs that became just as popular, including "Home" and "If I Can't Love Her." The original cast, led by Terrence Mann as the Beast and Susan Egan as Belle, led the show to a slew of Tony nominations, eventually capturing the statue for Best Costume Design. Although the cast has changed numerous times over the years, the musical was one of the longest-running Broadway shows, eventually coming to a close in 2007.
Beauty and the Beast has also been the launching pad for some of today's biggest stars in the music world. Most notably, Nick Jonas got his start in performing when he was cast as Chip in 2002 at just 10 years old. Earlier, a young Hugh Jackman was cast as Gaston in the Australian version of the play.
While its initial run ended in '07, it has since enjoyed several U.S. revivals and productions of the show have been going on all over the world. It has had runs in 13 different countries, most recently making its way to Mexico for the first time. Moreover, it has become a staple in high school productions across the U.S.
The millions and millions of people who have seen Beauty and the Beast since '94 can't be wrong, and even if you aren't an avid fan of musicals, chances are you will be tapping your toes right along with the familiar tunes.
