Photo Credit: Amy Boyle

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has become an international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in 21 countries.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast made its way to the Academy of Music in Philadelphia again and what a treat it was. Hilary Maiberger as Belle is perfect. Maiberger was sublime. Her voice is so familiar to that of the voice in the film yet she makes the role her own and is strong in her portrayal of Belle. It’s like the role was designed just for her. The same can be said for Tim Rogan who plays Gaston. Not everyone can play the role of Gaston but he is brilliant. The entire cast is filled with talent, a never ending amount of energy is seems and most importantly, joy which is absolutely necessary for a production like this.

While The Lion King on Broadway is fun for the whole family, I find this production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to be geared more towards children. Still, I enjoyed the enormous amount of physical comedy (though I wonder how many bruises some cast members rack up by the end of tour and how many ice packs they have to use after tumbling and falling multiple times each week) and I very much appreciated some jokes thrown in for the adult audience. Though Beauty and the Beast doesn’t top my favorite Disney movie musicals so I don’t see myself seeing this on stage again but if it is your favorite, you’ll find this stage version to be right up your alley. So if this sounds like you, be sure to find the production on tour in a city near you!

Fun Facts:
* Disney’s Beauty and the Beast ran for 13 years on Broadway and is the 8th longest running musical in Broadway history.

* The traveling company comprises 30 cast members, 2 parents, 12 crew members, 11 musicians, 2 merchandise and 2 management personnel. The cast and crew travel on 2 buses.

* There is a hidden “Mickey” in the tavern set drop…see if you can spot i!

To find Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in a city near you, click here.

In addition to NETworks presents Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA will bring WE WILL ROCK YOU (Jan. 14 – 19, 2014); THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY & BESS (Feb. 18 – 23, 2014); THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (March 19 – April 13, 2014); EVITA (June 17 – 22, 2014), and the long awaited THE BOOK OF MORMON (July 29 – Sept. 14, 2014) to the Academy of Music next year.

Additional 2013 – 2014 shows include JERSEY BOYS (Dec. 11, 2013 – Jan. 5, 2014) at the Forrest Theatre; I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE (Dec. 26 – 29, 2013) at the Merriam Theater; MAMMA MIA! (Feb. 25. March 2, 2014) at the Academy of Music; Cirque Éloize CIRKOPOLIS (March 11 – 16, 2014) at the Merriam Theater; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE WIZARD OF OZ (Jun. 3 – 8, 2014); and RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles (Jun. 11 – 15, 2014); both at the Academy of Music.