FLASHBACK FRIDAY: The wait is finally over!! Disney’s highly anticipated all new live action remake of Beauty and the Beast officially hits Movie Theaters everywhere today. To celebrate, let’s also take a look back at BEAUTY AND THE BEAST during it’s time here on the Great White Way. This is b-roll footage of the original Broadway cast featuring Susan Egan as “Belle” and Terrence Mann as “The Beast”.
The stage adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was Disney’s Broadway debut! The journey to Broadway came to be after a critic reviewed the original 1991 animated film as if it were “the must see show on Broadway” (but it was a movie). With that review, Disney came to their senses and decided to take chances.
With a little magic, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST officially arrived on Broadway in 1994 at the Palace Theatre. It later transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1999 (to make room for Aida – The Musical) it played a total of 5,507 performances. It was nominated for 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1994. However, it only took home 1 for Best Costume Design for Ann Hould-Ward. It’s currently the 9th Longest Running Show in Broadway History and is currently still being performed in schools, community theatres, and regional theatres around the world.
If this new live action film does well, can BEAUTY AND THE BEAST finally come back to Broadway?!
The show ran on Broadway from April 18, 1994 to July 29, 2007. Love this video? Subscribe to DisneyOnBroadway.
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