Happy Anniversary to 'Beauty and the Beast' on Broadway

It is a big year for Beauty and the Beast with the live-action film less than a year away and the animated classic celebrating its 25th anniversary in November. Also celebrating this year is the Broadway production, which debuted 22 years ago today on April 18th, 1994 at the Palace Theater. The show, which also played at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, ran 13 years for a total of 5,461 performances. Beauty and the Beast marked Disney's first Broadway outing and was followed by productions of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Aladdin, which is currently playing at the New Amsterdam theater in New York City.

The Broadway production saw the return of two key members of the animated film's production team, composer Alan Menken and screenwriter Linda Woolverton, who penned the book for the theatrical production. Menken teamed with lyricist Tim Rice, with whom he worked with on Aladdin, for new songs for the stage production. The song "Human Again," which was originally intended for the animated film and has since been included on DVD/Blu-ray releases of the film, also found a place in the Broadway production. The musical's creative team also included director Robert Jess Roth, choreographer Matt West, and costume designer Ann Hould-Ward. The show's original cast included Susan Egan as Belle, Terrance Mann as the Beast, Burke Moses as Gaston, Gary Beach as Lumiere, Heath Lamberts as Cogsworth, and Beth Fowler as Mrs. Potts.

Just as the animated film was honored with several Academy Award nominations and two wins, the Broadway production was recognized with 9 Tony Award and 10 Drama Desk Award nominations. The show's Tony nominations included Best Musical, Best Original Score, Beast Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Terrence Mann), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Susan Egan), and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gary Beach). Beauty and the Beast took home one award for Best Costume Design (Ann Hould-Ward).

Since its Broadway debut, Beauty and the Beast has enjoyed runs in more than 30 countries and has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Some productions of note include the 1997 West End production, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and the 1995 Australian production, which featured Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman as Gaston (click here to listen to Jackman sing "Me"). And speaking of the handsome brute, Alexis Loizon, who played Gaston in the 2013 French production, will appear in the upcoming live-action film as Stanley ("You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley..."). Such fun!

Below are a few interesting videos, including a behind the scene look at the Broadway production hosted by Robby Benson (voice of the Beast).

Backstage Pass: Disney's Beauty and the Beast Goes to Broadway



Beauty and the Beast's Tony Awards Performance

Beauty and the Beast on Broadway

Production wraps on 'Beauty and the Beast'

Emma Watson and Luke Evans wrapped Beauty and the Beast last week and now the entire production has reached its conclusion. Adam Kirley, the film's stunt coordinator, and co-producer Jack Morrissey confirmed earlier today that the film has wrapped production in London.

Picture wrap on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Bill Condon, come on home. ・・・ @adamkirley : That's a wrap!!!!!! #itsbeenemotional #bestdayever #bestteamever #disneylife #Disney #BeautyandtheBeast #DirectedbyBillCondon #BillCondon #taleasoldastime🌹

A photo posted by Jack Morrissey (@therealjackmorrissey) on Aug 26, 2015 at 3:47am PDT

Filming began back in May on the upcoming Disney live-action film, with director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) at the helm. Beauty and the Beast is based on Disney's Academy Award winning animated feature and stars Emma Watson as Belle, alongside Dan Stevens as Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as Le Fou, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Nathan Mack as Chip, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts. Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Audra McDonald round out the cast of enchanted objects.

The film sees the return of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice, who will provide new songs for the film, which also features songs from the animated classic written by Menken and the late Howard Ashman.

Before production began, Josh Gad and Ian McKellen delighted fans with a behind the scenes look of the upcoming feature. Gad shared the first photo of the cast, while McKellen penned a lovely account of the first table read. Throughout pre-production and filming, cast members shared wonderful behind the scenes photos and Walt Disney Studios joined in the fun by sharing even more behind the scenes photos through two Snapchat accounts.

Can't wait for you to be our guest.

A photo posted by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Apr 14, 2015 at 11:37am PDT

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST starts! The first read-through of a film-script gathers together the cast to meet 'round a table...
Posted by Ian McKellen on Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Now all we can do is wait since Beauty and the Beast is not scheduled for release until March 17, 2017. Although news may be slow over the next several months, Beauty and the Beast Movie News is dedicated to following the film from beginning to end.

For now, take a look back at the film's pre-production timeline, highlighting all the excitement prior to the film's May start date.

'Beauty and the Beast' News Round-Up #5

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May 10th - May 16th

Emma Thompson & Kevin Kline join 'Beauty and the Beast'

In addition to news of Beauty and the Beast's 2017 release date, Disney also announced two additional members of the cast this afternoon. Oscar winners Emma Thompson (Sense & Sensibility, Saving Mr. Banks) and Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) join the cast as Mrs. Potts and Belle's father, Maurice.

Beauty and the Beast alumnus Alan Menken will return to score the film, which will feature songs from the 1991 animated classic, as well as new songs written by Menken and Tim Rice. Production is set to begin this May at Shepperton Studios in London.

Source: The Laughing Place