Beauty And The Beast

Today we’re jumping back to the 90’s for some magical nostalgia. Our TONY Tuesday is:

“Me/Be our guest and If I can’t love her” from the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the 1994 Tony awards. 

Based on the success of the 1991 animated featured, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ marked Disney Theatrical’s inaugural Broadway musical. The idea of a Broadway musical was floated during production; but CEO Michael Eisner was unconvinced and thus the idea was put aside. However, when the film was released to critical, financial and commercial success,  New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich joked that the film was the best show he’d seen on Broadway that season which gave Eisner the push he needed to adapt the film for stage. Eisner wanted to have creative control over the project so avoided enlisting A list directors for the production and instead chose unknown director Robert Jess Roth (who had directed many Disney Parks productions) to take the helm as he was able to replicate their artistic vision. Roth worked closely with choreographer Matt West, designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and original screenplay and composer Linda Wolverton and Alan Menken on a proposal for Eisner and his partner Katzenberg. The producers green lit the production and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ started to transform from stage to screen.

As with their director, the team wanted a largely unknown cast to avoid demands over creative control and thus cast newcomer 22 year old Susan Egan as Belle, (Egan would go on to voice Megara in their 1997 film ‘HERCULES’.) Knowing they had a huge pressure on their shoulders to create a show as equally magical as the film, Disney Theatrical ensured all Design elements be in keeping with the film. Wolverton expanded her book allowing for character growth through songs and scene addition, she also altered the effect of the curse on the household objects meaning that if it wasn’t lifted, they would eventually become inanimate objects to increase drama. Original lyricist Howard Ashman tragically died before the film was released so was unable to continue penning the score with Menken. British lyricist Tim Rice was hired to finish the score with Menken and continue Howard’s legacy adding a total of 6 new songs, that would become 7 when ‘A Change in Me’ was added to the score for R&B singer Toni Braxton when she took over the role of Belle. All of the songs from the film were used for the Broadway production including ‘Human Again’ which was cut before the theatrical release. Sets were created by Stanley Meyer to closely resemble the locations in the film. Natasha Katz and Jim Steinmeyer were in charge of lighting and special effects respectively. It took 11 weeks for them to solidify the Beast’s final transformation. Ann Hould-Ward had the momentous job of costuming the entire show. She visited the studio and spent time with the animators and their references as well as researching the time period of the film. Some amazing costume facts from the show: Belle’s ball gown was so big it was stored above the stage on wires and was lowered every time; chiropractors and therapists were hired as actors like Beth Fowler playing Mrs Potts had her arm suspended in the shape of a teapot spout for 2.5hrs per show; it also took over 40 people to make Lumiere’s costume due to the butane canisters and pyrotechnics to create the fire effects. Understandably Hould-Ward won a TONY for her work on the show and to that point they were the most elaborate costumes in Broadway history. 

The musical opened in Houston for seven week try-out before premiering at the Palace Theatre on the 18th April 1994. The premier opened to mixed to positive to reviews but the show became an instant favourite amongst the fans, making it a commercial and financial success which is just as well because it had been the most expensive musical to produce in Broadway history to that date at an estimated $12Million. The show closed a the Palace Theatre on 5th September 1999 and transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne opening on 11th November 1999 where it ran till it closed on the 29th July 2007 to make way for Disney Theatrical’s production of ‘The Little Mermaid’, it was thought that with Disney already running three other shows on Broadway, audience member would feel divided as to which princess to support . ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is one of the longest running shows in Broadway history and still holds the record for being the longest running production at both of its theatres. The opening night cast included Susan Egan as Belle, Terrence Mann as Beast, Gary Beach as Lumiere, Burke Moses as Gaston and Beth Fowler as Mrs Potts. The West End production opened at the Dominion Theatre on 29th April 1997 with Burke Moses reprising his original role of Gaston and with Julie-Alanah Brighten as Belle and Alasdair Harvey as the Beast. The show won the 1998 Olivier Award for Best Musical and closed on 11th of December 1999. The show has spawned multiple US and UK tours as well as US regional productions and productions internationally having played 115 cities on 13 countries and grossed $1.7Billion worldwide. 

‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a classic tale of looking past people’s appearances and measuring someone by the size of their hearts. This tale of love and magic is a fairy tale that exudes classic musical theatre and is a worthy addition to the Broadway hall of fame. 

A documentary about bringing the show to the Wes End’s Dominion Theatre can be found on YouTube. 

The Broadway and West End cast recordings can be found on Spotify and AppleMusic. 

FACTS:

Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman & Tim Rice
Book: Linda Wolverton
Theatre: The Palace Theatre & The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Run: April 18th 1994 – July 29th 2007 (5,451 performances)

TONYS:

(NOMINATED) Best musical, Best book of a musical – Linda Wolverton, Best original score – Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Best performance by a leading actor in a musical – Terrence Mann, – Best performance by a leading actress in a musical – Susan Egan, Best performance by a featured actor in a musical – Gary Beach, Best direction of a musical – Robert Jess Roth, Best lighting design – Natahsa Katz. 

(WON) Best costume design – Ann Hould-Ward

OLIVIERS:

(Nominated) Best Theatre choreographer – Matt West, Best costume design – Ann Hould-Ward

(WON) Best new musical.