Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage is one of the longest running shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It opened on the same day that the movie opened in theaters, November 22, 1991. This was the first time that a Disney Stage Show opened on the same day as the movie that inspired it.
Beauty and the Beast
Even before the movie premiered, Disney knew they had something special with the story of Beauty and the Beast. They were so confident that it would be a hit that they designed a Stage Show to be performed at what was then Disney MGM Studios.
When it debuted in 1991, "Beauty and the Beast" was performed in the original Theater Of The Stars that was located where Sunset Boulevard now begins. It was temporarily moved to a theater in the Streets of America area of the park in 1993 while Sunset Blvd was being constructed. It wasn't until 1994 that it moved into its current home in the new 1500 seat Theater Of The Stars located near the Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror on Sunset Boulevard.
The 25 minute long performance features the voices of many of the original actors from the animated classic including: Robby Benson (Beast), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts, the teapot), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere, the candelabra), David Ogden Stiers of "M*A*S*H" (Cogsworth, the clock) and young Bradley Pierce (Chip, the cup).
The show is lively and well choreographed. It is also fast paced and sure to hold the attention of your entire family.
Fans of the film will recognize some of their favorite songs from the movie like "Be Our Guest" and the touching "Beauty and the Beast."
Beauty and the Beast is an excellent stage show that sometimes gets forgotten in the shadow of the Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror. The entertainment is top notch as you watch the story of Belle, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and the Beast unfold in front of you.
Disney does a great job in translating an animated movie into a memorable live stage production experience that you will want to make a part of each visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The singing, dancing, and costumes are all top notch. Make you you put "Beauty and the Beast" on your list of must see attractions for your next Disney World vacation.
It's a shame that Four for a Dollar isn't performing here anymore. They were the perfect introductions to the Beauty and the Beast show.