Disney will launch North American tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in 2025, Broadway stop next?- Page 4

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/21/25 at 1:02am

Has anyone actually said Broadway? It’s on a tier 3 contract and it just doesn’t feel like it’s Broadway bound. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/21/25 at 6:47am

Scarywarhol said: "This makes me so sad."

Folks expecting a replica of the lavish original 1994 Broadway production are setting themselves up for a huge disappointment. Plus, most will see this new production and question what was the big deal back in the 90s assuming this cheap looking production is what played on Broadway back then. 

They should just do this for its Broadway run:

 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 7/21/25 at 11:01am

Saw this last Friday and enjoyed it quite a bit. Yes, it's a tour, so scaled down. But for a tour, I thought it looked like Disney pulled out all the stops they could. The cast was excellent, and the costumes were terrific. There were several ensemble costume changes just during Be Our Guest. There are big and small changes to the book, staging and choreography. I had a lot of fun, and so did the extremely enthusiastic audience (HUGE ovations after Be Our Guest and the tavern dance number). After seeing multiple tour and regional productions over the past 30 or so years, it was nice to see this strong, high quality tour.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 7/26/25 at 7:58pm

Inside Disney's Return to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST With Refreshed Tour

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 7:11am

As the tour will be starting a two-week run in Durham tomorrow night, I recently had the great pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Potts herself, Kathy Voytko. We talked quite a bit about filling the big shoes (or in this case, teapot) set by the legendary Angela Lansbury, the night she went on for Sutton Foster very early during previews for The Music Man, and more.

 

[steven22]

Posted: 9/1/25 at 10:07am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "As the tour will be starting a two-week run in Durham tomorrow night, I recently had the great pleasure of speaking withMrs. Potts herself, Kathy Voytko. We talked quite a bit about filling the big shoes (or in this case, teapot) set by the legendary Angela Lansbury, the night she went on for Sutton Foster very early during previews for The Music Man, and more.

I’m still sad she never went on as Diana in next to normal. 

"

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 9/4/25 at 10:05am

I caught the tour in Durham last night. Fun fact about me, my very first trip to New York was Martin Luther King Day weekend in 2007. The first show I ever saw on Broadway was Beauty & the Beast. Aside from a couple clips here and there, I actually hadn’t seen the original animated film at that point. Yet at almost 13 years old, I was blown away by all the stagecraft on display. Since then, I’ve seen subsequent productions at a community theatre, high school, a non-equity tour, and previously at (the now defunct) North Carolina Theatre in 2017.

Director/choreographer Matt West provides such clever staging all around when it comes to both the musical numbers (a few of which have some nicely added dance breaks) and the non-musical scenes. Visually, rather than go back to what they’ve done before, West and his team started from scratch completely. With the help of Natasha Katz’s lighting, Stanley A. Meyer’s sets, and Ann Hould-Ward’s costumes, everything looks so dazzling. The latter in particular must also be nice for the actors as the costumes don’t look as heavy to wear. Although the projections and video work designed by Darrel Maloney is also very impressive.

Linda Woolverton has made several edits to the script that ended up being nice touches. Some lines have been altered while some scenes have been beefed up a bit. Those who are more intimately familiar with the show will be able to notice these subtle differences. About three of the additional songs Alan Menken wrote for the stage with Tim Rice may have been cut, but neither of them felt missing at all. Although I do feel a couple sequences in Act II, the wolf chase and the final battle, would’ve benefited from being an extra minute or two longer, but those are only minor qualms.

Kyra Belle Johnson was out the night I went. So her understudy, Grace Marie Rusnica, went on instead. No matter who I saw, I’d still consider it a treat to see someone taking on the lead role in their first big equity tour. Especially given how I’ve personally always viewed Belle in Beauty & the Beast as a star-making part. There were a couple iterations in the past where the creative team went for more star power, yet a number of people questioned if they even had the range for the material, specifically from a singing standpoint. Not the case with Rusnica as she delivers quite a strong performance overall. Her standout moments are especially her two big solo numbers written specifically for the stage, ‘Home’ and ‘A Change in Me.’ She’s also well-matched by Fergie L. Philippe, who’s very good as The Beast. He absolutely nails his character arc of this cold hearted prince who wants to change his ways, but constantly struggles doing so. Not to mention that with the removal of ‘How Long Must This Go On?,’ it becomes more effective for The Beast to not sing until the Act I finale, ‘If I Can’t Love Her,’ which ends up being such a soaring moment.

Of the supporting cast, there are three big standouts to me. Stephen Mark Lukas makes for such a fun scenery-chewing villain as Gaston. He even gets to lead quite a show-stopping rendition of his big number, ‘Gaston.’ Danny Gardner is a burst of energy as Lumière. He also leads such a show-stopping rendition of ‘Be Our Guest,’ which includes some excellent tap dancing. Kathy Voytko is wonderful as Mrs. Potts. She also delivers a stunning rendition of the Oscar-winning title song in Act II. Comedic highlights include Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Kevin Ligon as Maurice, Harry Francis as Lefou, and Cameron Monroe Thomas as Babette. Although I’d also like to give a shoutout to Holly Ann Butler, who plays a reworked version of the character turning into a wardrobe. She’s no longer an opera singer named Madame De La Grande Bouche, but a servant named Madame d’Lamour.

Beauty & the Beast may be “a tale as old as time,” but a timeless one at that. No matter how many times I’ve seen the original animated film or the stage version, it’s still hard for me to not get wrapped up in the story. With memorable characters, amazing songs, and an important message, it’s impossible to not have a good time with this show. Thomas Schumacher has said that their shows not only make for a great night out for families, but also a great date night for couples who grew up with the original films. Easy to see why as Beauty & the Beast especially has something for everyone.

Click Here for My Full Review

Updated On: 9/6/25 at 10:05 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/4/25 at 1:28pm

Glad to hear Grace Marie Rusnica did well in her first outing as Belle! I used to perform with her.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 9/5/25 at 12:23am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I caught the tour in Durham last night.

Click Here for My Full Review"

I enjoyed your full review. Thanks for posting it. Sounds like the show actually is good and could be on Broadway again. I didn't know the original creative team returned for the stagecraft. From the pictures the costumes looked so different, and while good, not as good good the originals. I am sad they changed the wardrobe opera singer. I always thought her backstory was hilarious.