MTI to offer Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST & AIDA as early as 0ctober '04...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 5:27pm

Got this e-mail today. 'Just passing along the news....


SPECIAL OFFER FOR MTI THEATRELAND CLUB MEMBERS ONLY!!!

PRIORITY APPLICATIONS FOR
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and AIDA

Soon MTI will be sending out flyers announcing the availability of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and AIDA for production by theatre groups around the country. As a special offer to MTI Theatreland Club members, your organization can apply now for either or both of these titles for productions with performances beginning October 2004! Updated On: 4/30/04 at 05:27 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 6:03pm

Also the version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that is being offered is the original Broadway version so it will not include "A Change in Me". Unless it is offered as an optional song, but it says nothing of this on the website.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 6:18pm

I'd love to do both shows.

Now I just need URINETOWN and I'm set.

Updated On: 4/30/04 at 06:18 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/30/04 at 6:36pm

Yeah, I'm still waiting for STARLIGHT EXPRESS to be released....

[Ballet3689]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 12:48am

A lot of regional companies already have the rights to Beauty and the Beast and Aida. Pretty much EVERY stock company is doing Beauty this summer, haha. It's ALL I see auditions for... and a regional theater in MA is doing both Beauty and the Beast this summer, and Aida this fall. I think big regional theaters were able to get the rights before community and small pro theaters because some of these seasons have been announced since last winter... but yay for it being available to all now! I'd love to play one of the Silly Girls in BATB.

[Thezbean]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 2:18am

Yeah, but the stipulations on Beauty are pretty severe from what I've heard. You can't use ANY original choreography (shouldn't be difficult) or original costumes. Like, Belle's dress can't be blue. And her ballgown can't be gold. Stuff like that. I'd be interested to try it out in one of these regional places, having done the tour.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 4:25am

That sucks. The blue dress and the gold ball gown are signature elements of both the movie and the stage show of DISNEY'S!!! Beauty and the Beast. Are they going to also say that none of the actors are allowed to sound remotely like their movie/Broadway counterparts??? That's stupid. I've never heard of anything more ridicules (okay I have, but this is very dumb, too.) I'm sure they also won't allow usage of the signature logos... One would have to find a really talented costume designer to come up with new concepts for all of the enchanted objects. I can't see Lumiere being done any other way...

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 7:42am

i've also heard that the actor playing gaston cannot be taller than 5'-9" nor weigh more than 165lbs.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 8:31am

I think a new approach on her costume may be interesting. I never liked the blue look to begin with, but it has become signature. There is no other way to do Lumiere...Disney didn't restrict this, did they? If a child/teen were Lumiere, I wouldn't use fire.

If I were a director, I would want to get away from the "Disney" image anyway.

[Dramamama321]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 9:14am

My friend works for a regional theater doing BATB this summer. The rule on the costumes is you can't use the Broadway type costumes but you may use the movie as inspiration for your costumes. (Isn't that what the Broadway costumes are?)

I agree though, it will be interesting to see what they do.

Also, the new song is in.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/1/04 at 10:36am

I was wondering about this, because the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre announced their upcoming season, which included Disney's Beauty and the Best this coming fall. I was surprised!