Official Goodbye Thread for "Beauty and the Beast"

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 1:08am

After a 13-year run, the first Disney musical to arrive on Broadway, Beauty and the Beast, plays its final performance July 29. The closure will allow the latest Disney offering, The Little Mermaid, to make its home at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre this fall.

When it closes, Beauty and the Beast will have played 46 previews and 5,464 regular performances. The musical opened at the Palace Theatre April 18, 1994, and transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne Nov. 11, 1999.

The original Broadway company featured Susan Egan as Belle, Terrence Mann as the Beast, Gary Beach as Lumiere, Beth Fowler as Mrs. Potts, Heath Lamberts as Cogsworth and Burke Moses as Gaston. The final company includes Steve Blanchard as the Beast, Anneliese Van Der Pol as Belle, Aldrin Gonzalez as Lefou, Glenn Rainey as Cogsworth, David deVries as Lumiere, Ann Mandrella as Babette, Jeanne Lehman as Mrs. Potts and Donny Osmond as Gaston.

In a previous statement, Disney Theatrical producer Thomas Schumacher said, "For many theatergoers, Beauty and the Beast has been their first introduction to the magic of Broadway musicals. That's a wonderful legacy for all of us at Disney Theatrical Productions, and we're so proud of the show's record-breaking run on Broadway, throughout the country and around the world. Though the Broadway production is coming to a close, through our relationship with Music Theatre International (MTI), Beauty and the Beast will continue to live on in regional and high school productions around the world."

Composer Alan Menken added, "Beauty and the Beast has meant so much to me, both in remembering the joy of creating the animated film and seeing how audiences have embraced it on Broadway for all of these years. I have had the pleasure of watching so many diverse and talented performers sing these roles in the past 13 years. While it saddens me to say goodbye to Beauty and the Beast, I am excited to watch The Little Mermaid take shape as a Broadway musical, and to be a part of its exciting journey to the stage."

Beauty and the Beast, the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, is "the classic love story of Belle, a young woman in a small, provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a prince trapped in a spell placed on him by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and to be loved, the spell will be broken and he will be transformed back to his former self. But time is running out, and if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he will be doomed for all eternity."

Featuring a score by Alan Menken, Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast boasts a book by the author of the original screenplay, Linda Woolverton; the musical was directed by Robert Jess Roth with choreography by Matt West.

The design team comprised Stanley A. Meyer (scenic design), Ann Hould-Ward (costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), Jonathan Deans (sound design), David H. Lawrence (hair design) and Jim Steinmeyer and John Gaughan (illusion design).

The musical was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning one for Hould-Ward's costumes.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 1:09am

I wanted to try and grab a last minute ticket for tonight, but I ended up working.

I will miss this show so much.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 1:10am

I want to buy the final bow Playbill for $25.

[TBone]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 1:33am

I'll be there tomorrow night, and I've already got a lump in my throat just THINKING about what it's going to feel like.

[ByTheSea920]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 2:02am

Awww, I'm so sad about this. That was the first show I ever saw. I saw it on tour when I was maybe 9 years old. I wish it wasn't closing.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 3:36am

This was the first show I ever saw also, then last year I made a return trip to celebrate the tenth year since I saw it. It'll always be special for me (though I'm not as sad to see the current version of it leave as I was to see the original version in the Palace sized down.) I firmly believe the moment I fell in love with Broadway (I'd always enjoyed local theatre and movie musicals) was the first time I saw/heard "If I Can't Love Her." I thought it was the most beautiful scene I'd ever witnessed.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 5:39am

Wow, is that the playbill for the last performance? Do they do them in full colour now because I remember they did in Black & White? I always pictured the final performance Playbill to be with the logo but without the petals remaining on the stem but with only the final petal falling.

I will so miss the show very much. It was and only my first Broadway Musical I have ever seen. I saw the show back in July 2001 when I was won holiday from the UK to New York. Sarah Litzsinger & Steve Blanchard were playing the lead roles and they were just fantastic, best chemistry together.

If anyone goes to the show today, please give full reviews on what happened and if any former cast members turned up or something. That would be extremely grateful if someone could help :)


I will miss you Beauty & The Beast Have a great day!

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:06am

I will be there tonight, 2nd row center! Can't believe I've NEVER seen this show, so needless to say I'm thrilled to be seeing the final performance. Will definitely report back.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:22am

I will be there tonight as well. And how I will miss you.

*hugs*

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:33am

It's so sad to see this show go

I saw the Pittsburgh CLO production, but never on Broadway. Have a great time tonight at the final performance.

It's sad to see you go "Beauty". But you can't complain, you've had a fantastic run

[Testing1232]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 8:18am

Will be there as well, crying with Jordan !!!

[beautyofmydream]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 8:30am

This was the first show I saw as well. It is very heartbreaking to see it go. Break a leg tonight to all those involved and best wishes to your futures careers!

[James885]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:16am

Very saddening to see this show go. This was my first Broadway show, so I'll always have a soft spot for it.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:27am

I'll be upstairs in mezz. row k! ahh whatever... at least i'll be able to get enchanted one last time =D

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:29am

Oh Beauty, I never knew thee....

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:30am

This was my first BROADWAY show when I was 9 years old. I saw it at the Palace in March 1999. Andrea McArdle was Belle, and she, along with the rest of the cast, was amazing. I will never forget that beautiful performance that inspired the 9 year old me.

[Andante]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:39am

I'm very sad that the musical is leaving. However, I am glad that it enjoyed a successful run on Broadway, and has brought joy to so many children and adults alike.
Here's to hoping that "Little Mermaid" does just as well.

[TBone]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:05am

Zeitoujo, I'll be upstairs in row K tonight as well.

[Michelleruth2]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:53am

Can't believe it is closing! Wish I could be there for the final performance.
Steve Blanchard and all the cast/crew (past/present) are fantastic. I wish them nothing but the best.

I will miss my fave show!!!!!

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:22pm

This was my first Broadway show! I saw it at the Palace with the original cast when I was 6. I saw the matinee yesterday and I teared up at the most random moments. I'm really gonna miss it being up on the boards. It feels like the end of an era. Hopefully The Little Mermaid will follow with a long healthy run.

[TBone]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:29pm

"It feels like the end of an era."

I couldn't agee more. -(

Posted: 7/29/07 at 12:54pm

God, I feel like my heart is ripped out. Thirteen great years... why exactly is it closing? It's still pulling in millions.. but atleast it's closing with pride as the 6th longest running..
But god, this is a sad weekend. Gypsy, Grey Gardens, Beauty, and 110. Sad, sad, sad weekend.
The show is so beautiful. I fully regret never being able to see it..

I'm jealous of all of you who get to experiance the magic one last time.. Updated On: 7/29/07 at 12:54 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 3:26pm

"I fully regret never being able to see it.."

As I.

Posted: 7/29/07 at 3:33pm

This was my first Broadway show! I saw it December 31, 2005 with the lovely Ashley Brown as Belle. I've always loved musicals, but this performance introduced me to the magic of the Great White Way. The feeling I got when the orchestra started playing the overture is something I will never forget...

[DivaBrigader]

Posted: 7/29/07 at 3:40pm

This was the second Broadway show I ever saw live. I had turned 11 that weekend. It was when Susan Egan and Terrence Mann were in it. I was transfixed. It helped to jump start my love of musical theatre. I saw it several more times over the years and it was never the best show but it was exceedingly well produced and the transformation alone was worth the price of the admission. Frankly, the score is good enough to warrant a healthy run and while I do feel it is an appropriate time for the show to be closing, it is still sort of the end of an era. So long "Beauty"!