After 13 years on the Great White Way, Disney's first foray into legitimate theater, Beauty and the Beast, has closed. Although still raking it in at the box office, the show packed up its dancing silverware and magical roses to make way for the next Disney fairy tale extravaganza, The Little Mermaid, currently playing in Denver in preparation for a November New York debut.I actually saw this show twice (both on tour, once in Phoenix and again in Orlando) and I have always felt that it was a very good adaptation of the movie (one of my all-time favorites). The stage version successfully built off the original film, deepening the characters (especially, with "Human Again", the enchanted objects) without going too far down the dark side (reportedly why Mary Poppins has not been well received). Originally faced with lackluster notices and little Tony love (which I chalk up to typical New York snobbishness), the production endured its many critics to become the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history.
To celebrate the beauty that was this Beast, many online tributes sprang up recently.
- BroadwayWorld.com has a video retrospective of Beauty through the years.
- Another video feature, Broadway.com says 'goodbye' to the Beast. Also on that site: a host of pictures from the last performance.
- LaughingPlace.com gives us all the (fun) facts behind the show.
- Playbill.com, in addition to a "where are they now" feature on cast members past and present, was there on closing night.
- And for a unique perspective on treading the boards for a living, plus lots of backstage photos, head over to DailyKos.com.
Click here to purchase Beauty and the Beast
on DVD from Amazon.com.Links via BroadwayWorld.com, Broadway.com, LaughingPlace.com, Playbill.com and DailyKos.com.
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