I have been a Disney fan my entire life and just like everyone else, some productions seem to resonate with me more so than others. While my two favorite Disney films are The Lion King and Alaadin, I also enjoy many of the other animated and live-action films. I particularly like the musical compositions present within all Disney projects. Songs like “Colors of the Wind,” “He Lives in You,” and “Let it Go” are a few of my go-to favorites when I listen to musical theatre. I am always amazed at how Disney can take the magical essences of its films and bring it to the live stage.
Disney’s most recent live stage production is Beauty & The Beast. The filmed version of the stage play premiered on ABC, Dec. 16, 2022. The show was performed in front of a live audience and the production elements were designed to pay homage to the original production through costumes, props and scenery.
The cast features H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as The Beast, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Rita Moreno as The Narrator, Martin Short as Lumiere, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, Rizwan Manji as Lefou, Jon Jon Brioness as Maurice, and Leo Abelo Perry as Chip.
Throughout my experiences as a writer, I’ve found that adaptation can be an extremely valuable creative process. I am inspired each time a production brings its creativity to a different medium. In the case of Beauty & The Beast, I think it will continue to be a frequently produced Disney project. In addition to this special, I’ve seen the animated film and the live stage version at The Muny. There is so many creative aspects of the show, especially the character development; Disney is known for creating memorable characters, and I think Beauty and The Beast has some of the most unique ones within the Disney vault.