Disney India to Present BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Oct. 23

Disney India today announced plans to bring the timeless classic Beauty and the Beast to the Indian stage for the first time ever. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this classic musical love story will be presented to Indian audiences on the same scale as the mega-productions seen on New York's Broadway and on London's West End. Over 100 of the best musical theatre performers in India will bring the story of Beauty and the Beast alive on stage, with world class production values, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes, drawing inspiration from western and Indian influences.

Having won hearts across 28 countries, this Beauty and the Beast musical will be completely developed locally in India, while retaining the original script and memorable music of the Broadway show. The production will be in English at 130 minutes in duration, with select shows across Mumbai and Delhi from October to December 2015.

Since Disney Theatrical Productions opened the original show on Broadway in 1994, the title has been licensed domestically and around the world. Currently, there are four productions of Disney's Beauty and the Beast playing around the world including tours in North America, Japan and Germany. In celebration of the show's 20th anniversary, the first-ever international tour for the title was launched last year and has been presented to date in diverse international markets including Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta.

Similar to the arrangement Disney Theatrical Production has maintained with producers around the world for many years, this production has been licensed to be produced and maintained locally. In this instance, the producer is another division of the Walt Disney Company, Disney India whose local creative team will reimagine this classic musical for Indian audiences.

"At Disney India, we are always thinking of ways to bring our audiences truly memorable world class entertainment experiences, and this pioneering effort to locally produce one of our most beloved Broadway musicals, is another example of that ongoing effort," said Siddharth Roy Kapur, Managing Director, Disney India. "Beauty and the Beast is a story that has resonated with millions of fans from around the world and we are sure it will do so in India as well", he added.

Globally, this grand musical has had some of the world's most renowned creative artists bringing to life the magic of Beauty and the Beaston stage. Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions, it boasts of music by Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tangled) and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), with additional songs with music by Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice (The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar). The book is written by Linda Woolverton (screenwriter of The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland and the upcoming Maleficent).­

Disney India will bring on board the very best local talent, who will work closely with these renowned International artists to recreate themusical in India. Some eminent names involved in the Indian production will include - Vikranth Pawar (Show Director and Creative Head, Live Entertainment at Disney India), Lesle Lewis (Music Direction), Terence Lewis (Choreography), Varsha Jain (Set Design), Gavin Miguel (Costume Design), Pallavi Devika (Hair & Make-up) and Suzanne D'Mello (Vocal Training).

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

For further information log on to www.disney.in

Based on the 1991 Academy-Award winning animated feature film, Disney's Beauty and the Beast premiered on Broadway in 1994, where it was nominated for nine prestigious Tony Awards and ran for 13 years. It still ranks as one of the longest-running and highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time. Since its debut, the titles visibility and success has expanded globally with subsequent productions produced around the world. Since licensing of the title began in 2004, there have been productions in 28 countries, seen by more than 35 million people, translated into 17 different languages with over 28 thousand performances - equivalent to a run of 67 years, generating over $1.7B in revenue.

In the US, Disney's Beauty and the Beast has been licensed to over 6,000 individual theatres including professional, community and school productions. For the past five years, it has been the most performed musical in high schools in the United States. The title's strength has allowed it to enter international markets with limited traditions of producing Broadway musical theatre. It was the first Disney Theatrical Productions title in countries across Scandinavia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia, among others. In addition to professional productions, Beauty and the Beast is Disney's most requested title internationally for regional, community and amateur productions.