Official Mourning for B&tB thread

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 8:39pm

This is the official thread for B&tB lovers to discuss and remember one of the most sweepingly romantic and precious shows ever to grace the stages of Broadway. Talk about your personal experiences w/ B&tB, favorite cast members through the years, music, etc.

I'll go first:

About one year ago I was in my garage and looking around at old boxes. I found one with a bunch of our old Disney movies I hadn't seen in at least 5 years, so I decided to watch them just for fun and to relive the joys of childhood. The first one I popped in was Beauty and the Beast, and I was just so moved. I remembered bits and pieces from when I was little but didn't realize exaclty how good it really was. I watched all of them over and over and it is now my obsession. But B&tB always remained my favorite. I knew every song and line. So around March my aunt and uncle decided to fly me & my sis out to NY, where, they live, just for about a week over the summer. Now I live in FL and had never seen a Broadway show or anything remotely theatre related. I didn't even know there was a B&tB Broadway show or anything like that, but one day I was looking at Disney stuff on the web and discovered it. I was on the main page and there were song clips (I remember thinking "Ugh! This Belle sucks, I could do so much better!) and Ashley Brown was playing Belle. I thought it was her on the recording. = / I was extremely naive. Anyways, I was like, "Man, this sounds amazing" but didn't really think much of it. About a month later on my birthday my grandparents were over and I had a Disney Princess cake. I was blabbing on and on about how much I love Disney, expecially B&tB, and that there was a Broadway show. My grandma is extremely zealous and was like, "Well tell your aunt, she could take you" Keep in mind my aunt does NOT live in NYC, just in the state of NY. So I immediately pushed the thought aside and decided it would be too rude to ask. But around 2 weeks later I got an email from my aunt: My grandmother had told her I wanted to see B&tB. But I immediately said no and that she didn't have to go through the trouble. But she kept prodding and told me it was OK to say I wanted to go. So it was on! She said there were great seats for 20$, and I soon knew that that meant mezz. I declined because I only wanted orch to see my favorite film of all time on stage. So it was a no, she did not want to pay the money. I was fine with it, though, because I wasn't really expecting it to happen anyways. So months and months go by and my Disney obsession only manifests more. The night before our flight was booked I decided to buy the Broadway cast recording of B&tB (I had the film one) just for something to listen to on the plane. That night I was lying in my bed and was way too eager to wait to listen, so I listened to it. I was completely sobbing my eyes out during "No Matter What" and during "Belle (Reprise)" I remember reaching back and grabbing my bedposts, thinking "I have to do this. This is what I'm meant to do with my time on this Earth". It was so far the most moving spiritual experience of my entire life. So the next day we go to NY and get to our aunt & uncle's house. They give us some cute little trinkets like journals & pens. So we're laying there in our room and they walk in with tickets to B&tB! ORCH! I was sooo in awe that they actually did that, it knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't even cry. The next days were just a fairy tale haze of waiting to see the show, trying to memorize the new songs and take in the meaning of it all. Then, on Sunday, July 2nd, 2006, we finally drove to NYC to see it. We walked around, took tons of pics, went to the MTV store, and went to Carmine's to eat. As we were walking to the Lunt-Fontanne my sister was feeling sick and threw up on the sidewalk. SO embarrassing. Then we get into the theatre and she throws up again. I divert my attention to the kiosk and buy a glitter tee & program w/ rose. I sat down, there was 4 of us, Row U, seats 104-107. I took 105 but then my uncle made me move down to 107 so my sister could get in. I was so in awe of being in that gorgeous theatre w/ the logo on the curtain, knowing that my life was about to change forever. It finally started and I was literally in heaven on Earth. Belle, then played by Sarah Litszinger, had an understudy, Jennifer Shrader. She was perfect. I never will be able to put into words what this show and this experience has meant to me, and I am very sad it is closing. I am now full-on in my school's drama program and pursuing musical theatre. My life dream was to play Belle on Broadway, but now that is crushed. Hopefully my school or community theatre will do a production, or a nat'l tour will kick off. Either way, I will never forget this incredible show. <33

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 8:55pm

Honestly this is a bit much. Four threads? Or is it five now...

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:14pm

oh dear god the return of Lizzya9

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:31pm

Could we PLEASE contain these to the threads that are already posted?
Learn How Here

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:38pm

one my first broadway shows!
Updated On: 4/4/07 at 09:38 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:40pm

Would a moderator please merge this thread? Or at least close it? Honestly, this is getting out of control.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:03pm

ugh im so mad! i nEED to see it again!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:07pm

There will be many threads and thoughts on this subject.
BATB brought many computer agers to the theatre
and it was an emotional experience for many others
Be prepared.

[Horton]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:15pm

This is the 6th post on the "mourning" thread, the glad to see its gone thread has had almost 50 posts.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:28pm

Or we could do this like...4 months from now.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:32pm

and........ we're done.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:33pm

^I was thinking that too.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:38pm

i hate all the threads too, but i see the big deal in this case. i mean, this show is 13 years old. some of the people on this board are probably close to that age now!

don't get me wrong, i hate the show, but if we can have three SA threads on the first page, we can have a couple on this show.

and btw, no one seemed to mind the 400 little mermaid "who should play _____" a couple of months ago...

Updated On: 1/17/07 at 10:38 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:40pm

At the request of the Disney family, there will be no official period of mourning. Contributions, however, may be made to the "Let's Buy Little Ariel A New Set of Lungs" fund through any branch of Ticketmaster or at the box office.

Internment will be at The Library of The Performing Arts, Lincoln Center.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:43pm

It was my favorite Disney show and will be missed. It had a great run.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:55pm

Gaston won
The Beast fell
Belle died of grief

and the evil Broadway elitetists ruled the day!

But seriously, I wish I could have seen it.

Updated On: 1/17/07 at 10:55 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 11:11pm

U got 6 months

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 11:20pm

So does Babbette, she contracted syphillus after she met Liza, who took her in following Belle's death.

But no, I don't think I'll be getting back to NY anytime soon.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 4:09pm

I know there are other threads ABOUT this subject, but this thread is just to reminisce and discuss what we love about it and how much it changed our lives. NO HATERS please and no complaining about it, if you don't like it don't post on it or read it. Only for lovers of the show and people who want to talk about it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 4:12pm

I guess I'm a hater, because I refused to read your first post due ot lack of paragraph breaks.

I hate no paragraph breaks. ME HATER! *turns green*

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 4:22pm

LizzieCurry- If I were you I would read the first post because it is quite amusing actually.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 8:31pm

Do you mean that in a bad or good way, neddy? I'm not the best writer, I know. ; P

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 8:36pm

And my head is hitting the desk... NOW.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:03pm

*bump*

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:04pm

just watched the movie......