Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Comes to the Wharton Center, Now thru 2/23

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Wharton Center as part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Broadway at Wharton Center Series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production comes to life on stage today, February 18-23, 2014. Tickets are on sale now and will be available online at whartoncenter.com, at the Auto-Owners Ticket Office at Wharton Center, or by calling 1-800-WHARTON.

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST features the animated film's Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton.

The original creators of the Broadway production are together again for this new touring production. The play is Directed by Rob Roth and Choreographed by Matt West, with Costume Design by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony Award® winner for her work on Disney's Beauty and the Beast), Lighting Design by Natasha Katz (three-time Tony Award® winner), Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin.

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.

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has become an international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in 22 countries and has been translated into 9 different languages. This production launched in February 2010 and has been seen by over 2 million people while playing over 1,000 performances in all 50 United States and 6 Canadian Provinces.

Wharton Center performances run Tuesday, February 18 through Sunday, February, 23, 2014. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling 1-800-WHARTON. For additional information, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Since 1995, NETworks has produced and managed over 55 touring productions in the US., U.K. and internationally. Current productions include Disney's Beauty and the Beast; Blue Man Group National Tour; Elf The Musical; Flashdance the Musical; Memphis the Musical; Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera; The National Theatre of Great Britain's production of War Horse and We Will Rock You, the musical by Queen and Ben Elton.