Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Returns to the Orpheum Theatre, Now thru 3/15

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning, worldwide, smash hit Broadway musical, returns to Minneapolis as part of the 2014-2015 Thrivent Financial Broadway on Hennepin season. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production comes to life at the Orpheum Theatre tonight, March 10-15, 2015. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Center.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast features the 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 1994 Broadway production have reunited for this new touring production. The musical is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, who won a Tony Award for her work on Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Lighting design is by four-time Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, sound design by John Petrafesa Jr. and music supervision by Michael Kosarin.

The national tour will feature Jillian Butterfield as Belle, Ryan Everett Wood (Shrek The Musical) as the Beast, Cameron Bond as Gaston, Tony d'Alelio as Lefou, Kelly Teal Goyette (Shrek The Musical, Grease, Annie) as Madame De La Grand Bouche, Emily Jewell (My Heart in a Suitcase) as Mrs. Potts and Patrick Pevehouse (The Wizard of Oz) as Lumiere.

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.

Based on the 1991 Academy Award-winning animated feature film and celebrating 20 years since its Broadway premiere in 1994, Disney's Beauty and the Beast is an international sensation that has been seen by more than 35 million people worldwide in 22 countries and translated into nine different languages. This production launched in February 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island and has been seen by 2.5 million people while playing over 1,000 performances in all 50 United States and eight Canadian provinces. Currently, there are four other productions playing around the world including one in Paris, tours in Japan and Germany, and a new international tour that will stop in more than 12 countries in two years.

Tickets for Disney's Beauty and the Beast are on sale now and start at $39 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional service charges may apply. Tickets may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the State Theatre Box Office, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Center. Groups of 10 or more should contact MinneapolisGroups@broadwayacrossamerica or call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations.

Performance dates are tonight, March 10 through Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis). Performance times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.