Disney World Replaces BEAUTY AND THE BEAST With Non-Equity Show

The move to replace BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with a show that features performers not represented by Actors' Equity has sparked backlash

By: Aug. 03, 2020
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Disney World Replaces BEAUTY AND THE BEAST With Non-Equity Show

Disney World has replaced Beauty and the Beast with a show featuring performers that are not represented by Actors' Equity as Disney and Equity remain in a disagreement about how to bring performers back to the stage safely.

Read the full story HERE.

Actors' Equity recently filed a grievance after Disney canceled a planned recall to work for Equity-performers when the theme parks reopened this month after being shut down due to the health crisis.

In the new 20-minute show, "The Disney Society Orchestra and Friends", a six-piece combo plays famous Disney songs such as "Under the Sea", "You've Got a Friend in Me," and more.

Many have responded to Disney World's decision to replace Beauty and the Beast with negative statements:

Blog Mickey shared:

"There is an underlying contract that makes the shows feel weird... when Belle and the Beast can't come together for a dance in the finale of a new show, something just falls flat... If it weren't for the talented musicians in the Disney Society Orchestra, what you're left with is little more than a middle-school theater production...The shows that are debuting now do not meet the quality or storytelling that we've all grown accustomed to experiencing in the theme parks."

In a tweet, Jeremy Wein, the founder of Play-PerView shared:

Read the full story HERE.



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