Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ENCHANTS AUDIENCES at The Overture Center

There were so many amazing moments with this show that it is hard to keep track of them all. It begins with the audience. Families clattered with excitement and young girls dressed as Belle filled the Overture Center, this was to be a grand night indeed. They would not leave here disappointed.

  The show opens magically, as an old hag, turned away after seeking shelter, is transformed into a tall beautiful enchantress (Kate Wesler) in flash of light. An Instant later, the selfish lord of the manor transforms into The Beast (Fergie L. Philippe) in the blink of an eye. With this opening, the show creates a magical bond with the audience, one that would not be broken until long after leaving the theater.

  This was in part due to the amazing creative team behind the production. Director/Choreographer Matt West, created some of the most amazing dance numbers I have ever seen in a traveling Broadway show. Illusion designer, Jim Steinmeyer, truly made the audience believe in magic with some incredible illusions.

  Mostly the magic, however comes from the uber talented cast. We begin with the innocently beautiful vocals of Kyra Belle Johnson, portraying Belle. Watching her transform from a naive small town girl to an empowered woman standing up for herself and those she cares about was a joy.

  Of course we have the braggadocios Gaston, played by Stephen Mark Lukas,  who arguably had one of the best dance numbers in the show, possibly because Gaston’s ego would settle for nothing less. Followed by his trusty side Kick and comedy relief Lafou (Harry Francis) the two provided not only laughs, but important plot advancements.

  Fergie L. Philippe’s take on the Beast was nuanced with subtleties and vulnerabilities. He truly showed his insecurities through his bullying and bravado. His vulnerability and loneliness apparent as he heeded the advise of those who were cursed with him.

   The entire cast did a marvelous job of creating a show filled with wonder and and magic. The evening was truly, enchanting.

Madison, Wis. (April 28, 2026) — Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, and Overture Center for the Arts are pleased to present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” the first North American touring production of the musical presented by Disney in over 25 years, from Tuesday, May 12 through Sunday, May 17 in Overture Hall. Limited tickets are available at overture.org.  

Based on the 1991 Academy Award®-winning animated feature film, “Beauty and the Beast” premiered on Broadway in 1994 and still ranks as the 10th longest-running show in the industry’s history. Nominated for nine Tony® Awards, winning for Best Costume Design, “Beauty and the Beast” remains one of the highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time. The title’s visibility and success have expanded globally with productions of the stage show and the smash Oscar®-nominated 2017 live-action film, which grossed over $1B worldwide. 

The production stars Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle and Fergie L. Philippe as the Beast. They are joined by Stephen Mark Lukas as Gaston, Danny Gardner as Lumiere, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts, Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Harry Francis as Le Fou, Kevin Ligon as Maurice, Holly Ann Butler as Madame, Cameron Monroe Thomas as Babette, and Levi Blaise Coleman and Kanoa Edgar alternating as Chip. 

The Ensemble includes Vinny Andaloro, Benjamin Cheng, Spencer Dean, Julian Marcus De Guzman, Michael Dikegoros, Leigh-Ann Esty, Masumi Iwai, Darrell T. Joe, Emily Larger, Lena Matthews, Caleb McArthur, Melaina Rairamo, Ellen Roberts, Grace Marie Rusnica, Ben Sears, Michael Seltzer, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel and Kate Wesler.  

Ticket buyers are reminded that Overture’s ticket office (overture.org) is the only official retail ticket outlet for all performances at Overture Center. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that Overture is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.  

About Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” 

Critics have raved about the show throughout its history, from its 1994 Broadway premiere through the recent smash U.K. and Australian productions: “A delight! The astonishments rarely cease,” declared The New York Times in reviewing the original Broadway production. “A tale as old as time, but as exhilarating as ever,” raved the London Evening Standard. “Witty and exuberant with breathtaking choreography,” wrote the Sydney Morning Herald.  

The structure and tone of the story and score made Disney history. It was just the second time that a Disney film had been structured as a stage musical where the songs are integral to plot and characterization. This Menken/Ashman innovation is credited with the 1990’s Disney animation renaissance that went on to create such film classics as “Aladdin,” “The Lion King” and “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and helped re-introduce the book musical form to popular culture.  

“Beauty and the Beast,” directed and choreographed by Matt West, features Alan Menken’s Academy Award®-winning score, songs by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman (including the Academy Award®-winning title song and the show-stopping “Be Our Guest”), plus songs written especially for the stage by Alan Menken and Tim Rice (including “If I Can’t Love Her” and “A Change In Me”). The production features a book by Linda Woolverton, author of the original screenplay. Sets are by Stanley A. Meyer, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony Award® winner for Beauty and the Beast) and lighting by Natasha Katz.  

Longtime Menken collaborators Michael Kosarin and Danny Troob are music supervisor/arranger and orchestrator, respectively. New dance music arrangements are by David Chase. David Andrews Rogers is music director.   

Completing the design team, John Shivers is sound designer, Darrel Maloney is projection and video designer, and David H. Lawrence is hair and make-up designer. Jim Steinmeyer is the illusion designer, as he was on the original 1994 production. Jason Trubitt is the production supervisor, and Myriah Bash is the general manager. 

Previous Disney-produced North American Tours of “Beauty and the Beast” played for almost eight years, for a combined total of 2,893 performances.   

For more information, visit www.beautyandthebeastthemusical.com, Instagram and Facebook. 

Join us for the Enchanted Parlor: It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you to relax and indulge in this charming pre-show celebration! Enjoy sparkling conversation and fairy-tale charm that brings whimsical storybook magic to life. Savor dainty finger sandwiches, decadent petit fours and elegant cakes, served with a refreshing punch fit for royalty. Capture the magic of the moment with a themed photo opportunity and take home a party favor.  90 minutes before each performance of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (excludes Saturday performances). Held in Promenade Lobby. Tickets ($57.98) available at overture.org. 

OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wis. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, nine resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in more than 500,000 educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture’s mission is to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts. overture.org 

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Original Score - Top 3

1. The Rescues , The Rescues - The Lost Boys

41.2% of votes

2. Jim Barne, Kit Buchan - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

28% of votes

3. Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!

22.9% of votes

Vote Now! View Live Stats