Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Coming to RiverCenter, 3/15-16

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Columbus as part of the TSYS Broadway on Broadway series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage in the Bill Heard Theatre at RiverCenter on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30pm. The curtain will rise once more for an encore matinee performance, Sunday, March 16 at 2:30pm.

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.

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.

The stage version features the animated Disney 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.

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.

Tickets range from $49.50 - $59.50 and can be purchased online at www.rivercenter.org, by phone at 706.256.3612, or in the Box Office, Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 5:30pm.

Photo by Joan Marcus