BEAUTY & THE BEAST Plays Bass Concert Hall This Month; Opens Dec. 14

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Austin as part of the Wells Fargo Broadway Across America series.  Produced by NETworks Presentations, the elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Texas Performing Arts' Bass Concert Hall playing December 14-18. For information on the production, visit  www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com. 

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 with music 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, Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin.  

Director Rob Roth: "It has been wonderful to bring the entire original design team back together to work on this new production of Beauty and the Beast.  As a director, it is rare to have the opportunity to revisit your work fifteen years later. Hopefully I've grown and developed as an artist, along with my collaborators, and we can bring 15 years of experience to this new production.  We have remained very close as a team over the years of producing the show around the world, and it has been so much fun getting to re-explore and re-invent the show for this new Networks tour.  The theme of 'Beauty' is about seeing past the exterior into the heart of someone, and this is reflected in the design for the show, which is about transparency and layers, seeing past one thing and into another."       

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 21 countries.                                    

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA  (Producer), part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com, is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities.  Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales.  Under the supervision of Beth Williams (CEO-Theatrical), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Current Broadway productions include How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, Million Dollar Quartet, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Jerusalem, Memphis, and the West End production of Million Dollar Quartet.  For more information, please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS is situated on the main campus of one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the country; Texas Performing Arts serves The University of Texas at Austin campus and the Austin community at large through a diverse season of world-class fine arts performances, educational activities, and collaborative partnerships.

Texas Performing Arts presents an international season of music, theatre, dance, and conversation in our multiple venues, as well as the best in touring Broadway productions and concert attractions. As a university-based arts center it is also committed to serving the academic mission of the College of Fine Arts by supporting the work of our students, faculty and staff on our stages, classrooms, studios and production shops; and in the educational outreach programs it provides for the Austin community.