Beauty and the Beast revival- Page 2

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/27/16 at 6:17pm

gypsy101 said: "I think (or hope) they'd go quite a bit younger than Laura Benanti's age (no offense to her)

 

"

I was going to ask, just how old does the OP think Belle is?

Paige O'Hara (the original voice of Belle) tells me the filmmakers and studio thought of Belle as 16 when the film begins (which might make her 17 by the finale). I'm sure they take liberties with stage actors, but Laura (much as I love her) Benanti?

BTW, Paige herself was not 16 when she recorded the film, nor did she claim to be. She used to joke that every time Disney sent out a press release, they shaved a few more years off her age.

Updated On: 7/27/16 at 06:17 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/27/16 at 7:56pm

Theres like a 2 year difference between Laura Benanti and Andrea McArdle when she played Belle.

[dev101]

Posted: 7/30/16 at 8:06pm

broadwayguy2 said: "

( For the record, Will Swenson would be TERRIBLE as the Beast. Absolutely awful. Josh Gad my be a fantastic LeFou on film, we do not know, but he could NEVER play that role as conceived for the stage show.)

 

"

Why to both? 

 

[AnnieBlack]

Posted: 7/30/16 at 8:36pm

Laura Benanti has never felt like a 'young' actress on stage- that isn't an insult- I think as she ages she will have her best success- she should embrace being 'middle aged' where i think she will enjoy EGOT success

[AnnieBlack]

Posted: 7/30/16 at 8:37pm

Sorry- EGO success, since she already has the T

[Starship]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 1:44am

I feel as though one day we'll get a Beauty and the Beast revival by Disney. The name sells itself and has the potential to bring in major money for Disney, long-term. It's everything theater goers and tourists want to see and has lots of stunt casting potential. Just wait for Aladdin to close.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 2:46am

Aladdin is a bit of a wild card... I really can't tell if it will have a nice run on B'way, close and have a life on tour, or become an international hit. Who knows.

Updated On: 7/31/16 at 02:46 AM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 10:45am

I think that when I comes to Aladdin, and what "history" it may have on Broadway, will depend on what is in the pipeline for them in reguards to other shows. If you go with the reasoning that they used when they closed Beauty and the Beast, "didn't want people to choose between 2 princess musicals", Aladdin could be gone when Frozen comes along.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 10:47am

Aladdin is one of the five highest grossing shows on Broadway. Disney isn't going to close it when Frozen opens. 

(Also, while Aladdin features a princess, it's hardly a princess show. Her role is very secondary.)

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 10:49am

Also, when they announced Frozen was coming - they mentioned it joining Lion King and Aladdin. 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 10:53am

Does anyone think that Disney would have closed BATB regardless of whether Little Mermaid came to Broadway or not? I checked up its grosses and it was barely making its nut most weeks during 2006-2007. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 2:20pm

I'm pretty sure the "only one Disney princess show at a time" rule was just corporate "spin" to close a show that was going to close anyway. If Beauty and the Beast had been doing Lion King business it would t have closed. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 4:22pm

¿Macavity? said: "Aladdin is a bit of a wild card... I really can't tell if it will have a nice run on B'way, close and have a life on tour, or become an international hit. Who knows.

It is well into its third year and still doing great business.  The concern is moot.

For all the reasons already mentioned, there is going to be no revival for a long time.  To me, there is an even bigger reason in the next couple of years...the MOVIE.  And after that, the DVD sales.  They are not going to distract from that.

Despite its 10 year run, I thought the show was always mediocre, with almost all of the additions inferior to anything in the movie.  Hopefully, the movie will include new material which can replace some of the mediocre stuff from the show, in say 20 years.

How many Disney shows are too many for Broadway?  I hope no more than 2, but imagine it will be 3 when Frozen opens, unless Aladdin loses steam and they decide to close it so the focus will be on Frozen and The Lion King.

 

[nycgogetter]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 6:31pm

Rumor is . . . there is talk of a commercial revival of the Broadway musical - Beauty and the Beast - just not in NYC.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 7:09pm

^So where? The West End? A new national tour? 

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 7/31/16 at 7:15pm

^Oooooo, I'd love a either of those!