Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek News

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Enchants at the Orpheum Now Thru July 10!

Beauty and the Beast, a "tale as old as time," has landed at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.  The beloved Disney musical adaptation, based on the studio's animated 1991 Best Picture Oscar nominee, still has the ability to enchant an audience of children.  And, apparently, plenty of parents or kids at heart, too.

Be their guest at the Hippodrome for Disney's lavish musical, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

BWW Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Goes Beyond Skin Deep

No doubt one of the greatest classic Disney films of all time, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has launched a new NETworks tour, which reunites original Broadway director, Rob Roth, choreographer, Matt West, along with the original design team, including Ann Hould-Ward (costume designer), Natasha Katz (Lighting Designer), Stanley A. Meyer (Scenic Designer), John Petrafesa Jr. (Sound Designer) and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin.

PNC Broadway in Louisville fills the Kentucky Center this week with the current tour of the 1993 Broadway hit Beauty and the Beast, the stage version of the 1991 Disney animated movie. The opening night audience included many family groups who clearly were fans of the movie.

We're taking you on a journey to the magical world of Beast, Belle, Gaston, and friends as we travel through time. Taking place in 18th century France, Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast is making it's way to Atlanta's Fox Theatre. I had the chance to sit down with Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek (Gaston) to talk about bringing this great book, turned film, and now theatrical play to life.

Belle, in her bookish ways and reserved manner, was always a stand out princess of Disney's canon. Disinterested in being one of the aptly named "Silly Girls" who spend their idle time fawning over local hunk Gaston, she is a much different kind of Disney heroine.

The magic of Disney continues this season at the Saenger Theatre with the pinnacle tale of enchantment BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. This classic fairy tale makes a return to New Orleans, closing out 2015 with the ultimate "tale as old as time."

First off, it feels superfluous for me to be reviewing this production, for the show is only running for two more days, so before you continue reading, buy your tickets to see it first.*

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is produced by NETworks Presentations.  Check out the all-new production shots below!

Some of the nation's most notorious villains were brought back to life on Sunday at the matinee of Four Seasons Theatre's rendition of Assassins. Stephen Sondheim's history lesson slash musical, like much of his other work, reminds audiences that the world is not black and white. Michael Herold as the Proprietor, though ringmaster would be a more fitting title, opens the show as one would a circus. A fitting parallel since the characters are so dissimilar from one another but have one end game in mind - fame. They want to matter. Just like those who would run off with the circus were simply looking for an outlet, these folks needed to feel that they matter. After all, in 'the land of the free', why shouldn't every person's story be heard? That's where this show, first staged in 1990, finds its cultural relevance in the end of 2014.

In conjunction with the centennial of World War I and the Kansas City debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning production of Silent Night, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Over There! at the National World War I Museum tonight, August 23. This 1914 field dining experience, co-chaired by Trudy and Jack Gabriel, will include a cabaret performance featuring music of the era.

In conjunction with the centennial of World War I and the Kansas City debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning production of Silent Night, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Over There! at the National World War I Museum on Saturday, August 23. This 1914 field dining experience, co-chaired by Trudy and Jack Gabriel, will include a cabaret performance featuring music of the era.

Cinnabar Theater is on a roll: today, after selling out the opening weekend for its opulent production of The Marriage of Figaro, it extended its fourth straight show. This elegant and hilarious opera concludes a spectacular season at Sonoma County's beloved professional theater. Figaro has added a performance on June 11 at 7:30 PM - but this Marriage must end on June 15, so don't wait to get seats!

After a string of sold-out hits, Cinnabar Theater in Sonoma County concludes its spectacular season of live performances with Mozart's masterpiece: The Marriage of Figaro opens at Petaluma's beloved professional theater tonight, May 30 and plays through June 15.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess's first bow in PHANTOM, the 2014 Drama Desk nominees, BroadwayWorld's own concert at Joe's Pub, and more!

On Sunday, BroadwayWorld produced an elegant and elaborate celebration all about the man behind the music for such legendary and unforgettable musicals as GYPSY, FUNNY GIRL, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, PETER PAN and many more - the incomparable Jule Styne - all to honor the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of America. It was an unforgettable night, as those in the audience and watching the livestream can attest, and we have already provided multiple exclusive and extensive looks behind the scenes (here and here) showcasing the sights and sounds of the night and the preparation for it, kicking off earlier this week with some fabulous photo sets provided by our esteemed team of photographers, and today we bring you an all access pass to view the onstage action, as well. BroadwayWorld's own Pat Cerasaro created and directed the evening, with expert musical direction provided by the superb Phil Hall. Without a doubt, the astonishing array of performers appearing truly could not have been more delightful or magnificent - both onstage and off - and the marvelous Styne melodies were grandly served by that stalwart collection of Broadway's best, performing hits such as 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend', 'Don't Rain On My Parade', 'People', 'Never Never Land' and more.

Last night, BroadwayWorld produced an elegant and elaborate celebration all about the man behind the music for such legendary and unforgettable musicals as GYPSY, FUNNY GIRL, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, PETER PAN and many more - the incomparable Jule Styne - all to honor the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of America.

So, now, we share with you a look behind the scenes at the creative team and performers before they went onstage at the hallowed Joe's Pub for the fantastic show, EVERYTHING'S COMING UP BROADWAYWORLD.COM: A JULE STYNE TRIBUTE. Enjoy!