Howard Ashman News

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is a musical story of love, adventure, and redemption. The book was written by Linda Woolverton with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

'Be Our Guest!'  Disney's Beauty and the Beast, The Broadway Musical will run at Patchogue Theatre from December 14th through December 30th and will be produced and presented by The Gateway.

Drury Lane Theatre's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souzaand choreography by Ron De Jesus runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Get a first look at the cast in action!

Jed Bernstein, Producing Director of Theatre Aspen, announced today two musicals for the 2019 season. The Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls will kick off the summer production slate, directed by Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster, who returns to Theatre Aspen for his second summer. Additionally, Carbonell Award winner Mark Martino returns for a remarkable eleventh time to direct a newly reimagined production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Trinity Repertory Company held its 2018 Project Discovery Gala, which supports education programs at Trinity Rep, on November 14. Through ticket sales, sponsorships, and a live auction, the event raised more than $85,000. The event was co-chaired by resident actors Rebecca Gibel and Charlie Thurston with Barbara and Larry Schoenfeld, and Ken Sigel and Sarah Kelly. Resident actor Joe Wilson, Jr. served as emcee and auctioneer.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening was scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Telly Leung recently received his portrait at Sardi's and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out the photos below!

Drury Lane Theatre's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souzaand choreography by Ron De Jesus runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Get a first look at the cast in action!

In an era when stage adaptations of animated films are seemingly a dime a dozen, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has stood the test of time, and for good reason. When the 1991 Disney film was adapted for Broadway in 1994, composer Alan Menken nearly doubled the number of songs, and the additions that he wrote with lyricist Tim Rice are every bit as stunning as the originals (with lyrics by the late Howard Ashman). Further, Linda Woolverton's book for the musical lends depth to characters previously left underdeveloped in her film screenplay, especially the Beast and his household. Drury Lane Theatre's new production honors both the film and Broadway versions, but director Alan Souza and his creative team deliver a refreshingly original vision, giving the talented cast space to breathe new life into familiar characters. The result is a beautifully designed, thoughtfully staged, and strongly acted fairy tale that should delight audiences of all ages.

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m. Check out clips in the video below!

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Kentwood Players presents the play DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film. Performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. There will be a complimentary pre-show champagne and dessert reception between 7:00-7:30pm for season subscribers and their guests attending the Saturday, November 10th. Performance dates are November 9th through December15th on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. In addition, there will be two Saturday matinees at 2pm on December 1st and December 8th.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the second show of its 2018-2019 season, the world premiere of DEATH HOUSE, written by Jason Karasev and directed by Michael Peretzian. DEATH HOUSE will preview on Tuesday, January 15 at 8pm; Wednesday, January 16 at 8pm & Thursday, January 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, January 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 10 at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Drury Lane Theatre announces the cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton, direction by Alan Souza and choreography by Ron De Jesus. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was originally directed by Robert Jess Ross and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Trinity Repertory Company's 2018-19 Season opener, Pride and Prejudice, recently ended a successful run, playing to sold out audiences and over 90% capacity. The comedy, which ran October 4 through November 4 was the highest-selling comedy produced by the organization since The Odd Couple in the 2009-10 Season. The production was also notable for playing to higher paid capacity than any show since The Completely Fictional - Utterly True - Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe in the 2010-11 Season. More than half of the Pride and Prejudice public performances sold out. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel by Kate Hamill, this production was directed by Birgitta Victorson. The cast included resident acting company members Angela Brazil, Janice Duclos, Rebecca Gibel, Rachael Warren, and Joe Wilson, Jr. They were accompanied on stage by guest actors Richard Donelly, Shelley Fort, and Katie Croyle.

Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, will play an exclusive premiere engagement at DPAC in the fall of 2019. 

It should come as no surprise whatsoever that the opening night audience for NCT's holiday season offering of Disney's The Little Mermaid rewarded the cast and crew with loud cheers, sustained applause and, more importantly, their rapt attention - were it not for the fact that last night's audience was comprised primarily of (how will we say it without offending?) more experienced theater-goers.

Kentwood Players presents the play DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film. Performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. There will be a complimentary pre-show champagne and dessert reception between 7:00-7:30pm for season subscribers and their guests attending the Saturday, November 10th. Performance dates are November 9th through December15th todays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. In addition, there will be two Saturday matinees at 2pm on December 1st and December 8th.

You may think you know Disney Beauty and the Beast - but you've never seen it like this!