BEAUTY AND THE BEAST National Tour Returning to Van Wezel, 10/14

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Sarasota! Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on October 14, 2015 at 7:30. Single tickets will go on sale Friday, August 14 at 10am at VanWezel.org at the Box Office or by calling 941-953-3368. Tickets start at $35.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast features the 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. The book is written by Linda Woolverton.

The original creators of the Broadway production have reunited 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 (five-time Tony Award winner), Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin.

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.

Based on the 1991 Academy Award-winning animated feature film and celebrating 20 years since its Broadway premiere in 1994, Disney's Beauty and the Beast has become an international sensation that has been seen by 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 3 million people while playing over 1,000 performances in all 50 United States and 8 Canadian Provinces. Currently, there are four other productions playing around the world including Paris, tours in Japan and Germany, and a new international tour that currently will visit over 12 countries in two years.