Preview of 'Beauty and the Beast' at the Bushnell

SMASH HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

OPENS AT THE BUSHNELL MAY 6

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Hartford!  Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at The Bushnell May 6-11, 2014.  The Hartford premiere of Beauty and the Beast is sponsored by First Niagara Bank.

Beauty and the Beast runs at The Bushnell through May 11.  Performances are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  Ticket prices start at $19.00.  Tickets are available online at www.bushnell.org; by phone at 860-987-5900; or in person at The Bushnell box office, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford.  Press night is Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m.

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.

The production features the animated film’s 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 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 the show), lighting design by Natasha Katz (three-time Tony Award winner), scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, sound design by John Petrafesa Jr., and music supervision by Michael Kosarin.