13 years?! The Broadway version of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” can’t really have been running for 13 years … can it?
Well, all you need to do is take a look at the photo below …
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
… Which shows 18 young men & boys who have all played the role of Chip in this long-running show at one time or another. And then you realize … Wow ! Maybe it really has been 13 years since the Walt Disney Company made its first foray into the world of legitimate theater.
Anyway … In honor of this auspicious occasion, the folks at Disney Theatrical decided to do something special. Which is why they invited hundreds of past & current members of the show’s cast to drop by the Lunt-Fontanne theatre yesterday morning. So that all of these performers could then take part in what was being billed as “Broadway’s Biggest Cast Photo.”
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
(click to enlarge image)
And I’m pleased to report that 137 performers did decide to take Disney Theatrical up on their invitation. Making a special trip into the city so that they could then take part in this one-of-a-kind photo op. There was a veritable bevy of Belles on the stage yesterday …
Front Row — Andrea McArdle. Second Row — Ann Sanders, Deborah Lew,
Deborah Gibson & Anneliese van der Pol (current Belle). Third Row — Ashley Brown,
Jennifer Schrader, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Christianne Tisdale, Ana Maria Andricain & Andrea
Burns. Fourth Row — Megan McGinnis, Steve Blanchard (Beast) & Brooke Tansley.
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
… Including some of the more famous performers who have played this part over the years (I.E. Broadway’s original “Annie” Andrea McArdle, pop star Deborah Gibson as well as the current star of Disney Theatrical’s latest production, “Mary Poppins,” Ashley Brown).
Even the show’s creative team …
“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” CREATIVE TEAM CELEBRATE 13TH ANNIVERSARY :
Front Row — Alan Menken (Composer), Linda Wolverton (Book). Second Row — Robert
Jess Roth (Director). Back Row — Matt West (Choreographer), Stan Meyer (Set
Designer), Michael Kosarin (Musical Director) & Keith Batten (Associate Director).
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
… joined with members of “Beauty & the Beast” ‘s original Broadway cast …
ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE “BEAUTY & THE BEAST” CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM IN ATTENDANCE AT 13TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION : Front Row — Bill Nabel, Paige Price, Alisa Klein, Vince Pesee & Gregory Garrison. Middle Row — Beth Fowler, Linda Talcott Lee, Sarah Solie, Eleanor Glockner, Wysandria Woolsey & Linda Woolverton (Book). Back Row — Michael Kosarin (Musical Director), Gary Beach, Robert Jess Roth (Director), Michael Demby-Cain, Burk Moses, Stan Meyer (Set Design) & Matt West (Choreographer). Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
… for a special photo to commemorate this occasion.
Speaking of commemorating … Julianne Cho from the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting dropped by the Lunt-Fontanne yesterday to present Disney Theatrical with a special proclamation. Which declared that Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 was “Beauty & the Beast Day” in the city of New York.
Julianna Cho with her “Beauty & the Beast Day” proclamation.
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
Then — after everyone gathered on stage and said “Cheese” for the Mouse’s official photographer …
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY “BEAUTY & THE BEAST” ! — 137 members of the cast, crew and creative
team gather on stage at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to celebrate.
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
(click to enlarge image)
… — the group headed on over to Sardi’s for a private party. Where — as part of the festivities — longtime “B & B” cast member Steve Blanchard was presented with his official caricature …
The Beast of Broadway! Steve Blanchard poses with his Sardi’s caricature.
Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Lyn Hughes
… which will now join the colorful portraits of other Broadway greats that are on display in this NYC restaurant.
Still, as happy as this “Beauty & the Beast” anniversary celebration may have been, there was an element of melancholy to the event. Given that — since Disney Theatrical has already announced that this show will be closing on July 29th — this may be the last time this group ever gets together.
That said, given that “Beauty & the Beast” is now the 6th longest-running show in Broadway history (Logging more performances than such well-known shows as “Miss Saigon,” “42nd Street,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Hello, Dolly!”) … Well, it’s hard not to take some real pride in having been associated with this ” … Tale as Old of Time.”
Anyway … If you’re heading to NYC in the next three months and would like to catch one of the last performances of Broadway’s “Beauty & the Beast,” you can learn all about ticket prices, show times & performance dates by clicking on this link.
Your thoughts?