Nowadays, seeing a Disney show on tour at The Music Hall or on Broadway in New York feels easier than ever. It’s almost impossible to believe that when Beauty and the Beast premiered on Broadway in 1994, Disney had never attempted to adapt one of their movies for the stage. Disney took a gamble and assembled a dream production team with known Broadway stars, and the rest is history. Beauty and the Beast ended up running for thirteen years on Broadway, went on multiple national and international tours, and has now been produced by just about every high school and community theater in the nation.
Starting in January of 2025, amateur theater companies like First Act won’t be able to perform Beauty and the Beast for a while. Disney is preparing to stage a new version of the show and take it on a big national tour (and possibly a Broadway revival). That means seeing Beauty and the Beast at First Act is one of your last chances to see this show in Kansas City for awhile!
This show represents countless hours of work by passionate students, their incredible parents (yes, the sets/costumes/props/etc. were all done by parents!), and a dedicated staff. It takes a village, and we have one of the best villages at First Act.
Underneath the incredible costumes, big dance numbers, and iconic songs, Beauty and the Beast is ultimately about the power of valuing and celebrating our differences, and about recognizing every person’s inherent, God-given value.
Belle is the best Disney princess in my opinion because she is inquisitive. She wants to know more about the world and people around her, which makes her compassionate and empathetic. May we all take a page from Belle’s book and continue to be curious, kind, empathetic, and interested more in people’s character than in their outward appearance.
Enjoy the show!
Patrick
