About the work
Beauty and the Beast is a musical by Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman and Tim Rice (lyrics) with a book by Linda Woolverton, premiered on Broadway in 1994. It was Disney Theatrical's first stage musical and is based on the successful 1991 animated film.
Plot
A selfish prince is transformed by an enchantress into a fearsome Beast; only true love can break the spell before the last rose wilts. When the clever, book-loving Belle enters the castle to ransom her captive father, the Beast offers to hold her in his place. Despite his hot temper, the two grow closer. While the vain hunter Gaston incites the village against the Beast, the latter learns to love through Belle's kindness—and is redeemed at the last moment.
Cultural significance
Beauty and the Beast launched Disney's enormously successful theatrical division and paved the way for The Lion King and further stage adaptations. Menken's score, supplemented by new stage songs in addition to film classics such as Beauty and the Beast and Be Our Guest, combines Broadway glamour with fairy-tale magic. As an opulent family musical it ran for years on Broadway and worldwide and is among the most frequently performed works of its kind.