Disney's Beauty and the Beast Is a
Creation of Pure Grandeur and
Spectacle and the Acting, Singing,
and Dancing Are Simply Wonderful!

Disney's Beauty and the Beast stars Kyra Belle Johnson and Fergie L. Philippe as Belle and the Beast (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

Can good conquer evil? Can a bad person reform? Can he save himself (and others) by such a transformation? Is beauty skin-deep? Or is true beauty found within? More than anything: Can love win out in the end?

Sometimes, you need the boost that you can get when a familiar fairy tale is retold. That boost can be especially beneficial if it is retold in a spectacular, first-class fashion. And that's what Disney Theatrical Group's Beauty and the Beast delivers -- a retelling that is so special that it borders on magical. Opening this season's Broadway at DPAC, Disney's Beauty and the Beast plays through Sunday, Sept. 14th, at the Durham Performance Art Center.

La Belle et la Bête was the title of the original short story, published in 1740 by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. Making its way through several revisions, the story eventually became part of our popular fairy tale canon.

In 1991, Walt Disney Studios produced it as Beauty and the Beast, an animated movie based on French novelist Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's abridged and revised version of the fairy tale, published in 1756.

The stage musical adaptation of the film opened on Broadway in 1994 and ran through 2007. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Sir Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, it earned nominations for nine 1994 Tony Awards®, winning for Best Costume Design. The current touring version of the musical is directed and choreographed by Matt West, with musical direction by David Andrews Rogers.

Be prepared for a creation of pure grandeur and spectacle. Be prepared, especially, for a musical number titled "Be Our Guest" that pulls out all the stops with song, dance, lighting, projections, and a plethora of costume changes.

Kyra Belle Johnson stars as Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

The Play:

An old beggar comes to a castle, offering a rose in return for shelter. The prince rudely rejects her offer, turning her away, because he thinks she's ugly. The beggar transforms into a beautiful Enchantress, who casts a spell on the prince, turning him into an ugly beast. His servants are also transformed, becoming household objects. Lumière, his maître d', has been turned into a candelabra; Cogsworth, his head of the household, has become a clock; Babette, a maid, is a feather duster; a singer known as Madame de la Grande Bouche is now a vanity; Mrs. Potts, the head of the kitchen, is a teapot; and her son Chip is a cup.

If the Beast wants to break this spell, he must undergo another transformation -- he must learn to love, and he must also earn the love of his beloved. After 10 years of living in seclusion, circumstances bring Belle (a beautiful young woman) to the Beast's castle.

Belle had lived with her father (Maurice) in a small town. Gaston, a vain, narcissistic, overbearing "he-man" had been determined that Belle would marry him. She had turned him down. Maurice had gotten lost deep in the woods and sought shelter at the Beast's castle. Calling him a trespasser, the Beast imprisons him. Belle finds Maurice at the castle and convinces the Beast to free her father and take her prisoner instead.

The clashes between the equally strong wills of Belle and the Beast will remind you of the classic question: "What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?"

As entertaining as these encounters are, it is the foibles of the supporting cast that generate the most laughter. The machinations of Gaston and LeFou are pleasingly silly, as are the well-intentioned exploits of the trio of Lumi`re, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts. And there are engaging song-and-dance numbers performed by the entire cast.

Will Belle be "the one"? Will the Beast be able to learn to love? And to earn her love? What does the future hold for Maurice? And for Gaston?

Fergie L. Philippe stars as the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

The Acting:

This is a strong cast. The acting, singing, and dancing are all simply wonderful.

Fergie L. Philippe delivers a headstrong-yet-vulnerable Beast, earning audience sympathy even in his most ferocious moments. Grace Marie Rusnica, subbing for Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle, is totally loveable and admirable, start-to-finish. Philippe and Rusnica show a remarkable degree of onstage chemistry.

Stephen Mark Lukas has all the right moves and poses for the clueless and conceited Gaston, a character that we wish we could "love to hate." (Lukas' strong performance, however, tones us down enough, so that we simply "love to laugh while mildly disliking his actions.") And Harry Francis is a perfect fit as Gaston's bumbling sidekick LeFou.

Another perfect match is the trio of Javier Ignacio (as Cogsworth), Danny Gardner (as Lumière), and Kathy Voytko (as Mrs. Potts). Ignacio wows us with the requisite "stuffed-shirt" qualities. Gardner continually cracked me up, reminding me of Harvey Korman's Count de Monet in Mel Brooks' film History of the World, Part 1. Voytko has the concerned motherly aspects down-pat. And Holly Ann Butler's appearances as Madame de la Grande Bouche spice up their sequences nicely.

Kevin Ligon conveys the absent-mindedness of Maurice, without taking it over-the-top. And the supporting cast and ensemble are equally admirable, crisply executing all of the imaginatively choreographed moves.

Kyra Belle Johnson (left) stars as Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

The Tech:

A magical visual feast is served up by Stanley A. Meyer's set design, Ann Hould-Ward's costume design, Natasha Katz's lighting design, and Darrel Maloney's projection/video design. The settings change smoothly from one intricately designed location to another, always engendering an authentic You-Are-There feeling. These are nicely complemented by John Shivers' sound design and Jim Steinmeyer's illusion design.

Harry Francis (center left) and Stephen Mark Lukas (center ) star as Lefou and Gaston (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

Nice Touches:

• The blunderbuss that Gaston shoots.
• The "discus" that seems to circumnavigate the globe.
• The illusions and magical transformations that happen right before our eyes.
• The projection on the wall of the kaleidoscopic choreography as it is performed during "Be Our Guest." (I was reminded of synchronized swimming.)
• The surreal-yet-very-real wolves in the forest.
• The projections of the sky with "live" stars (some of which shoot) and a moon that changes phases as time passes.

The show stars (from left) Danny Gardner as Lumière, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts, Kevin Ligon as Maurice, Cameron Monroe Thomas as
Babette, Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, and Holly Ann Butler as Madame de la Grande Bouche (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

Memorable Lines:

• "Well there's the usual things: flowers, chocolate, promises you don't intend to keep."
• "I want much more than this provincial life."
• "The villagers say that I'm a funny girl. But I'm not sure they mean it as a compliment."
• "True that he's no Prince Charming, but there's something in him that I simply didn't see."
• "It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas, and thinking."
• "If it's not Baroque, don't fix it."
• "I let her go ... because I love her."
• "He's no monster, Gaston. You are!"

Disney's Beauty and the Beast stars Danny Gardner as Lumière and Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

My granddaughter's familiarity with the movie enabled her to sing along here and there, but my 73-year-old ears always appreciate it when theaters provide supertitles. Maybe next time.

Kyra Belle Johnson stars as Belle and Fergie L. Philippe stars as the Beast at DPAC (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

The Bottom Line:

Disney Theatrical Group's Beauty and the Beast is pure magic. It takes everything that's right about a stage production and seasons it with effects that normally can only be created on the screen. If you're ready for a solid helping of a beautifully presented version of a feel-good fairy tale with plenty of humor served "on-the-side," this production might be the "meal" that you need.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast plays Sept. 2-14 at the Durham Performing Arts Center (photo by Matthew Murphy © Disney)

Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Sir Tim Rice and Linda Woolverton's DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5-7 and 9-14), conceived by Rob Roth; based on the 1991 animated Disney film, which was based on the 1740 French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la B`te) by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve; produced by Disney Theatrical Group; directed and choreographed by Matt West; and starring Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle, Fergie L. Philippe as Beast, Kevin Ligon as Maurice, Stephen Mark Lukas as Gaston, Harry Francis as Lefou, Danny Gardner as Lumi`re, Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Cameron Monroe Thomas as Babette, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts, Holly Ann Butler as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Beatrice Goddard Beggs or Levi Blaise Coleman as Chip, Spencer Dean as Monsieur D'Arque, Angela Lansbury as Prologue Narrator (recorded voice only), Melaina Rairamo as Village Lass, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel as Village Lass, Kate Wesler as Enchantress/Village Lass, plus an Ensemble that includes Benjamin Cheng, Spencer Dean, Julian Marcus DeGuzman, Michael Dikegoros, Darrell T. Joe, Emily Larger, Katie Pohlman, Melaina Rairamo, Grace Marie Rusnica, Ben Sears, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel, and Kate Wesler; Swings that include Vinny Andaloro, Lena Matthews, Caleb McArthur, dance captain Sam Rose Pearson, Ellen Roberts, and assistant dance captain Michael Seltzer; and Vacation Swings that include Briana Ascione, Matthew Marvin, Carson Hampton Palmer, and Katie Pohlman; and presented locally as part of Broadway at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://issuu.com/dpac0/docs/disney_s_beauty_and_the_beast. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf6TkiF0fVc. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://www.tiktok.com/@dpacnc, https://x.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/@DPACLive. 2025-26 BROADWAY AT DPAC: https://www.dpacnc.com/broadway-at-dpac/season/broadway-at-dpacs-2025-2026-season. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991 animated romantic fantasy movie musical): https://movies.disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast, https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/55212, https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68299/beauty-and-the-beast#overview, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101414/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1991_film). DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1994 Broadway and 1997 West End musical): https://beautyandthebeastthemusical.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/disneys-beauty-and-the-beast, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/beauty-and-the-beast-1895, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(musical). STUDY GUIDE (Broadway San Diego): https://www.broadwaysd.com/assets/beauty-and-the-beast-studyguide.pdf. ALAN MENKEN (New Rochelle, NY-born composer): https://www.alanmenken.com/, https://www.songhall.org/profile/alan_menken, https://www.mtishows.com/people/alan-menken, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/alan-menken-12135, https://www.spectra.theater/explore/artist/27598432-61d6-4609-b029-6f56411da578, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0579678/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Menken. HOWARD ASHMAN (Baltimore, MD-born lyricist, nee Howard Elliott Ashman, 1950-91): https://www.howardashman.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/people/howard-ashman, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/howard-ashman-6356, https://www.spectra.theater/explore/artist/8bce64df-265e-479e-8189-d91f1738ea0e, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039141/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Ashman. SIR TIM RICE (English lyricist, nee Timothy Miles Bindon Rice): https://www.timrice.co.uk/, https://www.songhall.org/profile/Tim_Rice, https://www.mtishows.com/people/tim-rice, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tim-rice-8890, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005358/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Rice, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Rice. LINDA WOOLVERTON (Long Beach, CA-born playwright, screenwriter, and novelist): https://www.mtishows.com/people/linda-woolverton, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/linda-woolverton-7344, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941314/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Woolverton. DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017 romantic fantasy musical film): https://movies.disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017, https://d23.com/a-to-z/beauty-beast-film-2017/, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2771200/, https://x.com/beourguest, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(2017_film). THE TOUR (June 25, 2025-Present): https://beautyandthebeastthemusical.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/beauty-and-the-beast-543074, https://www.facebook.com/beautyandthebeastthemusical/, https://www.instagram.com/beautymusical/, https://www.tiktok.com/@disneyonbroadway, and https://www.youtube.com/disneyonbroadway. TOUR CAST: https://beautyandthebeastthemusical.com/north-american-tour-cast/. TOUR CREATIVE TEAM: https://beautyandthebeastthemusical.com/creative-team/. TICKETS: $55 and up (including taxes and fees). Click here to buy tickets. GROUPS (10+ tickets): 919-680-2787, Groups@DPACnc.com, and https://www.dpacnc.com/events/groups-services. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

WHAT: Triangle Review is a FREE weekly e-mail performing-arts and film newsletter, edited and published by Robert W. McDowell since August 2001.

TO SUBSCRIBE: To start your FREE subscription today, sign up in the subscription box at the beginning of this e-mail; or e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line. TO UNSUBSCRIBE: E-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type UNSUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? E-mail all questions, comments, and Letters to the Editor to RobertM748@aol.com. For Letters to the Editor, please include a daytime telephone number in your e-mail.

COPYRIGHT: Editorial content in all formats © 2025 Triangle Review and the author of each article. Reproduction in any form without authorization of Triangle Review and the respective authors is prohibited. Triangle Review maintains an archive of past issues. To request copies of past articles and/or issues, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com.