Almost three decades since its Australian premiere in Victoria, Disney’s new production of Beauty and the Beast will arrive in Melbourne this month for its highly anticipated Melbourne season. Fresh from its record-breaking Brisbane season where the show has become the highest selling season of any show at QPAC in a decade and the third highest selling of all time behind Phantom of the Opera (1996) and The Lion King (2014) – over half a million Australians in Sydney and Brisbane have already been our guest – and Melbourne is next!
The enchanting and timeless tale of Belle and her Beast has been brought to life in a reimagined production boasting all the spectacle and grandeur audiences know and love. The incredible new production from the producers of Aladdin, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Frozen will have its first performance on Thursday 27 th June 2024 at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The original Australian production opened at the Princess Theatre in 1995 starring Rachael Beck in the role of Belle, Michael Cormick as the Beast, a young Hugh Jackman as Gaston, and the late Bert Newton as Cogsworth. The production played for over two years across Melbourne and Sydney and won the 1996 ARIA Award for Best Australian Soundtrack/Cast/Show Release.
Beauty and the Beast is a much-loved classic that will fill the hearts of a new generation. Based on the 1991 animated film, the original production of Beauty and the Beast played for more than 13 years on Broadway, remaining to this day one of the top 10 longest running shows in Broadway history, and touring to 37 countries worldwide. Melbourne audiences will rejoice in the nostalgic and spellbinding songs of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice including Belle, Gaston, Human Again and
Be Our Guest.
With spectacular new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology fused with this beloved, classic story, the timeless romance is brought to life on stage by a stellar Australian cast, starring Shubshri Kandiah as Belle and Brendan Xavier as Beast. Enchanted characters Lumiere and Cogsworth will be played by Melbourne locals Rohan Browne and Gareth Jacobs, both hailing from Seaford. Jayde Westaby will perform the role of the iconic Mrs.
Potts, and Jackson Head will play Gaston, a role famously performed by Hugh Jackman in 1995 in his first professional role. Other Victorian cast members include Southbank-based Nick Cox as Le Fou, Wonthaggi-born Rodney Dobson as Belle’s father, Maurice, and Melbourne locals Alana Tranter as Madame and Hayley Martin in the role of Babette.
Members of the creative team from the original, ground-breaking Broadway musical have returned to reimagine this classic tale. Olivier Award nominee Matt West directs and choreographs, leading a team that includes original composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz.
The team collectively received five Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 28 years ago.
Season Details
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre| Melbourne
Date: 27 June 2024
For more information click HERE
Photo Credit: Daniel Boud
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