By Andrew Gans
18 Apr 2005

The Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast — based on the Oscar-nominated animated film — celebrates its 11th anniversary on The Great White Way April 18.

The musical, which is the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, originally opened at the Palace Theatre — now the home of All Shook Up — April 18, 1994. The production played 2,250 performances at the Palace before reopening at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it now resides. Beauty also recently marked another milestone, playing its 4,500th performances April 8.

Steve Blanchard and Brooke Tansley currently star in the title roles of Beauty and the Beast. Their co-stars include Grant Norman as Gaston, Jeff Brooks as Cogsworth, Peter Flynn as Lumiere, Alma Cuervo as Mrs. Potts, Jamie Ross as Maurice, Aldrin Gonzales as Lefou, Pam Klinger as Babette and Mary Stout as Madame de la Grande Bouche. Matthew Gumley and Patrick O'Neil Henney alternate in the role of the young Chip.

Beauty and the Beast, according to press notes, "is the classic love story of Belle, a young woman in a small, provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a prince trapped in a spell placed on him by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and to be loved, the spell will be broken and he will be transformed back to his former self. But time is running out, and if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he will be doomed for all eternity."

Featuring a score by Alan Menken, Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman, Beauty and the Beast boasts a book by the author of the original screenplay, Linda Woolverton; the musical was directed by Robert Jess Roth. The musical plays Tuesdays at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.

Tickets may be purchased at the theatre's box office (205 W. 46th Street) or by calling (212) 307-4747. For more information, visit Walt Disney Theatricals on-line at www.disneyonbroadway.com.