There are not yet any preview images to be seen, but Disney Cruise Line is hard at work to bring “Beauty and the Beast” to its floating stage aboard the Disney Dream. Following the release of the new live-action film on March 17, 2017, the new production show will debut at sea on November 6, 2017, incorporating elements from both the classic animated film and most recent cinematic incarnation.
The musical, housed in the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre, will incorporate all the staging techniques that Disney is known for, starting with an ace cast and costuming and extending to expert puppetry and projection, all of course set to the timeless tunes of composer Alan Menken. In fact, not only will the show feature the songs written with lyricist Howard Ashman for the animated feature but also two numbers written with lyricist Tim Rice for the brand new film: “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and “Days in the Sun.”
The classic “Belle,” “Something There,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Gaston” and “Be Our Guest” will also certainly be featured, and Matt Castle and Frank Galgano (“Into the Woods”) will ensure that the cruise line production will have its own unique arrangements and orchestrations.
Altogether the performance will be set to a music box motif for telling the story as inspired by the live-action film, and a veritable who’s who of talent is helping to bring it all together including director and choreographer Connor Gallagher (“Tangled: The Musical,” “Found”); writer Sara Wordsworth (“Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” Broadway’s “In Transit”); set designer Jason Sherwood (“Paint Your Wagon,” “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”); video designer Aaron Rhyne (“Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” Broadway’s “Anastasia”); lighting designer Japhy Weideman; costume designer Sarah Cubbage (Broadway’s “Skylight”) and puppet designer Jeff Conover.
Particularly magical will be the animation of the enchanted objects and characters like Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth creatively utilizing costuming and puppetry techniques at true scale.
“Beauty and the Beast” will join “The Golden Mickeys” and “Disney’s Believe” as the production shows onboard the Disney Dream as it sets sail on 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida year-round.
For more information, visit the Disney Cruise Line website. To book your Disney cruise call upon MiceChat’s very own Fairy Godmother Travel.
What do you think about “Beauty and the Beast” on the Disney Cruise Line? Are you excited to see the show in November? Share your thoughts in the comments section below…