With shows around the nation through late 2026, the Broadway production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” toured in Dallas from Dec. 16 through Jan. 4 at the Music Hall in Fair Park. Enchanting audiences across all ages, the musical presented a promise of nostalgia for the renowned fairytale to a packed venue — and delivered much more.
The show opens with the classic scene of a prince meeting a beggar woman who can only offer a rose in exchange for shelter in his castle. Because of his arrogance, he turns the woman away, only for her to transform into an enchantress that places a curse on him. Replicating the transformation from the beggar woman to the enchantress, while simple in animation or live action remakes, is a difficult task on stage. The show accomplished this deftly with strobing lights taking the audience by surprise and a gentle crescendo of music and fog filling the stage and captivating all.
The story then reveals the main protagonist Belle in the small village of Villeneuve, where she longs for more than what she’s found in life. While the characterization of Belle and the people in the village is like film adaptations, the show finds a way to highlight each unique personality with the abrupt nature of their entry onto the stage. From the book salesman to the tavern keeper, everyone has a role, with their bright colors and voices that clash with one another as they sing — everyone in harmony yet without a sense of togetherness. It is this very togetherness and a sense of “more” that Belle seeks and is unable to find amid the chaos presented on stage.
Unlike other musicals such as “Les Misérables” or Disney’s “The Lion King,” both of which rely heavily on setting, the props are minimal in “Beauty and the Beast,” with simple staircases and chandeliers in the Beast’s palace and a small town square. While limited props can take away from a musical and its characterization, their use here brings out each actor’s quirks and their interpretation of their roles. Gaston, an antagonist in the musical who is infatuated with himself and the idea of Belle, has larger than life movements on stage, with his arms and body moving wildly in dance numbers or his stance looking down upon others. During Gaston’s song where he showcases his unique abilities such as knife throwing and skillful coordination at cup dancing, the actor brought to life the Gaston of the animated movie with his unique flair.
Being a character-heavy story, audiences are then introduced to Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth and Lumiere, a teapot, clock and candlestick, respectively. The costuming is similar to the shape and colors found in the animation, but also sports a humorous quality because of the cast controlling the characters’ movements through small gestures such as pouring tea or holding candlesticks up, the audience found a slight respite from the setting of the foreboding castle. A scene with Lumiere lighting his candles and dancing from joy showcased a clunkier moment than what was presented in the movie, but it all the more connected with the audience.
As Belle finds her way into the castle in a last-ditch effort to save her father who accidentally stumbled upon it, she clashes with the Beast’s harsh personality. Finding solace in the inanimate objects who view her as their last hope, the well-known song from the movie “Be Our Guest” begins, and high-speed music and acrobatics fill the stage for a mesmerizing show. Dancers swivel their dresses to showcase the various colors in their costumes alongside lighting that introduces a carnival-esque theming. As the final notes roar through the crowd, a stream of confetti is thrown through the air to the audience, giving Belle and theatergoers alike a reason to smile.
“Beauty and the Beast” places a strong focus on the characters’ charming journeys, namely that of the Beast. In the song “Evermore,” as the Beast reflects on Belle, who entered his life and made him feel new things, he finds himself at odds with the cruel and unforgiving man he once was. While the music makes up the crux of the pain felt by the Beast, subtleties of dim lighting and a focus on the iconic rose enrapture the audience and highlight the Beast’s pain as they, too, bear the uncomfortable truth of time running out.
As the musical develops the relationship between Belle and the Beast, settings and costumes begin to change to brighter, more flashy themes. The palace, once a barren place with a dark background contrast, now showcases happier times with each person coexisting peacefully. Belle’s iconic yellow gown, too, represents the growth she has undergone as she flows seamlessly into a personal moment with the Beast.
Coming full circle, the Beast endures a transformation back into his original form of a prince, with the show making use of unique visual effects that make it appear as though the beast is levitating as he changes. And as “A Tale as Old as Time” closes out the show, theatergoers are left with a gorgeous lightheartedness — demonstrating just how picture-perfect the musical’s reinterpretation of the Disney classic was.
