Disney’s ‘Beauty & The Beast’ @ Broadway Dallas
Photos by Matthew Murphy
—Martha Heimberg
The Music Hall at Fair Park was packed and buzzing with fans of all ages Wednesday night for the opening of the lavish 2025 touring production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: the Musical by composer Alan Menken, lyricists Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book writer Linda Woolverton. Director and choreographer Matt West precisely wrangles the topnotch cast, crew and orchestra — reportedly 75 people every night — to mount the many moving parts of the show.
The lobby filled with lovely little girls decked out in their Christmas best, and their glittery dresses added to the festive spirit of the evening. Ann Hould-Ward’s shining, imaginative costumes enhance every character in the show, and our Beauty’s ballgown is reportedly covered with 29,311 rhinestones! Such stuff as sparkling dreams are made of, for sure.
What a grand and family-friendly spectacle for the holidays, magically illuminated by Natasha Katz’s lighting design, Jim Steinmeyer’s illusions of magical transformations, and Darrell Maloney’s thrilling video designs of huge wolves chasing the heroine through a dark woods —and suddenly flashing across Stanley A. Meyer’s fairy tale set design of quaint cottages and an enchanted castle.
The beating heart of the show is the love story between brainy, bookish Belle (lilting soprano Kyra Belle Johnson plays the brave heroine) and her morose Beast (played Wednesday by romantic tenor Caleb McArthur, with comic grouchiness and increasing ardor). The love of a beautiful, determined gal can lift the gloomiest spell from the beastliest guy — provided he is a real prince underneath all that rude behavior. (Us moms nodded knowingly when Belle scolded the gobbling Beast for his dreadful table manners.)
Whether you grew up watching the original 1991 Disney film yourself — or taking your children to see it, as I did — the cast and ensemble here is sure to prompt happy memories and create a new appreciation for the talented and energetic ensemble.
Baritone Stephen Mark Lucas brings a brawny comic energy to the first act as Gaston, the musclebound village bully, with big biceps and a bigger ego. In his song “Gaston,” Lucas flexes his abs and sings of his certainty that Belle must accept his marriage proposal, since no woman in her right mind could turn him down. He makes fun of Belle’s eccentric father (the perplexed, muttering Kevin Ligon), who’s working on a solar-powered scooter. Gaston even tells her she’s nuts to go around reading books. No wonder poor Belle would rather get lost in the woods than marry this dumb jock whose favorite view is in his mirror.
But of course, we all know Belle finds much more than just peace and quiet in this somewhat enchanted forest.
“Be Our Guest”, the showstopping “welcome” number of Belle’s first dinner at the mysterious Beast’s castle, features dancers doing the can-can, tap-dancing and waltzing with giant knives and forks. My favorite move is the aerial view of the gold-clad dancers forming a huge circle lying flat on their backs, legs kicking high and wide. The extravagant number got a standing ovation on opening night. Then we all sat right back down to hear McArthur’s Beast sing a commanding “If I Can’t Love Her.”
Much of the fun in the second act is delivered by the staff in the castle, who busily plot to insure that wandering Belle and their hapless master fall in love and lift the curse that has turned their prince into a monster and them into, respectively, a wind-up clock (Javier Ignacio), a tea pot (Kathy Voytko) and a candelabra (Danny Gardner). This talented trio delivers the charming “Human Again” with touching comedy and polished dance moves.
Belle belts out “A Change In Me” as she realizes there’s much more to this demanding Beast than meets the eye. She also knows what it’s like to be lonely, and thought of in her own village as a bit strange. By the time our star-crossed pair have sat down in the magnificent dining hall and waltzed to the soaring music in the ballroom scene, we’re ready for “Transformation,” the joyous finale that love can create.
Kudos to Conductor David Andres Rogers and his ten-member orchestra, unseen in the pit, but heard with vibrant clarity throughout the iconic Music Hall. Make your reservation to be their guest! This show is delicious fare for all.
WHEN: December 16, 2025-January 4, 2026
WHERE: The Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
WEB: broadwaydallas.org
