Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a timeless, enchanting story of love and hope and a delightful holiday season treat for the entire family.It runs at the Walnut through the holiday season ending December 31, 2023.The production is directed by Glenn Casale and choreographed by Kim Arnett.

Originally based on a French fairytale, and reimagined with the classic 1991 animated feature film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tells the story of a prince cursed by a magic spell and the bookish Belle who stumbles on his enchanted castle and, with the help of his spellbound servants, helps him break the curse.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will enchant audiences with a ‘tale as old as time,’ featuring all the classic songs from the animated film, including “Belle,” “Be Our Guest,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” The staged version combines the beloved songs of the animated film with an expanded score and 6 additional songs.

The 1991 film, directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, featured songs by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Met with great critical and commercial success, Beauty and the Beast went on to become the first animated film nominated for Best Picture Academy Award. Following the success of the film, the first staged production on Broadway went on to receive 9 Tony Award nominations, on its way to playing 5,461 performances before taking its final bow in 2007.

The Walnut’s production features a company of 25 performers and a live orchestra. Glenn Casale, who directed the Walnut’s Mainstage productions of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, returns to direct. Casale directed the 2012 Dutch production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the national tour, and several regional productions in the States.

Chris Burcheri returns as Music Director, having just completed ELVIS – A Musical Revolution at the Walnut, and Kim Arnett serves as choreographer making her WST Debut. Burcheri, currently in his fourth season providing music and vocal direction at the Walnut, took the podium in the 2022-23 season for Rocky the Musical, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.

Making his return and Walnut Street Theatre mainstage debut as the cursed and “hideous” Beast Prince is Daniel Wisniewski. Wisniewski, a native of Northeast Philadelphia, did his acting apprenticeship at Walnut Street Theatre in 2018. Wisnieski’s Off-Broadway credits include Romeo and Bernadette and The Imbible: Day Drinking. Hisregional theatre credits include Men with Money and 1776.

Also returning to the Walnut, bringing to life the role of the strong, independent, and book-loving Belle is Julia Udine. Udine was last seen on stage at the Walnut in Shrek the Musical. Udine is best known for her four-year stint as Christne in The Phantom of the Opera both on Broadway and in the 25th Anniversary National Tour. She is a Voorhees, NJ native and attended Pennsylvania State University before leaving to join the tour of Phantom at 19 years old. 

Returning as Lumiere and Cogsworth, the Prince’s charming French valet and his excitable English major-domo, are Dana Orange and Fran Prisco, respectively. Orange has been seen on stage at the Walnut in the tropical journey of Escape to Margaritaville, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Fran Prisco is celebrating over 23 years of productions at the Walnut, starting with Singin’ in the Rain in 2000. Other credits include Rocky the Musical, Young Frankenstein, and South Pacific.

Returning as Belle’s slightly addled genius inventor father is Walnut veteran Bill Van Horn. Horn has performed in, written, and directed many shows at WST and most recently premiered his stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes’ The Adventure of the Speckled Band. Additional recent credits include Escape to Margaritaville, Rocky the Musical, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Returning to play Gaston, the rude and narcissistic hunter vying for Belle’s hand in marriage, is Chris Stevens. Stevens has been seen in the Walnut’s productions of Shrek the Musical and South Pacific. Playing Gaston’s fawning friend and sidekick LeFou is Giovanni DiGabriele.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast runs through December 31, 2023 which includes holiday performances. Season sponsor: PNC Arts Alive. This production is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross, Spark Therapeutics, FitlerClub, and Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC. Media Sponsors are NBC, Metro Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.