Fresh Magic: Why Disney’s Reimagined ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Is a Must-Catch

6/30/2026

Broadway Las Vegas

Kyra Belle Johnson and Fergie L. Philippe in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Photo By Matthew Murphy. (C) Disney. Belle and the Beast in a library.

Kyra Belle Johnson and Fergie L. Philippe in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Photo By Matthew Murphy. ©Disney.

Since hitting movie theaters in 1991 and becoming the first-ever animated film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, Beauty and the Beast has been a beloved and celebrated Disney franchise.

From a Grammy-winning original soundtrack to a musical that ran for 13 years on Broadway, audiences have relished the chance to revisit with Belle, Beast and the rest. And now, fans and newcomers alike have a chance to do so again, in the form of an exciting touring musical that hits The Smith Center September 15-20.

 

Here are five reasons why the new version will stand out.

  1. It's Disney’s first North American tour of Beauty in more than 25 years.

The original Disney-produced tours ended in 2003, so this marks the return of the musical to the road in a major new production, rather than a licensed regional staging.

  1. It's a genuine reimagining, not just a re-creation.

Instead of simply reproducing the 1994 Broadway production, Disney developed a refreshed version that keeps the heart of the original while updating the staging, choreography, scenic design, costumes and theatrical technology. The creative team has described it as a more human and contemporary take on the story.

  1. Many of the original Broadway creators have returned.

The production reunites key members of the Tony®-winning creative team, including writer Linda Woolverton, composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice and director/choreographer Matt West.

  1. The show has been updated, including its script.

The creative team made selective revisions to dialogue and scenes, so the musical feels like a living work rather than a museum piece. There are also all new dances and reimagined staging for major numbers like “Be Our Guest,” while preserving the classic score audiences expect.

  1. It benefits from three decades of advances in stagecraft.

Modern projection, lighting, automation, fabrics and scenic engineering allow effects that simply weren't possible in 1994, giving the enchanted castle a richer visual life without abandoning practical scenery and costumes.