BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Linda Woolverton

Bookwriter

Linda Woolverton launched her career as a writer with two young adult novels before she began writing Saturday morning animated television shows. That eventually led her to writing her first animated feature, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Upon its release in 1991, the film won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical and became the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.

Woolverton then wrote the screenplay for THE LION KING animated feature, for which she shares screenplay credit. She then rewrote the script for HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY as well as contributing to the animated feature MULAN. She went on to adapt the script of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for the Broadway stage and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 1994. Woolverton was also awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for Best New Musical in the UK. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran in New York between 1994 and 2007, becoming the sixth longest running show in Broadway history.

Woolverton also wrote the Book for Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical AIDA, which ran for five years at the Palace Theatre. In 2008, Linda received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Writers Guild of America – Animation Writers Caucus for her longtime work in the field of animation.

Woolverton’s script for ALICE IN WONDERLAND, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp, was released in March 2010. The film grossed over one billion dollars worldwide, making her the first female screenwriter with a sole credit on a billion-dollar film. Woolverton went on to write the screenplay for Disney’s MALEFICENT, starring Angelina Jolie, released in May 2014 and a worldwide success.

She also wrote the sequel to ALICE IN WONDERLAND: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS and shares a credit on the MALEFICENT sequel: MISTRESS OF ALL EVIL. She is currently writing an original musical, adapting a fantasy novel, and producing an animated series.

Alan Menken

Composer

Alan Menken’s music, songs and scores have become an integral part of the fabric of our lives since his first works were produced nearly 40 years ago.

His stage musicals include GOD BLESS YOU MR. ROSEWATER, ATINA: EVIL QUEEN OF THE GALAXY, REAL LIFE FUNNIES, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, KICKS, THE DREAM ON ROYAL STREET, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, WEIRD ROMANCE, KING DAVID, THE LITTLE MERMAID, SISTER ACT, LEAP OF FAITH, NEWSIES, ALADDIN, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ, A BRONX TALE and HERCULES.

Song and score credits for film musicals include THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (ANIMATED), NEWSIES, ALADDIN (ANIMATED), POCAHONTAS, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, HERCULES, THE SHAGGY DOG, HOME ON THE RANGE, ENCHANTED, TANGLED, MIRROR MIRROR, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (LIVE ACTION), HOWARD and ALADDIN (LIVE ACTION).

Individual songs for film include ROCKY V – “The Measure of a Man”, HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK – “My Christmas Tree”, LIFE WITH MIKEY – “Cold Enough to Snow”, NOËL – “Winter Light”, CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST AVENGER – “Star Spangled Man” and SAUSAGE PARTY – “The Great Beyond”.

Television credits include writing songs for SESAME STREET, the ABC mini-series LINCOLN, a musical episode of THE NEIGHBORS, the ABC series GALAVANT and the Disney Channel’s TANGLED: THE SERIES. His chart topping songs have included “Beauty and the Beast”, “A Whole New World”, “Colors of the Wind” and “Go the Distance”.

Winner of the 2012 Tony and Drama Desk awards for his score for NEWSIES, he has won more Academy Awards than any other living individual, including eight Oscars® with four for Best Score and four for Best Song; 11 Grammy® Awards (including Song of the Year for “A Whole New World”); seven Golden Globes; a Daytime Emmy® Award; London’s Evening Standard Award; the Olivier Award; three Outer Critics Circle Awards and the two Drama Desk Awards.

Other notable achievements include induction as a Member (2008) in the SONGWRITER’S HALL OF FAME followed by receiving the lifetime achievement acknowledgement of the JOHNNY MERCER AWARD (2017); Billboard’s number one single (“A Whole New World”) and number one album (POCAHONTAS).

Recent live concert appearances include HOLLYWOOD BOWL, SEGERSTROM CENTER, ROYAL ALBERT HALL, BUDOKAN, OSAKA-JO HALL, MAIHAMA AMPHITHEATRE, TUACAHN and CHICAGO AUDITORIUM.

Upcoming: THE LITTLE MERMAID (LIVE-VERSION) film, SPELLBOUND animated film, DISENCHANTED live action/animated film and sequel to ENCHANTED, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (PREQUEL), ANIMAL FARM (STAGE MUSICAL).

His Emmy® win elevated him to EGOT status, as the 16th person ever to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. In 2001 he received the distinction of being named a DISNEY LEGEND. Awarded two doctorates in Fine Arts from NEW YORK UNIVERSITY and the NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. In 2010 he received a star on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.

Howard Ashman

Lyricist

Best known as the pivotal creative mind behind THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (which is dedicated to “Our friend, Howard Ashman, who gave a Mermaid her voice and a Beast his soul…”). Ashman’s first love was theatre. He was a founder of Off Off-Broadway’s renowned WPA THEATRE, where he conceived, wrote and directed the classic musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS as well as GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER (both music by Alan Menken). A new cast recording of ROSEWATER is available from Sh-K-Boom records.

In 1986, Ashman wrote and directed the Broadway musical SMILE (music by Marvin Hamlisch). Lamented as a lost treasure of the 1980’s theatre scene, SMILE remains popular on high school and college campuses. Ashman’s family is thrilled that Ashman and Menken’s original songs for ALADDIN, some of which were cut in the making of the film — as well as portions of Ashman’s original film treatment — have been reinstated in the theatrical production.

A documentary about Ashman’s life titled HOWARD has received great acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of the man and the artist. Howard Ashman died in 1991 from complications of AIDS. For more information, please visit howardashman.com.

Tim Rice

Lyricist

Tim Rice has worked in music, theatre and films since 1965 when he met Andrew Lloyd Webber, a fellow struggling songwriter. Rather than pursue Tim’s ambitions to write rock or pop songs they turned their attention to Andrew’s obsession – musical theatre. Their first collaboration was based on the life of Dr. Thomas Barnardo, the Victorian philanthropist, THE LIKES OF US. Their next three works together were much more successful – JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA.

Tim has since worked with other distinguished popular composers such as Elton John (THE LION KING, AIDA), Alan Menken (ALADDIN, KING DAVID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (CHESS), and Stuart Brayson (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY). He has also written songs with Freddie Mercury, Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Rick Wakeman and Gary Barlow, among many others. He has recently written and presented 50 weekly podcast chats (entitled “Get onto My Cloud”) which are mercifully short (25 mins max) reminiscing about his years in music, theatre and film–playing hits and flops, out-takes and number ones. In 2021 he and Peter Hobbs wrote GEE SEVEN for the Truro Cathedral Choir to coincide with the G7 economic summit invasion of Cornwall.

Tim founded his own cricket team in 1973, which has now played over 700 matches, and was President of MCC, founded in 1789, in 2002. He was appointed President of the London Library in 2017 in succession to Sir Tom Stoppard. He is a Trustee of Sunderland FC’s Foundation of Light and a Life Vice-President of the schools/cricket charity Chance to Shine. He crops up here and there in all branches of the media drawing on his extensive knowledge of the history of popular music since Elvis was a lad. He has won several awards, mainly for the wrong thing or for simply turning up.

Matt West

Director & Choreographer

Matt West’s Broadway credits include LESTAT (PALACE THEATRE) Music by Sir Elton John, Lyrics by Bernie Taupin. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (LOS ANGELES DRAMA-LOGUE AWARD, OLIVIER, DRAMA DESK and OUTER CRITICS’ CIRCLE AWARD nominations). ELABORATE LIVES (ALLIANCE THEATRE) Music by Sir Elton John, Lyrics by Sir Tim Rice.

• Off-Broadway credits: DISENCHANTED, MIMI LE DUCK, starring Eartha Kitt.
• International credits: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (BUENOS AIRES), THE WANDERER (TOKYO’S PARKO THEATRE).
• Touring credits: TROLLS LIVE! (Director/Choreographer, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL).
• Home Video: THE LITTLE MERMAID, CINDERELLA and PETER PAN (VSDA), THE NUTCRACKER (THE DISNEY CHANNEL).
• Disney Live Entertainment: WORLD OF COLOR, DREAM UP, JUBILATION, FANTASMIC! As an Actor, Matt created the role of BOBBY in the film A CHORUS LINE directed by Sir Richard Attenborough.
• Future projects: The Broadway bound wrestling musical WOW!

Stanley A. Meyer

Scenic Designer

Award-winning Artist, Illustrator and Scenic Designer. I am so proud and blessed to have been a part of the development of the original production starting in 1992 which opened on Broadway in 1994. This is the little show that could which helped forge an amazing new division for the Walt Disney Company.

Thank you Tom Schumacher and Anne Quart for guiding our team through four 4 1/2 years of creative ideas, the pandemic and other bumps along the road. You opened the door for our team led by Director Matt West to explore and develop the story, characters, music, orchestrations, show-stopping musical numbers and my Scenic Design. You gifted me in asking me to design the digital drops for the show and trusted me as a designer when I put forward some pretty crazy ideas for the castle. Now you have gifted the team with another opportunity to put together this new BEAUTIFUL AND SPECTACULAR NATIONAL TOUR evoking our work in Australia. I am so very grateful for your kindness and trust in my design work. Thank You to my friends and long-term Scenic Design Associates: Christine Peters, Brian Webb, Jason Curtis, Jesús Luna, Gaetane Bertol & Bill Beilke. It never could have happened without your love, passion and support.

LEAGUE OF AMERICAN THEATRES & PRODUCERS NATIONAL BROADWAY AWARD; 30 FLOAT DESIGNS FOR THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE – 23 AWARDS; DIAL M FOR MURDER & THE THREE MUSKETEERS, SYRACUSE STAGE. American Premieres: SIR TIM RICE’S FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, THE REV; TREASURE ISLAND, ARKANSAS REP; WARHOLCAPOTE, AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE. AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, CLEVELAND PLAYHOUSE; MAY WE ALL, THE REV.

Tours: STEVE MILLER BAND, ALICE COOPER, CYNDI LAUPER, DISNEY ON ICE, BARBIE LIVE!, TROLLS LIVE!, DISNEY LIVE!, RINGLING BROTHERS BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS. Themed Entertainment Designs for DISNEYLAND, TOKYO DISNEYLAND, WALT DISNEY WORLD, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN & ORLANDO, SEAWORLD ORLANDO, SAN DIEGO and ABU DHABI.

Thank you to my husband Arnis and Agent Michael Moore. Please share some love with your fellow Americans. Learn more at Stan.fyi

Ann Hould-Ward

Costume Designer

• West End/London: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT; IMAGINE THIS; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Olivier nomination); NOTES FROM THE FIELD by Anna Deveare Smith (Royal Court); DEAR WORLD (directed by Gillian Lynne).
• Berlin: SHOE OF MANITU.
• European tour: BEN HUR LIVE.
• New York/Broadway: THE COLOUR PURPLE; THE VISIT; THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE; A FREE MAN OF COLOUR (Drama Desk nomination); A CATERING AFFAIR (Drama Desk nomination); COMPANY; DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Tony Award®; American Theatre Wing’s Design Award; Ovation Award); INTO THE WOODS (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations; Outer Critics Circle nomination; L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award); FALSETTOS; SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations); HARRIGAN 'N' HEART; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM; ST. JOAN; THREE MEN ON A HORSE; TIMON OF ATHENS; IN THE SUMMER HOUSE; LITTLE ME; THE MOLIERE COMEDIES.
• Off-Broadway: Over 50 Off-Broadway appearances, including Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (CSC); Passion (revival).
• Öffentlich: HAMLET; EIN SOMMERNACHTSTRAUM; HOUSE ARREST; RUSSIAN TRANSPORT; DIE BLAUE BLUME; WINGS; IN THE GRAND MANNER; LET ME DOWN EASY; ROAD SHOW; SURVIVING GRACE; LOBSTER ALICE; CYMBELINE.
• Regional: Over 100 appearances in regional theatres in the United States, including the Guthrie Theatre, the Old Globe, the La Jolla Playhouse, and the Arena Stage.
• Oper: PETER GRIMES (Metropolitan Opera); WEST SIDE STORY (Salzburger Festspiele); MAHAGONNY (Los Angeles Opera); THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (NYC Opera).
• Zirkus: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (2001 & 2003).
• Film: STRIKE!; SIX BY SONDHEIM.
• Ballet: OTHELLO (Norwegian National Ballet); BRONZE HORSEMAN (Lar Lubovitch – Mikhailovsky Ballet); OTHELLO; ARTEMIS; MEADOW (ABT); REMINICIN’; SADDLE UP; MORNING STAR (Alvin Ailey–San Francisco Ballet); GRACIELA DANIELE (Ballet Hispanico).
• Awards: Recipient of the Irene Schraff Award for Sustained Excellence 2024, US representative for the International Design Quadrennial in Prague; Recipient of the Patricia Zipprodt Award from the F.I.T. Board Member of BIANCA: Distributor for the manufacture of semiconductor components and 2024 Faculty Member of the Anna Deaveare-Smith Pipeline Girls Project.

Natasha Katz

Lighting Designer

Has designed extensively for theatre, opera, dance, concerts and permanent lighting installations around the world. She is an eight-time Tony Award® winner whose recent Broadway credits include HELL’S KITCHEN; SWEENEY TODD; HERE WE ARE; GREY HOUSE; MJ; SOME LIKE IT HOT; SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY; and HELLO, DOLLY! Recent dance designs include LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE at the Met. She is a TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project Mentor and was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Michael Kosarin

Music Supervisor & Arrangements

Michael was music director, conductor, and arranger of the original Broadway production of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in 1994, and has collaborated as such with composer Alan Menken ever since. He’s worked steadily on Broadway since 1982, on the original productions of such shows as NINE, GRAND HOTEL, SECRET GARDEN, KING DAVID, A CHORUS LINE, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE LITTLE MERMAID, LEAP OF FAITH, SISTER ACT, NEWSIES, and ALADDIN, as well as on Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and HERCULES worldwide.Upcoming shows include theatrical adaptations of NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, NANCY DREW, and ANIMAL FARM.

His vast motion picture work includes POCAHONTAS, HERCULES, ENCHANTED, TANGLED, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET and the live-action films of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and ALADDIN, as well as DISENCHANTED and Skydance Animation’s SPELLBOUND.

An Emmy-award-winning television music producer and arranger, he produced and arranged all the songs for the musical series GALAVANT, has composed songs and scores for children’s shows SESAME STREET and THE WONDER PETS and contributes to MS RACHEL’S programs as well.

In the recording world, Kosarin is a three-time Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer, where his work ranges from dozens of theatre albums and motion picture soundtracks to long-time collaborations with such legendary artists as Carly Simon and Barbara Cook. He also maintains an active concert career with symphonic and pops orchestras, and has conducted films live to picture in venues ranging from the Hollywood Bowl to Tokyo’s Budokan. Mr. Kosarin makes his home in New York City.

John Shivers

Sound Designer

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES, SWEPT AWAY, THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL, SHUCKED (2023 Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee), BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Worldwide), PRETTY WOMAN (Worldwide), GETTIN’ THE BAND BACK TOGETHER, Cirque du Soleil’s PARAMOUR, KINKY BOOTS (2013 Tony Award recipient), HUGH JACKMAN: BACK ON BROADWAY, LEAP OF FAITH, BONNIE & CLYDE, SISTER ACT, 9 TO 5, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THE LITTLE MERMAID, TARZAN, BILLY CRYSTAL’S 700 SUNDAYS.

• International: WICKED, TARZAN, THE LION KING (Shanghai) and (Singapore).
• Regional: THE MUNY (2015-Present), SWEPT AWAY (2024 Helen Hayes Award recipient), GALILEO, TRADING PLACES, THE WANDERER, BECOMING NANCY, 42ND ST., HEART OF ROCK & ROLL, FIRST WIVES CLUB, NUTTY PROFESSOR, TALES OF THE CITY, EMMA, ROBIN & THE 7 HOODS, ACE.
• Associate / Supervisor: MARY POPPINS, HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, THE LION KING (worldwide), TITANIC, BIG, HOW TO SUCCEED…, THE WHO’S TOMMY, THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY.
• Other credits: SAVION GLOVER, DIONNE WARWICK, BURT BACHARACH, GREGORY HINES and engineering at ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS.

Rob Roth

Production Conception

Rob Roth was nominated for a Tony Award® as Best Director for his Broadway debut, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which has become one of the top ten longest-running musicals in Broadway history. The show has been produced all over the world, selling more than 45 million tickets and winning many awards including the Olivier Award for Best Musical in London.

Rob went on to direct the world premiere of ELABORATE LIVES: THE LEGEND OF AIDA, collaborating with Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice. Rob directed the Broadway musical LESTAT, based on the Anne Rice VAMPIRE CHRONICLES with a score by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Rob frequently directs rock concerts, working with legendary artists including Alice Cooper, KISS, The Dresden Dolls, Cyndi Lauper and Steve Miller.

Rob’s first play, WARHOLCAPOTE, debuted at American Repertory Theatre at Harvard, and was published in hardcover by Simon & Schuster. The play was named Best Audio Book of 2022 by „The Times“ of London and was a #1 best seller on Amazon.

Rob is an avid collector of rock and roll graphics; his collection is featured in a new book, ROCK VISIONS, from Genesis Books, to be released in 2025. Rob and his husband Patrick live in New York with their Labrador Tag.

Danny Troob

Orchestrator

Danny’s career as a musician includes composing, orchestrating and conducting. Some early credits: PACIFIC OVERTURES, THE BAKER’S WIFE (both shows dance music arrangements), BIG RIVER (Drama Desk Award winner). He orchestrated the animated features BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, POCAHONTAS, and HERCULES.

On Broadway he orchestrated the award-winning revival of THE PAJAMA GAME (as well as the award-winning revival of HOW TO SUCCEED with Matthew Broderick). He won a second Drama Desk Award for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA on Broadway.

In 2023 he orchestrated THE SECRET GARDEN for its critically acclaimed revival at the Ahmanson Theater in LA, just after Lucy Simon’s untimely passing. Winter of 2024 was the Hamburg premiere of Disney’s HERCULES, which is being prepared for its opening here at the Drury Lane Theater.

In the summer he wrote new, slimmed-down orchestrations for Jeanine Tesori’s SOFT POWER at the Signature Theater in Washington DC. Always busy, Danny orchestrated all the new music for the 2024 RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL’S CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA.

Darrel Maloney

Video & Projection Designer

Darrel Maloney is an award-winning video and projection designer who has designed for theatre, broadcast, concerts, opera, museums, exhibitions and film. Broadway credits include THE CHER SHOW, AMERICAN IDIOT, ON YOUR FEET, ALLEGIANCE, THE PARISIAN WOMAN, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, EVERYDAY RAPTURE, and THE ILLUSIONISTS.

Off-Broadway credits include FOUND (Atlantic Theater, Drama Desk Nomination), CHECKERS (Vineyard Theater, Drama Desk Nomination), TAPPIN’ THRU LIFE (Drama Desk Nomination), THE BABYLON LINE (Lincoln Center Theater), JOAN OF ARC: INTO THE FIRE (Public Theater), PRETTY FILTHY (Civilans), KUNG FU, GOLDEN CHILD (Signature Theatre), THE VILLAGE BIKE, THE SUBMISSION (MTC), KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY (Prototype, A.R.T., Kirk Douglas Theater) and KAREN O’S STOP THE VIRGENS (St Anne’s Warehouse, Sydney Opera).

Select other designs include: WARHOLCAPOTE (A.R.T.), RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM AND BAILEY CIRCUS, SURF (Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas), SADKO (Vlaamse Opera, Ghent) and THE SUMMER KING (Pittsburg Opera).

He has designed for many Regional theatres including THE OLD GLOBE, Ahmanson/CTG, Minnesota Opera, La Jolla Playhouse, Kansas City Rep, 5th Avenue Theater.

Darrel’s design & production company “d13” has also provided the performance and virtual set content for THE TONY AWARDS for the past several years as well as the title sequence and post-production for the filmed version of ALLEGIANCE on Broadway.

David H. Lawrence

Hair & Make-Up Designer

David is happy to be working on this monumental new production of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Working with all of the members of the original creative team from the first Broadway production has been a great honour. David’s work has been seen all over the world thanks to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

On Broadway David has designed many shows including: BABY IT'S YOU, COMPANY (Revival), ANYTHING GOES, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, SHE LOVES ME, GUYS AND DOLLS (CLAIROL award for Outstanding Hair Design on Broadway), TOMMY, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, THE KING AND I, MOLIERE COMEDIES, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, ON THE WATERFRONT, WAIT UNTIL DARK, ON THE TOWN, GREASE, DEATH OF A SALESMAN (NY/LA and Showtime), BELLS ARE RINGING, 42ND STREET (NY, Germany, US Tour), THE FULL MONTY (NY and Tour), MAURICE HINES’ GUYS AND DOLLS (Tour), THE CRUCIBLE, SOME LIKE IT HOT starring Tony Curtis (Tour), DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, ALL SHOOK UP (NY and Tour), and SOUVENIR.

Off-Broadway his work has been seen in: MIMI LE DUCK (New World Stages), INDIAN BLOOD (Primary Stages), THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD, DINAH WAS, TWELFTH NIGHT, and A DYBBUK (NYSF), JEFFREY, and PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE (NYC and Tour).

Other credits include: CHICAGO (2nd Tour) and ELABORATE LIVES: THE LEGEND OF AIDA (Alliance Theater), BOUNCE (Goodman Theatre and Kennedy Center).

David also designed the hair for two seasons of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (Emmy Nomination), and the films: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE (ABC), THE JAMES BRADY STORY (HBO).

He was the winner of the 1994 Outstanding Achievement Award from Theatre Crafts International for work on Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. He was happy to have been asked to work on the Shanghai Disney’s production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as well.

In honour of the late, great Paul Huntley. Without his mentorship, I would not be here.

Jim Steinmeyer

Illusion Designer

Jim Steinmeyer was called by THE NEW YORK TIMES the “celebrated ‘invisible man’—inventor, designer, and creative brain behind many of the great stage magicians.” His illusions have been featured by DOUG HENNING, SIEGFRIED AND ROY, DAVID COPPERFIELD, RICKY JAY, and many others. He created the special illusions for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, INTO THE WOODS, MARY POPPINS, ALADDIN, and many other shows. He is also the author of books on the history and art of magic.

Rick Sordelet

Fight Director

Rick has served as the USA’s most prolific fight director for over 28 years. He and his son, Christian, created SORDELET INC., an action-based movement company providing stunt coordination, fight direction, weapons rental and intimacy consulting for film, television, opera, ballet and theatre.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was Rick’s first Broadway show. He is thrilled to be working with members of the original team who brought you this excellent production three decades ago. He has been the Fight Director for most of Disney’s shows in the USA and worldwide including THE LION KING, AIDA, TARZAN and THE LITTLE MERMAID. These shows add to over 80 shows on Broadway, most recently TAKE ME OUT and TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. They are the resident Fight Directors for the SANTA FE OPERA where they staged the fights for AS YOU LIKE IT and EUGENE ONEGIN.

Rick and Christian are also stunt coordinators for television and film, including 12 years with GUIDING LIGHT, four years with ONE LIFE TO LIVE, both seasons of KEVIN CAN WAIT and THE CREW. Their most recent films are BEN IS BACK starring Julia Roberts and ONE TRUE LOVES starring Simu Liu, Phillippa Soo and Luke Bracey, directed by Andy Fickman.

Rick taught at YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA for 22 years as well as at NYU, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, KEAN UNIVERSITY, MONTCLAIR STATE and THE WILLIAM ESPER STUDIO. From Fight Direction and teaching, Rick developed into a writer, selling several screenplays and a television series. He is also a produced playwright.

He and his partner, David Blixt, run an E-Publishing company called SORDELETINK. His play MIIGWICH THE THANK YOU PLAY was recently featured on Marshall Jones’ STREAM ON viewing platform, seen worldwide.

David Chase

Dance Music Arrangements

David has been Music Director, Music Supervisor and/or Dance Arranger for 40+ Broadway productions over the last three decades.

He has two Emmy Award® nominations for Music Direction for NBC’s live telecasts of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and PETER PAN, plus GRAMMY® and Olivier® nominations.

David has written multiple arrangements and orchestrations for the BOSTON POPS (including their signature TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS), the KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, ESSENTIAL VOICES USA, and RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL.

Television includes conducting, arranging and orchestrating for various shows including THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, SCHMIGADOON!, THE GILDED AGE, and the upcoming ÉTOILE. David appeared onscreen in Season 5 of MAISEL as the announcer and bandleader for the ‘GORDON FORD SHOW.’

Other conducting includes numerous film scores (recently: THE LAST SHOWGIRL) as well as multiple productions at the LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO. His choral arrangements are published by HAL LEONARD.

David lives in New York City with his wife (and Drama Desk nominee) PAULA LEGGETT CHASE and their two sons.

DavidChaseMusic.com

Christoph Buskies

Electronic Music Programming

Christoph’s revolutionary music system KEYCOMP has been successfully implemented worldwide in THE LION KING, FROZEN, ALADDIN, THE LITTLE MERMAID, SISTER ACT, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Steve Bebout

Supervising Resident Director

Associate directing credits include COMPANY (Tour), SOME LIKE IT HOT (Broadway, Tour), DISNEY’S ALADDIN (Broadway, Tour), SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Broadway, Tours), THE BOOK OF MORMON (Broadway, Tours, West End), SISTER ACT (Broadway), THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Broadway, Tours, International).

He’s directed a bunch of his own stuff too.

Jenn Rias

Associate Choreographer

Choreography credits: A DOLL’S HOUSE with Jessica Chastain (Broadway), International Premiere of BEACHES THE MUSICAL (Theatre Calgary), TOOTSIE (Ogunquit Playhouse), SPAMALOT (Ogunquit Playhouse).

Jenn is currently the Associate Choreographer for the US National Tour and Australian Companies of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She was also the Associate Choreographer for the North American Tours of ALADDIN and DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

As a performer, Jenn was in the Original Broadway Companies of THE CHER SHOW, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, WAR PAINT and ALADDIN and made her Broadway debut in ROCK OF AGES. She was a RADIO CITY ROCKETTE.

Thank you, Matt West! For my boys. @jenniferriascannon