Circa 1994
It was the day after Thanksgiving 1991 and following the tradition of the times and our family, we went to the movies to see a holiday released film instead of doing the black Friday shopping game. Following the success of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the next music driven animated feature was Beauty and the Beast. I remember standing in line with the family on our way into the local town theater, Lincoln Cinemas. I was excited seeing all the trailers leading up to this day to see what was in store.
The movie started and immediately I felt the magic that was on the screen and the excitement from all those in the theater. The opening filled with mystery, to the story, to the beloved enchanted objects, specifically Lumiere, all gave me the feels. The transformation at the end was filled with magic and enchantment. The days that followed were filled with me singing “Be our Guest”.
Little did we know, that three years later in 1994 this animated feature would be adapted for the Broadway stage and become my fist Broadway experience. With Disney Entertainment behind the curtain (Walt Disney Theatrical Productions founded in 1993), Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature brought to life on a Broadway Stage, the first introduction to Disney being part of the Broadway community, and the rest, well was a tale as old as time.
It was a matinee performance, my family and I made our way into New York City to the newly renovated and famous Palace Theatre. It was in this moment that the start of my love for Broadway began. The live orchestra, the special effects, the costumes, the spectacle of it all just made me smile from ear to ear. My 11-year-old self was just in love with the experience. The creativity that went into bringing an animated feature to life on stage was nothing short of stunning.
To this day, Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney Animated feature. As much of a turning point this time period was for Disney, it was a turning point for me too. A new world of entertainment was waiting for me to experience it, and I did and continue to each and every day.
"Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm"
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