Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' Musical Is Bringing Its Tale as Old as Time to Brisbane and Melbourne

When February 2024 arrives at QPAC's Lyric Theatre in Brisbane, expect three words to echo with enthusiasm: "be our guest". And, when June hits at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre, expect the same. Both venues will be home to the next Australian seasons of Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical, which has arrived Down Under as a newly reimagined and redesigned production.

Exact dates haven't yet been announced, but the huge show will bring a tale as old as time to the Queensland and Victorian capitals after its current Aussie-premiere run in Sydney — and marks the latest in a growing line of Disney hits to come our way. Frozen the Musical did the rounds in recent years, as did the musical version of Mary Poppins.

This version Beauty and the Beast first made its way to the stage in the UK in 2021, and reworks the original show that premiered in the US in the 90s — adapting Disney's hit 1991 animated movie musical, of course.

Fans can expect the same Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated score courtesy of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice, including all the beloved tunes such as 'Be Our Guest' and 'Beauty and the Beast'. It also comes with new dance arrangements by David Chase, and with original choreographer Matt West revisiting his work.

When the British return was announced, Menken said that "Beauty and the Beast is a testament to the genius of my late friend and collaborator Howard Ashman, but the show's richness comes from the combination of Howard's style and that of the brilliant Tim Rice, with whom I expanded the score to give voice to the Beast."

"It's clear that audiences the world over want to return to the world of Beauty, which continues to amaze and humble those of us who created it."

Cast-wise, the production features all-Australian talent, including Brisbanites Shubshri Kandiah as Belle and Jackson Head as Gaston, the Gold Coast's Jayde Westaby as Mrs Potts, Melbourne's Gareth Jacobs as Cogsworth, plus Brendan Xavier as Beast and Rohan Browne as Lumiere.

"We are thrilled to return to Brisbane and Melbourne with Beauty and the Beast, as re-imagined by members of the brilliant original creative team.  This beloved show — and Belle herself — are somehow as contemporary today as when the film premiered in 1991, even more meaningful to those who first discovered them decades ago and to new generations," said Thomas Schumacher President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, announcing the Brisbane season.

"Each time we've returned to Australia over the last quarter century we see audiences grow larger and more appreciative and the deep pool of extraordinary home-grown musical theatre talent grow even deeper.  We cannot wait to bring this cherished story to two of our favourite Australian cities once more."

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE MUSICAL 2024 AUSTRALIAN DATES:

From February 2024 — QPAC Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
From June 2024 — Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne

Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical will hit QPAC's Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from February 2024 and Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from June 2024. We'll update you with exact dates when they're announced.

For more information, or to sign up for the ticket waitlist — with Brisbane pre-sales from Monday, October 16 and Melbourne's from Monday, November 13— head to the musical's website.

Images: Daniel Boud.