Brand new Beauty and the Beast to tour to Brisbane and Melbourne in 2024

Brisbane and Melbourne audiences will experience the romance of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast when the much-anticipated respective seasons of the hit musical opens in Brisbane in February 2024 and Melbourne in June 2024. The last time Beauty and the Beast played for Melbourne audiences was nearly three decades ago, when it premiered in 1995. This will be the first time the show has ever played in Brisbane!

This enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life in a reimagined production boasting all the spectacle and grandeur audiences know and love. The incredible new production from the producers of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Aladdin and Frozen will play at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Receiving 5 stars from The Daily Telegraph, Guardian Australia and Time Out Sydney, reviews have remarked on the cutting-edge technology, fabulous costumes and big Broadway-style dance numbers paired with the incredible music by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice brought to life by a live orchestra.

President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions, Thomas Schumacher said, “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. 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.”

Beauty and the Beast is a much-loved classic that will fill the hearts of a new generation. Based on the 1991 animated film, the original production of Beauty and the Beast played for more than 13 years on Broadway, remaining to this day one of the top 10 longest running shows in Broadway history, and touring to 37 countries worldwide. Queensland and Victorian audiences will rejoice in the nostalgic and spellbinding songs of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice including “Belle”, “Gaston”, “Human Again” and “Be Our Guest”.

With spectacular new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology fused with this beloved, classic story, the timeless romance of Belle and her Beast will be brought to life on stage by a stellar all – Australian cast, starring Brisbane’s Shubshri Kandiah as Belle, Brendan Xavier as Beast and Melbourne’s Rohan Browne in the role of Lumiere. Brisbane’s Jackson Head will step into the role of Gaston, Cogsworth will be played by Melbourne’s Gareth Jacobs and Gold Coast’s Jayde Westaby will play Mrs Potts.

Nick Cox joins as Le Fou and Rodney Dobson will play Belle’s father, Maurice. The role of Babette will be played by Mackay’s Hayley Martin and Alana Tranter will play Madame.

Members of the creative team from the original, ground-breaking Broadway musical have returned to reimagine this classic tale. Olivier Award nominee Matt West directs and choreographs, leading a team that includes original composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz. The team collectively received five Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 28 years ago.

A waitlist to be first in line for tickets in both states is now open at www.beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au