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Facts About Beauty and the Beast
‘Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage’ at MGM Studios, Orlando, Florida, is one of my favourite shows. It is very colourful, with stunning costumes and wonderful music.
Based on an original fairy tale, it tells the story of the beautiful ‘Belle’ who offers herself as a prisoner of the ‘Beast’ in place of her father, who had accidentally stumbled across the Beast’s enchanted castle, and been captured by him. The poor unhappy Beast is the victim of a spell, and is unable to resume his life as a handsome prince until he finds true love. But who will love this fearsome beast? Beauty of course! As in all the best fairy stories, eventually, love conquers all, and Belle grows to love him. In true fairytale fashion the Beast turns into a handsome prince just before time runs out, and the final petal from the enchanted rose falls.
The 20 minute Broadway-style show, ‘Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage, ’ is a mini version of Disney’s 30th animated classic fairytale. It is full of action, and has romance and stunning costumes, as well as wonderful music. Featuring all the popular characters and many songs from the film, it is lavishly presented and beautifully choreographed. I particularly love the finale with its spectacular and romantic waltz scene. The Theater of the Stars, on Sunset Boulevard, holds 1, 500 people and was the scene of its debut in 1991. To get a seat try to get there 30 minutes before, and sit towards the middle for the best view.
Here are some interesting facts about this wonderful classic story which Disney made into a very popular animated film in 1991:
1. Disney’s animated film, ‘Beauty and the Beast, ’ premiered at the El Capitan Theater on November 13th 1991.
2. The film ‘Beauty and the Beast’ ranked 22nd on the American Film Institute’s list of best musicals.
3. It also ranked 34th on the list of the best romantic American movies.
4. It achieved domestic revenues of more than $171 million, and over $377 in worldwide revenues.
5. Sales from the film were only surpassed in 1991 by Terminator 2 and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.
6. Beauty and the Beast, which premiered in 1991, is the only full-length animated film to have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
7. It won two Academy Awards for Best Music, Original Score and Best Music, Song, for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which was sung by both Angela Lansbury and Celine Dion.
8. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was also nominated for Best Sound.
9. It won Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song – again, for the song, ‘Beauty and the Beast. ’
10. The film contained 12, 295 painted backgrounds.
11. There were 43 animators amongst the 370 people who were involved in its production.
12. There are 120, 000 drawings.
13. Songs take up 25 minutes of the film.
14. The award winning composers, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, also worked together on the music for ‘The Little Mermaid. ’
15. In the stage show at MGM the huge bats which can be seen in the forest scene have 8ft wingspans.
Both the film and the stage show at Disney’s MGM Studios remain very popular. If you visit MGM Studios, in Orlando, Florida, do make time to see this wonderful show, but get there early in order to ensure you get a seat. There are normally several performances each day, so make sure you put this show on your ‘to do’ list.
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