''Disney's Beauty and the Beast'' returns to Playhouse Square as part of the 2012-13 KeyBank Broadway Series.
The music is based on the 1991 animated Disney film that included the Academy Award-winning songs of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. In addition to ''Belle,'' ''Be Our Guest,'' ''Gaston,'' ''Beauty and the Beast'' and other songs featured in the movie, the stage version includes additional songs penned by Menken and Tim Rice.
The Broadway production ran for more than 5,400 performances and was nominated for nine Tony Awards. It has played to more than 35 million people worldwide in 21 countries.
The creative team responsible for the Broadway version returns for the touring production. The play is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with costume design by Ann Hould-Ward (the musical's lone Tony Award win), lighting design by Natasha Katz, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, sound design by John Petrafesa Jr. and music supervision by Michael Kosarin.
''Disney's Beauty and the Beast'' is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
The musical runs Tuesday through Nov. 18 at the Palace Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $10 to $80 and are available at the PlayhouseSquare box office and by calling 216-241-6000.