Beauty and the Beast is a musical based on the fairy tale of the same title as adapted by Disney. The book for the musical was written by Linda Woolverton while the lyrics are by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Music was created by Alan Menken. The musical debuted in Broadway in 1994 and is currently the 7th longest production in history.
The musicalís story still closely resembles the fairy tale as it is known today. However, due to difficulties in costume changes in a theater setting as well as the use of large animals on set, some of the parts have been altered.
The musical tells of a vain prince who is transformed into a ferocious, ugly beast by an enchantress. He shall remain a beast forever when the last petal of the rose she gave him will fall and he has not found the woman he would love and love him in return. His household staff had also been transformed into various items. Meanwhile, Belle wanders into the castle in search for her father. Finding him there, she exchanges herself for her fatherís freedom.
The beast and Belle soon fell in love and the spell was broken as the last petal fell from the rose.