Disney Theatrical Productions premiered BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Moscow’s MDM Theatre on October 11, 2008. This production marks Disney’s first-ever theatrical production in Russia. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is presented by Stage Entertainment Ltd., Disney’s licensed presenting partner in Europe. The musical is performed in Russian and stars Igor Ivanov as The Prince and Natalia Bystrova and Ekaterina Guseva, who share the role of Belle. Ivanov was cast after competing in a Russian reality competition television series entitled Find Your Prince.
“It’s only fitting that BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is Disney’s first show to premiere in Russia since it was also our first show on Broadway almost fifteen years ago,” said
Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Group. “It’s a timeless story that translates beautifully across all cultures and languages. We’re incredibly proud to work with our friends and partners at
Stage Entertainment to bring BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to Russian audiences using Russian actors speaking in Russian.”
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been charming audiences all over the world for more than 14 years. Around the world BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has played in a total of 14 countries and 116 cities, including record-breaking box office runs in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom. The show has been translated into seven languages including Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Korean and now Russian. Adapted from the Academy Award®-winning animated film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has thrilled more than 27 million people worldwide with breathtaking musical numbers, astonishing sets, lavish costumes and never-before-seen special effects. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST closed on Broadway in July, 2007 after a record-breaking 13 years of performances.
“The musical genre is gaining popularity in Russia,” says Dmitry Bogachev, producer of the Russian production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and managing director of
Stage Entertainment Russia. ‘We are sure BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be successful here, because we offer our audiences exactly what they want to see. Record ticket sales and huge interest from the media demonstrate that the Russian theatre-going audience is really looking forward to seeing this brilliant and highly entertaining show’.
“Disney’s theatrical productions are extremely popular all over the world,” says Marina Jigalova-Ozkan, general director of The
Walt Disney Company in Russia (CIS). “We are happy about the fact that now Russian people as well can see BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, one of the most successful Disney musicals. We are also very glad to launch such a big project with our global partner,
Stage Entertainment, and we do hope that Russian audiences will appreciate this outstanding production”
DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (DTP), a division of Disney Theatrical Group, operates under the direction of
Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises. Reaching a global annual audience of more than 10 million people in over 40 countries, DTP produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world including Grammy®, Tony® and Olivier-award winning
The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast,
Elton John &
Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN ® and
Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and
Cameron Mackintosh which is about to launch its national touring engagement. Its most recent Broadway production,
The Little Mermaid, debuted in 2007 and immediately became a Broadway sensation. That same year, DTP launched the professional touring stage version of Disney’s High School Musical. In addition, DTP licenses musical titles for local schools and community productions through Musical Theatre International and on its recently launched website, DisneyMusicals.com.
Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live entertainment around the world through its partnership with Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!, including High School Musical: The Ice Tour and Playhouse Disney Live!
