Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Opens Tonight at the Teatro Nazionale, Milan, Italy

The Italian premiere engagement of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST debuts tonight in Milan at the Teatro Nazionale. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is presented by Stage Entertainment Ltd., Disney's licensed presenting partner in Europe. Stage Entertainment makes its first foray into musical theatre in Italy with this well-known title. After eighteen months of renovation, Teatro Nazionale will showcase its state-of-the-art technology and new front-of-house. The theatre, which dates from the 1920's, became part of Stage Entertainment's portfolio in 2006.

"Stage Entertainment and Disney Theatrical have jointly created a new version of the successful Broadway show, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, for European audiences," states Stage Entertainment's Founder/President Joop van den Ende. "As a lifelong admirer of Italian dramatic arts and a producer of theatre, it is a special honor for me to open a theatre in Milan. I hope that BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be our first contribution to the increasing popularity of musical theatre in Italy."

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been charming audiences all over the world for more than 15 years. Around the world BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has played in a total of 21 countries and 120 cities, including record-breaking box office runs in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom. The show has been translated into seven languages including Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Korean, Russian and now Italian. Adapted from the Academy Award®-winning animated film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has thrilled more than 30 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 first reactions of Milanese audiences during the previews have been very positive. "We are seeing a fantastic buzz around Milan thanks to the re-opening of the theatre and the imminent arrival of such a great show," says Barbara Salabè, Managing Director of Stage Entertainment Italy. "Audiences in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Russia have flocked to Beauty and the Beast and we are delighted with the first reactions of our Italian theatergoers."

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 launched its North American touring engagement in March, 2009. Its most recent Broadway production, The Little Mermaid, debuted in 2008 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 Music Theatre International and on its 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!

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