Donny Osmond Extends Run as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast

By popular demand, Donny Osmond will be extending his role as Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  Osmond, originally scheduled to perform in the show through November 21st, will now play the role through Sunday, December 24th.

"I'm having such a great time on Broadway that I couldn't resist hanging around a little longer," Osmond said.  "New York audiences have welcomed me with open arms, and I couldn't think of a more special way to spend the holidays than on Broadway in New York City."

Osmond began performances as Gaston on Tuesday, September 19th at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  Featured since then on such programs as ABC's "The View," NBC's "Today," and CBS News with Dana Tyler, "Osmond's return to Broadway has attracted the attention of the media and his fans, many of whom have traveled great distances to see him in person," state press notes.

Due to previously scheduled commitments, Osmond will not be performing in the show on Tuesday, December 5th; Wednesday, December 6th and Wednesday December 13th – Sunday, December 17th.

CBS announced last week that Osmond will host a new prime time version of the iconic game show "Name That Tune."  During his run in Beauty and the Beast, he is simultaneously recording his 55th record album, scheduled for release in March 2007, and the first ever DVD release of the "Donny and Marie" variety show hits the stores on November 7.

Osmond's role as Gaston in is his first return to Broadway since making his debut in 1982 in Little Johnny Jones.  In 1992, Osmond took on the starring role in the North American touring company of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice's hit musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Over the next six years, he appeared in more than 2,000 performances of the show.

Beauty and the Beast celebrated its 5,000th performance this year, becoming Broadway's longest running American musical and the 6th longest running show of all time. More than twenty million people have seen the show in over twenty productions worldwide. The original cast recording is currently available on Disney Records.

The show currently stars Steve Blanchard as the Beast, Sarah Uriarte Berry as Belle, Stuart Marland as Lumiere, Jeanne Lehman as Mrs. Potts, Christopher Duva as Cogsworth, Jamie Ross as Maurice, Meredith Inglesby as Babette, Mary Stout as Madame de la Grande Bouche and Aldrin Gonzalez as Lefou.  Trevor Braun and Marlon Sherman alternate the role of Chip. 

The show runs at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7pm.

There are three easy ways to get tickets to Disney's Beauty and the Beast--Online at www.disneyonbroadway.com, via Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4747 or www.ticketmaster.com and in person at the Lunt-Fontanne box office (205 West 46th Street).