Osmond Exits 'Beauty' 12/24; Lew & Buntrock Join 12/26

Donny Osmond will play his final performance as Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Sunday, December 24th.

Osmond began performances as Gaston on Tuesday, September 19th at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  He was originally scheduled to play the role through November 21st, but was extended by popular demand through December 24th.  During his popular run in Beauty and the Beast, Osmond has been featured on such programs as ABC's "The View," NBC's "Today," and CBS News with Dana Tyler.  Osmond's return to Broadway attracted the attention of the media and his fans, many of whom traveled great distances to see him in person.

While playing the role of Gaston on Broadway, Osmond has been 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, which hit the stores on November 7.  In the future, he will host a new prime time version of the iconic game show "Name That Tune."

December 24th also marks the final performance for Sarah Uriarte Berry in the role of Belle. Uriarte Berry also began performances on Tuesday, September 19th.  She previously played the role of Belle on Broadway at the Palace Theatre.

Beginning Tuesday, December 26th, Deborah Lew will play the role of Belle and Stephen R. Buntrock will play the role of Gaston.

Lew made her Broadway debut in the revival of The Threepenny Opera at Studio 54. New York City Opera credits include Candide as the Pink Sheep, and Cinderella. Also in New York, Lew appeared as Psyche in the Off-Broadway musical Cupid and Psyche. Her regional credits include: Maria in West Side Story, for which she received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination (Marriot Lincolnshire and the Pioneer Theatre); Isabelle in Amour (Goodspeed); Cinderella in Cinderella (North Shore Music Theatre); Kim in Miss Saigon (WBT).

Buntrock's Broadway credits include Oklahoma! (Curly), Titanic (Barrett), Jane Eyre (St. John), 10th Anniversary Les Miserables (Enjolras), The Phantom of the Opera.  Tours include: Cameron Mackintosh's Martin Guerre (Original Arnaud du Thil), Joseph...Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond (Rueben), The Phantom of the Opera.  Regional credits include Sweeney Todd starring Timothy Nolan (Anthony), Hot Mikado (Nanki-Poo), Cinderella (The Prince), South Pacific (Lt. Cable). He has received Joseph Jefferson nominations for Miss Saigon (Chris), Oklahoma! (Curly), and Brigadoon (Charlie). He has also been seen on "All My Children" and in the film Amistad. 

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 performance schedule at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) is 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 - 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).