Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Int'l Tour Asian Kickoff Extends Anew

Plays Manila's Cultural Center of the Philippines (Until February 8), Bangkok's Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre (February 24 to March 15), and Singapore's Marina Bay Sands (March 21 to April 12)

Manila, Philippines--The first-ever international touring production of the Broadway hit musical Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," based on the 1991 Oscar-winning full-length animated feature film, and now--after 20 years--has reunited its original 1994 Broadway collaborators: director Robert Jess Roth, choreographer Matt West, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, lighting designer Natasha Katz, bookwriter Linda Woolverton, composer Alan Menken, and lyricists Tim Rice (and the late Howard Ashman), is extending its Asian kickoff for another week from Sunday, February 1, to Sunday, February 8, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The show was originally announced to close Sunday, January 25.

Ovation Productions, the show's promoters in Manila, said in a statement, [We'd like] "to accommodate thousands of fans who skipped the initial play dates of the hit Broadway musical that coincided with the recent apostolic and state visit to the country of Pope Francis." The pontiff visited Manila and typhoon Haiyan-hit Tacloban City from Thursday, January 15, through Monday, January 19.

This special production of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST features its recent U.S. Tour stars Darick Pead as the Beast and Hilary Maiberger as Belle. Pead's theater credits include Dr. Teves in "Elephant Man," Freddy Benson in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," Aldolpho in "The Drowsy Chaperone," The Dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors," and Radames in Disney's "Aida." Maiberger, on the other hand, has played Cinderella in "Cinderella," Jo March in "Little Women," Mistress in "Evita," June in "Anyone Can Whistle," Kate in "Titanic, The Musical," and Millworker in "Working."

Also in the cast are Hassan Nazari-Robati as Lumiere, the candlestick; James May as Cogsworth, the clock; Alan Dietlein as Gaston--and his sidekick, Lefou, played by Jordan Argagon; Emily Mattheson as Mrs. Potts; Paul Crane as Belle's father, Maurice; and Charlie Jones and William Poon as Mrs. Potts' son, Chip.

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tells the story of Belle, a young provincial lass, who meets the Beast, a young cold-hearted prince trapped in a spell made by an enchantress. If the Beast could learn how to genuinely love in a short span of time, the spell would end, and he'd be transformed to his former self.

Also set to tour Bangkok, Thailand, and Singapore, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in Manila, produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, Broadway Entertainment group FZ LLC, and NETworks Presentations LLC officially opened at the CCP Saturday, January 10.

For tickets to Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at CCP, visit ticketworld.com.ph.

For tickets in Bangkok, visit bectero.com; in Singapore, visit baseentertainment.com.

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