Review of Disney's Beauty and the Beast
by Katie Beltramo
Disney's Beauty and the Beast, a new national tour of the Broadway musical which made its debut in Schenectady, is traveling around the country for the 2025-2026 season.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast is a fantastic introduction to theater for children. The production follows the animated movie versions closely, which is helpful for kids, who sometimes have trouble following the plot in live theater. There are ingenious and gorgeous costumes, energetic and creative dancing, and terrific casting all around. At our showing, I don't think I've heard an theatrical audience cheer as loudly, ever. This production brings plenty of magic, just as you'd expect from Disney.
Most theatergoers will be familiar with many of the songs from the movie musical, and these don't disappoint. The catchy and familiar ditties are amped up: the company augments their celebration of "Gaston" with fun syncopated beer stein choreography, and the Beast's household staff manages to show their hospitality to Belle in "Be Our Guest" while, you know, looking like china and cutlery. Additional songs like "A Change in Me" and "I Can't Love Her" provide the kind of character development and soaring vocals that we look for in our favorite musicals. Everyone's voices are strong, Lefou and the members of the Beast's household in particular are very funny, and there is kind of a weird amount of chemistry from Belle and the Beast from the first moment.
The costumes are amazing, and the portrayals and transformations are so clever. Whether it's seeing Chip as a tea cup, enjoying Lumiere's off-and-on flares, or witnessing the Beast's final transformation back into a human, the costume wizardry adds plenty of spectacle to the show. When Belle first appears in her signature yellow ballgown, there was an audible collective gasp from the audience.
If you want your kids to love live theater, Disney's Beauty and the Beast is a perfect first show. They will love it, and so will their grown-ups.
What to know:
- Plenty of kids, and even some adults, in the audience will be fully decked out in costume, so if it calls out to you, don't hesitate!
- The scariest parts of the show are two times when there are threatening wolves in the dark woods. The wolves themselves are portrayed as two-dimensional shadowy figures and augmented with some sound and lighting to indicate a spooky forest.
- There are one or two instances of very bright flashing lights.
- While I wouldn't reveal the magic ahead of the show, if your kids are just dying to know where Chip's body was after the show, you can show them this video.
Things to talk about:
- What do you think that the Beast should have done when the old crone came to his door? Do you think it was important that she was actually a beautiful and powerful sorceress?
- Do you think it's fair that the rest of the prince's household is transformed? Why or why not?
- Why do you think so many of the village girls like Gaston? What makes Belle different?
- If you met Belle, what book would you recommend she read?
- What country do you think this takes place in and why?
- If someone in your family was imprisoned, would you offer to take their place? Why or why not?
- Belle suggests to the Beast that she also feels like she doesn't fit in. Have you ever felt that way?
- If you were magically turned into a household object, what would it be?
Disney's Beauty and the Beast is playing at Proctors, Schenectady, through Thursday, July 3, 2025 at Proctors.
The tour will continue all around the country. For dates, locations, and tickets, click here.
Photos provided by Proctors.
© 2025 Katie Beltramo.
Katie Beltramo, a mom of two, is communication director at Kids Out and About and blogs at Capital District Fun.