Following the Chinese version of The Lion King, the Chinese version of the Disney Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast will premiere in Shanghai Walt Disney Theater this year, starring Chinese actors. Today, some actors and production team members made their debut public appearance.
As a classical musical of Disney, Beauty and the Beast is one of the world’s most popular and enduring musicals. To date, it has been performed in 37 countries and regions, with a total audience of more than 35 million. An audition for Chinese actors kicked off four months ago in mainland China, looking for excellent musical actors.
Alan Irwin Menken, an American musical theatre and film score composer and pianist who’s received 8 Oscars, 11 Grammy Awards and 7 Globes, gave a live performance of several classical musical scores he composed at the scene. He’s also the composer and playwright of this musical.
Manken said that this is his first visit to China. This time, they’ve re-created a new Chinese version of Beauty and the Beast on the basis of the original Broadway show. They will put more Chinese elements into the re-creation and have Chinese actors perform it.
The Chinese version of Beauty and the Beast is expected to premiere at the Walt Disney Theater in Shanghai this summer.
