Only months after The Lion King ended its sensational, record breaking South African run, another magical Disney production is set to enchant audiences at Montecasino’s Teatro – the Tony winning Broadway hit – Beauty and the Beast.

Well known producers Pieter Toerien (The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Chess) and Hazel Feldman (Fame, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Rent) will be joining forces to bring this classic musical fairytale to Gauteng audiences from October 2008.

Based on the 1991 Oscar winning, Disney animated film, this stage adaptation tells the story of a strong willed young woman, Belle, who breaks the spell that turned a handsome Prince into a monstrous beast. Trying to save her beloved, but eccentric, father from the Beast’s clutches, Belle agrees to become his prisoner forever. But once she is inside the Beast’s enchanted castle, the members of his court, who have been transformed into household objects such as clocks and candlesticks, decide to play matchmakers. As the Beast begins to fall in love with Belle, he becomes progressively less. But the spell can be broken only if the Beast can get her to love him in return. Time is running out since the jealous Gaston, Belle’s would-be suitor, leads a mob of villagers to attack the Beast’s castle. So will there be a happy ending?

Beauty and the Beast opens at the Teatro at Montecasino on October 2, moving to Artscape Opera in January 2009. Booking is open at Computicket.