The beloved Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” is dazzling audiences at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, running now through Nov. 16. The 30th anniversary tour of the Broadway musical combines the nostalgia of the animated film with a refreshed, theatrical vision designed to captivate audiences of all ages.
The musical, first adapted for the stage in 1994, features the original score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. The revival brings updated staging, choreography and design while keeping the heart of the story intact. Familiar songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast” return alongside elaborate set pieces, colorful costumes and dynamic lighting that fill the stage with enchantment.
Leading the cast as the Beast is Fergie L. Philippe, a New York City–based actor, puppeteer, director and writer. Philippe is best known for playing Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in “Hamilton” on Broadway and its national tour. His other credits include “Frozen” at Theater Under the Stars and puppeteering Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid” at The Muny, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia of the Jim Henson Company.
Philippe brings his background in puppetry and physical theater to the role, adding a distinctive presence to the character’s transformation from cursed prince to redeemed hero. Raised in Miami Lakes, Florida, he trained at the New World School of the Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music theater from Elon University in North Carolina.
In conversation, Philippe described theater as a research-intensive craft that demands both creativity and discipline. He encourages aspiring performers to pursue theater wholeheartedly but to be prepared for the magnitude of a production like “Beauty and the Beast.” He said the show’s size and scale are awe-inspiring, from the technical design to the emotional performances that bring the fairy tale to life.
Philippe also believes the musical is ideal for longtime fans of the Disney film as well as newcomers to the story. It stays true to the spirit of the original movie while reinventing it for the stage, blending familiar moments with new layers of emotion and spectacle.
For Nashville audiences, the production offers a rare opportunity to experience a Broadway- caliber performance close to home. With its mix of romance, humor and visual wonder, “Beauty and the Beast” remains a story that transcends generations.
Performances continue through Nov. 16 at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall. Tickets and showtimes are available at tpac.org.
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