REVIEW: Beauty & the Beast Musical is a Fairy Tale Brought to Life

On April 15th, 2026, I went to see Beauty and the Beast – The Musical. On my way to the theater, I spotted many people wearing various shades of yellow. Maybe, they were heading to see the same show as me. When I walked inside the theater, I could hear the warm chatter of excited kids and adults. In the chaos of people rushing in, staff were guiding people through security and getting their tickets. As I headed to my seat, I saw children with parents, couples, and friends who were enjoying the moment with one another. Before the show started, I could see people taking pictures. In a world filled with division, Beauty and the Beast – The Musical brought together the young and old.

Beauty and the Beast is a Disney movie that features a love story between Belle and a prince that has been cursed. The message of the movie is that when it comes to falling in love, a person’s actions are more important than their physical appearance. When I was younger, I had seen the movie version of Beauty and the Beast. I always liked Belle because she was an intelligent individual who cared about books and protecting her father. I was very curious to see how a movie with lots of mythical elements and various settings would be presented on a stage. 

The Broadway show opened with the Beast, who was played by Fergie L. Philippe, being cursed by Enchantress, who is played by Kate Wesler. The palace that the Beast lived in had very dark colors and two hanging chandeliers. The musical depicted the prince transforming into the beast. I was very surprised about how the prince gained a tail and fur. Then, the stage transformed into a small town. The chandeliers were no longer visible, but there was a bright blue sky. In contrast to the palace, the small town was filled with bright colors. 

In the song “Belle,” the stage was able to capture the market place in a small town, Belle’s house, and the people that lived in the village. Gaston, played by Stephen Mark Lukas, professes his love for Belle. Belle, played by Kyra Belle Johnson, shows that she is in love with books and does not want to be in a relationship with Gaston. Each time the stage changed from Belle’s village to Beast’s palace, I was like wow. In my head, I was trying to figure out the mechanics behind the smooth transition. Through the different settings shown, I could tell hours of time had gone into designing a genius and versatile stage.

Another aspect of the musical that intrigued me was the character designs. My favorite character design was Chip, played by Levi Blaise Coleman, who is the son of Mrs.Pots, played by Kathy Voytko. After the curse was cast on the prince, Chip was turned into a tea cup. During the musical, Chip looked exactly like a teapot. The set designers managed to hide his body. The way Chip’s body was hidden fascinated me. I was unable to wrap my head around how Chip’s body was hidden in the tiny table, while the head of the actor was visible. After the show, I decided to look up the costume design for Chip. I found out the table was an illusion because there was space for the actor’s body in the back. The illusion made it look like Chip was an actual teapot with only a head.

At the show’s end, The Beast transforms into his human form. His transformation left me in complete awe. The beast was levitating. I tried to find a rational explanation for the levitation. Where were the wires? Overall, the musical brought beauty and the beast alive without sacrificing any magical element. 

If you are looking for a story with plot twists, amazing singing, magical transformations, and a talented cast, you should go watch Beauty and Beast when it’s in town again. The musical defies the impossible and it leads you to wonder how it brings the magic. Beauty and the Beast – The musical ran from Apr 14 to May 2, 2026. You can visit boston.broadway.com to learn more about future shows happening at the Citizens Opera House.