Disney's Beauty and the Beast is set for 9 shows at Limestone

Limestone College, in association with the Cherokee County Arts Council and the Gaffney Little Theatre, will present nine performances of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The musical will begin its two weekend run on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Fullerton Auditorium. Other evening performances are set for Nov. 14-15, Nov. 20-21 and 22. There are also matinee performances, beginning at 3 p.m. on Nov. 15, 16 and 22.

This is the second production of Beauty and the Beast at Limestone in the past four years. The 2005 production, which was the South Carolina college theatre debut of the award-winning musical, received positive reviews from theatre-goers.

"We had nothing but rave reviews from everyone who saw it last time," said Dr. Tim Baxter- Ferguson, who both directs the production and stars as Beast. "This year, we have a larger cast, more lavish sets, and have worked to ensure that the production is bigger and better than ever."

Beauty and the Beast, which ran on Broadway from 1994 until 2007, became one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history, with more than 5,500 shows seen by more than six million people. It has had record-breaking runs in New York, London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney and Tokyo.

Nominated for nine Tony Awards including best musical, the play is based on the 1991 Disney movie that became the first animated feature film to ever be nominated a Best Picture Academy Award. Written by Linda Woolverton with music by Alan Menken and memorable songs by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Disney's Beauty and the Beast tells a heart-warming "tale as old as time" about love conquering all.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is under the musical direction of Dr. David Thompson, Professor of Music at Limestone College.

General admission tickets are $10; students and seniors are $7; and young children six and under and Limestone College students, faculty and staff are free. Call (864) 488-4502 to make reservations.