Disney’s magic will be put to the test this month when it gives India its first official taste of Broadway.
The French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, immortalized by Disney’s 1991 animated classic, is all set to make its theatrical debut in India — but it has big shoes to fill.
The stage adaptation was one of Broadway’s longest-running productions, chalking up more than 5,400 performances over a span of 13 years.
Photo Credit: Disney India
While the new production will retain the original script and music, the show promises to have “Indian influences," including 100 local performers who will bring life to the iconic roles.
“We have the talent; we have great talent, actually,” says the show’s director, Vikranth Pawar, to HuffPost India. “All we needed is a platform for them to shine. Something like this.”
Meher Mistry should know. The 26-year-old theatre actress snagged the coveted lead role of Belle (aka Beauty) in an audition process that lasted more than three months.
“Well it’s just one whole other avenue that’s opened up in the Indian market so that’s great and a show I think that’s going to be at this scale is just going to be huge in terms of exposure,” says Mistry in an interview with the BBC.
Meher Mistry (Belle), with Anil Chandiramani (who will be playing Maurice)
Photo Credit: www.thehindu.com
While musicals have been a part of English theatre in India in the past, Beauty and the Beast in India will set a new precedent. According to Pawar, the production is the largest of its kind that Disney has ever done anywhere in the world.
Pawar might not be exaggerating. The production includes a sprawling set, complete with a 270-degree stage, ramps, and pathways that criss-cross between sections of the audience to give what he calls “a completely immersive [experience]."
Productions like these offer a glimmer of hope to tens of thousands who clamour for a select few opportunities in showbiz. If Broadway-style entertainment catches on in India, it could mean better prospects for performers.
It’s not just actors who stand to benefit. Directors, set designers, stylists and a whole host of theatre professionals all hope the show could bring a new edge to India’s arts scene.
Still, the biggest challenge is attracting audiences, especially when the majority of audiences would be more inclined to pay for a ticket to a big-budget Bollywood release than a pricier live performance.
As India’s middle class continues to flourish, it may develop a taste for alternatives from the typical Bollywood fanfare.
And that would be music to Disney’s ears.
Beauty and the Beast debuts on October 23 in Mumbai, with other cities, including Delhi, slated later in the year.
For more information, visit: http://events.disney.in/batb-stage-musical/about
Main Image Photo Credt: www.variety.com
Abbas Somji, Beauty And The Beast, Bollywood, Disney, India, Musical, Theatre
Abbas Somji
Author
Abbas Somji is a broadcast journalist and producer, and has worked for media outlets across the country, including the CBC and Omni Television. A Toronto native with a background in delivering the hard news, he enjoys covering stories on pop culture & entertainment. Twitter: @abbassomji
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
12 South Asian Female Artists Who Are Changing Hollywood's Landscape
-
Transitional Representation of South Asian Women in The World of Entertainment
-
Hot February 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
How Jesse "Punjabi Timbit" Singh Explores Emotional Healing Through His Comedy
-
Rukus Avenue Radio, The World's #1 South Asian Radio Station, Joins The iHeartRadio App
-
From Silent Frames To Global Fame: Key Moments That Shaped Bollywood
-
Hot January 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Kerala Actor Santhy Balachandran Celebrates Her Three Incredible Releases In 2023
-
Hot December 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
The Real Reason Why Bollywood Directors Love English In Their Titles
-
Diwali Dance Fest Makes History at Walt Disney World® Resort!
-
TIFF 2023: Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja Share Why 'I Am Sirat’ Is The Transgender Story To Be Told
-
The International South Asian Film Festival 2023 (iSAFF) Wraps With A Celebration Of Outstanding Global South Asian Pathbreakers
-
TIFF 2023: 'We Grown Now' Director Minhal Baig Shares With Us Why Neighbourhood Stories Should Be Told
-
Event Alert: BMO International Film Festival Of South Asia Toronto (IFFSA) Is Every Filmi Lover's Dream
-
TIFF 2023: ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Reigns Over TIFF With Style, Wit And Heart
-
The 21st Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Returns With A Bang!
-
Brendan D'Souza Will Never Cheat On Their One True Love (Stand Up!)
-
Event Alert: South Asian Global Cinema Takes Centre Stage At The International South Asian Film Festival
-
Diwali Comes Alive At Walt Disney World With The First Ever Diwali Dance Fest
-
TIFF 2023: 11 South Asian Films Coming To The Toronto International Film Festival
-
Hot September 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Singers Karan Aujla & Jonita Gandhi Sign On To Warner Music Canada/India's Label '91 North Records'
-
4 Ways Alia Bhatt Steals The Show In The Hot Netflix Film "Heart Of Stone"
-
Priyanka And Nick Jonas Get Ready For The Jonas Brothers' Tour At Yankee Stadium!
-
Hot August 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
5 Reasons Why You Should Watch “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”
-
JFL Exclusive: How Comedian Zarna Garg Showed Kevin Hart That Brown Women Can Be Funny Too
-
JFL Exclusive: Award-Winning Podcast Comedian Maddy Kelly Is The Next Gen Star
-
Hot July 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Event Alert: “Mughal-E-Azam: The Musical" Kicks Off Canadian Tour With Upcoming Toronto Stop
-
#ANOKHI20: The ANOKHI Emerald Ball Was The Perfect Grand Finale To ANOKHI’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations
-
Pride 2023: 10 Bollywood Films That Honour Our Desi LGBTQIA+ Family
-
Hot Summer Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Review: 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' Is For The Ones Who Love Love!
-
Pamela Mala Sinha's Latest Play "NEW" Breathes Fresh Life Into Our Parents' Immigrant Story
-
Dilpreet Bhattal Proved Her Mettle On CBC's "Canada's Ultimate Challenge"
-
Here's Why You Can't Miss The 12th South Asian Film Festival Of Montréal
-
The First Ever South Asian House At SXSW Made All Sorts Of History
-
Hot April 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
'Canada's Got Talent' Judge Lilly Singh Wants Us To Get Ready To Be Amazed
-
Don't Miss Out On The 10th Annual Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival
-
Oscars 2023 Highlights: How Our South Asian Stars Took Over Tinseltown
-
Hot March 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Ali Hassan Shares Comedic Life Lessons In His Memoir “Is There Bacon In Heaven?”
-
Nisha Pahuja Follows A Father's Search For Justice In Her Latest Doc "To Kill A Tiger"
-
From South India to LA, R&B Star Malavika Is Set Sizzle In 2023!
-
CBC's "Bollywed" Spotlights Chandan Fashion's Iconic Family Bridal Business
-
Hot February 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Is Mindy Kaling A Self-Hating South Asian?
-
The Harry & Meghan Drama: What Would Happen If They Were Desi?
-
Star Rakhee Morzaria Dishes On Season 2 Of CBC Sitcom “Run The Burbs”