Opened on April 18, 1994. Closed July 29, 2007 after 5,462 performances — 13.3 years. A Tony Award in 1994 Beauty and the Beast is a musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton. Adapted from Walt Disney Animation Studios's 1991 film – which in turn was based on "Beauty and the Beast" by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont – it tells the story of an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love a bright, beautiful young lady who he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle and earn her love in return before it is too late. Wiki link