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Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 4:28 am
by Sotiris
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:00 am
by Disney's Divinity
Yeah, this looks terrible all the way around. I'm glad the live-action remake came out before Disney started to go too off-the-rails. Seems like they barely cast anyone appropriate to their part in any way whatsoever anymore. Not simply in regards to racebends, genderbends, etc.--which can in
some cases be a special brand of eyeroll-worthy*--and basic appearance of a character (Shania Twain as the old, matronly, and charming Mrs. Potts--WTF), but they don't even pick people who can
sing well for roles that need it anymore (Martin Short, whose voice is nails to the ear, as Lumiere).
* I mean, racebending characters like Gaston, King Triton, Frollo, Ratcliffe, etc. seems like serious story malpractice considering they are characters who are varying levels of racist, misogynist, xenophobic, and so on. Just saying a White guy should be playing that otherwise it comes across like whoever's in charge doesn't even know the story being told. Not that a non-White person can't have those same qualities, but to use the worst example King Triton being a PoC expressing a story point coded as racism against a White prince, well... You sort of have the same thing happening here with Gaston. He sings "The Mob Song" about the Beast played by a White guy here, which isn't *as* weird since that song is less specific, except when you zoom out and acknowledge that all these characters were antagonists to various degrees because they abused the power structures and the privilege they have within them in their favor via their identity. Disney's inadvertently giving credence to "reverse racism" messaging.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:35 am
by singerguy04
I have to admit, this casting for the ensemble... it's a choice.
I generally don't mind racebending/genderbending because I think the most important thing is the character, and I don't think you have to look a certain way to portray a good character. However, this is a tribute to the original Beauty and the Beast. Therefor I believe that you should cast people who will be extremely faithful and respectful the original product. I don't think a single person in this cast will do this. They will all "make it their own" and at that point I don't think it's a tribute anymore. I guess that's why they're calling it a "Celebration" though.
Another thing that's really starting to rub me the wrong way are fat suits. Why is this Lefou wearing one around his legs? It's 2022, we don't need flipping fat suits. Either cast someone larger or just use the actors actual size. It looks tacky and is frankly insulting to large people.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 6:14 pm
by rodrigo_ca
This was terrible from the minute they cast Josh Groban. He can sing but he's dead behind the eyes
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 7:11 pm
by D82
More photos:
New Stills of Joshua Henry, H.E.R. & More in BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A 30TH CELEBRATION
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/P ... N-20221207
Inside BEAUTY & THE BEAST: A 3OTH CELEBRATION Rehearsals
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/P ... s-20221205
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:06 pm
by Disney Duster
If Joshua Henry had a probem with playing Gaston, he wouldn't play him. Roles like his give POC a chance to pretend they have privilege, to feel what it's like for a change. It would be wrong to say a POC could never play a character that was like their real life antithesis. POC can play whoever they want.
I don't know what those creatures are behind the railing, they are weird and I want to find out what they are when I watch the special. But the Enchantress, minus her headpiece, has an AMAZING design! I just wish she had her crown from the stained-glass window.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 3:17 am
by Sotiris
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:34 am
by rodrigo_ca
So this ISN'T a Little Mermaid Live thing where they just do the songs live and it's mixed with the film? Oh wow
Why are they celebrating the 30 years of the movie by... not showing anything to do with it?
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 12:22 pm
by Mooky
Last night I went to see a local production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast with a fully diverse cast. For example, Belle was played by a plus-size Black woman and the Beast was played by a white actor who had to have his leg amputated because of cancer (he performed while on a pegleg). As per the playbill, the production team wanted to explore different definitions of beauty. The whole team did an amazing job, particularly the actor who played Gaston and whose voice was eerily similar to Richard White's. Any issues I had were with the actual performances (the Beast acted too whiny during certain emotional moments, and some of Belle's lines should have been delivered more softly) and never once did the more diverse approach take me out of the experience. And I say this as someone whose favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast and who grew up in an all-white European country (I recently moved to the States). The original movie still exists, it won't go anywhere. What you're seeing now are re-interpretations and re-imaginings and celebrations, so I don't know why some of you keep pushing this BS narrative of which part should be played by which actor with some feigned care at how it would be received or misinterpreted.
(I say that I don't know why, but I can actually assume why, I just want to pretend I'm wrong.)
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 1:53 pm
by singerguy04
Maybe I should clarify my complaints about this project. I have nothing against this casting overall. How this is being presented to us is confusing. It's a celebration of the film, but really it seems it's just a live presentation of the film. There is also the theatrical version that was on Broadway, which is vastly different from the movie but seems to has effected this presentation. There's also the Live-Action remake. So are we celebrating the existence of BatB or it and the effects it's had? There's also supposed to be a blend of this and the original animation in this show... I'm just confused about what this is supposed to be.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:01 pm
by Sotiris
rodrigo_ca wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:34 amSo this ISN'T a Little Mermaid Live thing where they just do the songs live and it's mixed with the film?
That's exactly what it is. Where did you get the idea it was not?
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:55 pm
by Mooky
singerguy04 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 1:53 pm
Maybe I should clarify my complaints about this project. I have nothing against this casting overall. How this is being presented to us is confusing. It's a celebration of the film, but really it seems it's just a live presentation of the film. There is also the theatrical version that was on Broadway, which is vastly different from the movie but seems to has effected this presentation. There's also the Live-Action remake. So are we celebrating the existence of BatB or it and the effects it's had? There's also supposed to be a blend of this and the original animation in this show... I'm just confused about what this is supposed to be.
Apologies if you've seen The Little Mermaid one before because I don't mean to sound condescending, but it's supposed to be the same ~ celebration event ~ that The Little Mermaid had in 2019 (I think?), where the original movie plays in the background and once a song sequence is about to begin, the whole show turns into a live-action extravaganza with performers singing songs and dancing. So basically, only the songs are performed live. Due to the nature of the event, the lyrics may be slightly changed or updated or ad-libbed. IIRC, Queen Latifah's version of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" had different lyrics.
What's most bothersome to me is that BatB's 30th Anniversary was last year and not this year lol.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 5:35 pm
by rodrigo_ca
Sotiris wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:01 pm
rodrigo_ca wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:34 amSo this ISN'T a Little Mermaid Live thing where they just do the songs live and it's mixed with the film?
That's exactly what it is. Where did you get the idea it was not?
I think I misread, got hopeful and misunderstood something. Oh well. I've seen the ad that says part animation part live action now.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 5:41 pm
by Disney's Divinity
Mooky wrote: ↑Thu Dec 08, 2022 12:22 pm
What you're seeing now are re-interpretations and re-imaginings and celebrations
I personally don't care as much with a live show or a theatrical production. But I notice you lasered in on Gaston being played by a POC and not when I also said Short and Twain were wildly inappropriate as well. Gee, wonder why. I don't think Gaston should be played by a woman either, btw.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:09 pm
by DisneyFan09
H.E.R. and Josh Groban Talk About Making "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" - ABC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGu-lqwxUjo
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 8:34 am
by singerguy04
Ok, so at the end of the day it is going to be same at The Little Mermaid program. I never watched it all the way through, because although it checks a lot of boxes for me interest wise... I just don't think this idea overall is my cup of tea. So I guess I'll just take my exit from this chat and let it be what it is, something I'm probably not going to be tuning in to.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:23 pm
by Sotiris
Articles.
How the ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’ Production Design Honors the Animated Classic
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/how-th ... d-classic/
H.E.R. and Josh Groban Talk Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
https://d23.com/h-e-r-and-josh-groban-t ... lebration/
‘Beauty and The Beast’: How Joan of Arc Inspired Belle’s Updated Princess Gown
https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/ ... 235457833/
Jon M. Chu Reveals ‘Beauty and the Beast’ 30th Anniversary Special Will Pay Tribute to Angela Lansbury: ‘How Could We Not?’
https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/ ... 235461586/
Jon Chu Explains ‘Beauty and the Beauty: A 30th Anniversary:’ ‘I Hope This is Additive to the Legacy’
https://www.thewrap.com/jon-chu-beauty- ... niversary/
H.E.R. Way: Why Belle From ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Was a Dream Role for the Oscar-Winning R&B Crooner
https://www.thewrap.com/her-beauty-and- ... interview/
Being Disney princess Belle means more to H.E.R. than winning an Oscar
https://ew.com/tv/her-says-being-disney ... han-oscar/
How playing the Beast is helping Josh Groban prepare for Sweeney Todd
https://ew.com/tv/playing-beast-helping ... eney-todd/
H.E.R. and Josh Groban weigh in on whether the Beast is hotter in his human form
https://ew.com/tv/her-josh-groban-debat ... the-beast/
ABC’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Will Make You See the Music in a ‘Whole Different Light’
https://www.tvinsider.com/1070836/beaut ... formances/
'Beauty and the Beast' TV special fetes 30th anniversary
https://apnews.com/article/beauty-and-t ... aad8300abf
See Shania Twain transform into Mrs. Potts for 'Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration'
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/cult ... h-95384650
Why H.E.R. Says Transforming Into Belle For Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration Was “Scary”
https://www.eonline.com/news/1358364/wh ... -was-scary
Josh Groban Gushes Over ‘Blending Voices’ & ‘Love’ Of ‘Beauty & The Beast’ With H.E.R. For Live Show
https://hollywoodlife.com/2022/12/13/jo ... east-live/
Meet Joshua Henry, the hunky Gaston of ABC’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ special
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... nry-gaston
Joshua Henry Reveals How He Prepared to Play Gaston in Beauty & the Beast: A 30th Celebration
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/I ... N-20221213
Joshua Henry Totally Gets Gaston in 'Beauty and the Beast
https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news ... -30th-abc/
Jon Jon Briones on playing Maurice, diverse casting of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ special
https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/c ... t-special/
Rizwan Manji Talks Beauty and the Best: A 30th Celebration, Bringing His Flavor to LeFou, and Creating Disney Magic
https://pop-culturalist.com/rizwan-manj ... ney-magic/
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:15 pm
by D82
First Look: See Paige O’Hara, Richard White, and Alan Menken’s Cameos in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
https://d23.com/first-look-see-paige-oh ... lebration/
Apparently, the first look at Belle's ball gown is featured in that article, but for some reason I can't find it in there. The article finishes with Cogsworth's costume for me. Perhaps there's a page 2 I don't know how to access? Anyway, here's the image of the dress and another link to it in case someone else has the same problem as me.
Source: https://chronicleslive.com/inside-beaut ... -costumes/
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:24 pm
by Disney Duster
They fudged up her yellow dress again?!!
Anyway, so they are celebrating the 30th anniversary of when Beauty and the Beast got nominated for Best Picture, not when it came to theaters, so this really is the 30th anniversary of that.
Re: Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2022 5:51 am
by Sotiris
I'm really excited for the Paige, Richard, and Alan cameos! It's too bad they didn't get to appear in the remake too.
D82 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:15 pmApparently, the first look at Belle's ball gown is featured in that article, but for some reason I can't find it in there. The article finishes with Cogsworth's costume for me. Perhaps there's a page 2 I don't know how to access?
I had the same problem with the article, so thanks for finding an alternative link to it!