Before the The Lion King or Mary Poppins smashed Broadway box office records, another Disney Theatrical Productions—Beauty and the Beast—paved the way for Disney productions on the Great White Way. On this day in 2002, the tale as old as time became the 10th-longest running show on Broadway. Since then it has surpassed this mark and currently holds the No. 8 position. The production has garnered nine Tony® Award nominations and though its cast took a final bow on Broadway—Beauty and the Beast closed on July 29, 2007 to make way for The Little Mermaid—the award-winning show still captivates audiences and transforms theaters across the US into a fairy-tale spectacle with its touring production.
