Disney's Beauty and the Beast Brings the Magic to The National Theatre

 The tale as old as time has returned to Washington, and if the buzz surrounding the North American tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast is any indication, DC audiences are in for something truly special. The production, now playing at The National Theatre through April 5, 2026, is a lavish, joyful celebration of one of Disney's most beloved stories — and it delivers on every front that counts.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast at The National Theatre

For those unfamiliar with the story, it centers on Belle, a bookish young woman restless in her small provincial town, who finds herself drawn into the enchanted world of a cursed prince known as the Beast. Surrounded by a castle full of enchanted household objects — the debonair candelabra Lumiere, the fussy clock Cogsworth, the warm-hearted Mrs. Potts, and others — Belle and the Beast must find their way to love before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. It is a story built on transformation, empathy, and the enduring power of seeing past surfaces to find beauty within, and this production honors every bit of that with care and genuine affection.

What gives this tour particular weight is that it reunites key members of the original creative team, including director and choreographer Matt West, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, and lighting designer Natasha Katz, all of whom have updated their work with a fresh vibrancy. The result is a production that leans a little more into the animated roots of the source material while still feeling like a fully realized piece of live theatre. Projection design by Darrel Maloney adds animated elements and sweeping backdrops that enhance the story's fairy-tale atmosphere, and the combination of these elements creates a world that feels both nostalgic and alive.

The performances are where the production truly shines. Kyra Belle Johnson is a revelation in the role of Belle, bringing powerful vocals, sharp instincts, and a genuine sense of character to the beloved princess. Her voice soars effortlessly through the score, and she brings a warmth and intelligence to the role that makes it easy to understand why every heart in that castle — and in the audience — is won over by her. Fergie L. Philippe gives the Beast a nuanced humanity, leaning into both the character's humor and his vulnerability in equal measure. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, and their evolving relationship feels earned and moving.

The ensemble supporting them is equally impressive. Danny Gardner's Lumiere anchors the show's most spectacular number, "Be Our Guest," a high-energy spectacle of tap, jazz, and sheer theatrical invention that critics have singled out as the undeniable showstopper of the evening. Kathy Voytko brings bright, emotionally resonant vocals to Mrs. Potts, delivering the show's title song with a warmth that fills the theatre. Stephen Mark Lukas is a blast as the vain and scheming Gaston, all charisma and physical comedy, and Harry Francis wrings enormous laughs out of LeFou with impeccable comic timing.

West's choreography ranges from tap to jazz to ballet, and the cast executes it with precision and evident joy. The ensemble numbers — "Belle," "Gaston," and "Be Our Guest" among them — are tightly orchestrated and bursting with energy. The production's technical elements are equally impressive: sound design that makes the castle feel vast and real, illusion work that creates genuine moments of wonder, and a jaw-dropping final transformation sequence in which the Beast becomes human again through a seamless blend of stagecraft, lighting, and costume that left audiences gasping.

Ann Hould-Ward's costumes deserve special mention. The designs are rich and imaginative throughout, but it is the iconic ballroom sequence — Belle in gold, the Beast transformed — that creates the kind of pure theatrical magic that makes audiences fall in love with live performance all over again.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast plays at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, through April 5, 2026.