It's opening one week from tonight, Friday, November 18 at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and the excitement is bubbling. Beauty and the Beast, based on the Academy Award®-winning, Disney animated feature, can't wait to hit the stage, and the West Michigan audience can't wait, either.

The musical will be running for one month at Civic, November 18 through December 18, but you better get your tickets now as they are selling fast.

Wednesday night, I had the honor of going backstage and meeting some of the cast and crew to see the intricate costumes as they are being assembled.

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Meet Cogsworth, Jason Morrison, as he is fitted for his "clock" costume. It's amazing, as Chicago costume designer, Katie Johnson, who lived in Grand Rapids for a number of years, winds him up explaining how the costume is very light weight as it's made out of foam.

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Belle, Alyssa Meeuwsen, a Western Michigan Theatre Arts student, sang a song from the show last night, and showed off her fabulous voice, and, her nearly finished, beautiful ball gown.

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The costume department was also working hard on so many costumes for the show, including one of the Beast's coats with lots of fur.

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So much work goes into a Civic Theatre production, with a large crew working behind the scenes and back stage to make the magic happen. With all sorts of special effects and surprises, Grand Rapids Civic's Beauty and the Beast won't let anyone down.

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