THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opened officially in Barcelona on Thursday February 26th. It is the first time that a Disney musical arrives at the city, so many personalities have attended the event. Among them were journalist Noemí Galera, tennis player Emilio Sánchez-Vicario, actress Elena Gadel, actor Ignasi Vidal, journalist Octavi Pujades or football player Gerard Piqué (a gallery of the photocall is available on our Multimedia section). They all have not wanted to miss this colorful and magical show that has captivated audiences of all countries where it has been staged.

But without any doubt, the most expected person of the evening was Alan Menken, the author of the score of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Menken has collaborated over the past two decades with Disney Pictures, scoring numerous of its animated films: the first one was THE LITTLE MERMAID IN 1989 (this film has also been adapted to stage and is currently playing on Broadway). Other titles include BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, POCAHONTAS, HERCULES, or ENCHANTED in 2007. For these works, Alan Menken has received sor far eight Academy Awards, as well as several Golden Globes and Grammy Awards. He also has been nominated to Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for the stage adaptations of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1994) and THE LITTLE MERMAID (2008). Recently it was announced that Menken will write the music for the next animated movie by Disney. RAPUNZEL is expected to premiere in 2010.

After posing for the cameras, Alan Menken has answered the media questions:

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OF THE BARCELONA PRODUCTION OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST?
I´m really looking forward to see it. I saw the Russian production and I was knocked out by it in Moscow, so I can´t wait to see it in Barcelona.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SECRET OF THE SUCCESS OF BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, A MUSICAL THAT HAS CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES OF ALL THE COUNTRIES WHERE IT HAS BEEN STAGED?
First of all, people have invested so much in the romance of the story and also on the magic we had originally in the movie of Disney. There is a lot of recapturing the magic of Disney animations in THE LITTLE MERMAID AND BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and we were able to bring it to the stage.

YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS WON EIGHT OSCAR AWARDS. IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH IS THE SECRET FOR BEING ONE OF THE BESTS?
I think the secret number one is being associated with Disney, and number two is writing specifically to each movie and trying to serve the interest of the movie first. I think the theatre community appreciates that.

WHAT´S YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE OSCAR CEREMONY A FEW DAYS AGO AND ABOUT THE OSCAR TO PENELOPE CRUZ?
We all love Penélope, she´s so beautiful and wonderful! I loved the film `Vicky Cristina Barcelona´, I am a Woody Allen fan and she was great. She´s a perfect actress to write music for. Now she is going to be in NINE, and I´m really looking for that. As for the ceremony, I loved the way they did it: the former nominees talking each one to one of the nominees. It was a great thing, really wonderful. And Hugh Jackman was great, too. When I saw Jackman and Anne Hathaway singing together I thought "you know, there will be a musical movie with the two of them in the future"

YOU WILL BE IN THE NEW ANIMATED FILM BY DISNEY, RAPUNZEL. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW PROJECT?
Rapunzel is coming in the holiday season of 2010. It´s gonna be, actually, kind of sixties rock. Very much Joni Mitchell, and Cat Stevens. Right now still is early, but the movie is looking really good. I´m very excited. But first is coming the musical SISTER ACT, which is opening in London this year.

HOW WILL BE SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL?
It is a disco musical, high energy, very funny. But it is also the SISTER ACT everyone loved in the movies. Donna Summers, the Bee Gees, Barry White, this whole style, this whole era. I´m looking for people to see it.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA YOU FOLLOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PROJECTS?
I don´t think too hard about whether the right thing to do or not. If the story is right and if it is an opportunity of writing music I haven´t written before, then I´m there.

Alan Menken and Júlia Gómez Cora, manager of Stage Entertainment España

Though BTM Theatre is not a very warmy space, the performers and musicians of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST succeed in their purpose of communicate to the audience all the magic and the charm of the show. On the opening night David Ordinas played the role of the Beast Bestia, María Adámuz was Beauty, Pablo Puyol was Gaston, Raúl Peña was Lefou, Armando Pita was Lumière, Esteban Oliver was Din Don, Albert Muntanyola was Maurice, Marta Capel was Babette, Patricia Paisal was Madame de la Gran Bouche and Mercè Martínez was Mrs. Potts. Martínez offers a great performance, giving to her character all the kindness and tenderness that the role requieres. She also has a magnificent voice that consolidates her as one of the most qualified actresses of musical theatre in Spain.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has not an ending date in Barcelona. This show is the main commitment of Stage Entertainment in Barcelona this season. So far, they have sold over 24,000 tickets in advance.