July 29: Belle Takes A Final Bow

On this day in 2007, Disney's first Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast played its final performance at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City. Including this last Sunday afternoon show, the Broadway production played 46 previews and 5,464 regular performances since 1994 (when it debuted at the Palace Theatre)!

The cast on this day included Anneliese van der Pol (as Belle), Steve Blanchard (as the Beast) and special guest Donny Osmond (reprising his role of Gaston). The sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, Beauty and the Beast featured a score by Alan Menken, Time Rice and the late Howard Ashman.

The show closed to make room for Disney's newest musical The Little Mermaid (which began previews November 3, 2007 ... but unfortunately closed in August 2009).

Click HERE for much more July 29 Disney history.