It Happened at The Palace: A History of New York’s Iconic Broadway Theater by Stewart F. Lane is an essential read for theatre aficionados, history buffs, and anyone who’s ever been captivated by the magic of Broadway. Below is an exclusive excerpt from the book.

The next musical to play the Palace was unique in so many ways. First, the Palace would have the distinct honor of hosting the first-ever full-length Broadway musical from the folks at Disney, Beauty and the Beast.

After decades of Broadway productions written, designed, and performed with an adult audience in mind, Beauty and the Beast would upend the typical Broadway demographics by presenting a family-friendly musical created with kids in mind. Adapted from Disney’s 1991 animated blockbuster film of the same name, Beauty and the Beast would bring the characters to life on stage thanks to Linda Woolverton, who had also penned the screenplay. Alan Menken wrote the music for the movie, with lyrics from Howard Ashman. Menken later wrote additional songs specifically for the musical with Tim Rice, following the death of Ashman. Beauty and the Beast was an ideal fit for the Palace.

The large stage, the many dressing rooms and the large seating capacity of the theater were all factored into the decision to bring Disney’s first foray to Broadway into the landmark setting. The closest Disney had come to a Broadway musical was a full production of Sleeping Beauty at Radio City Music Hall on Sixth Avenue in 1979. While it was close, it wasn’t quite Broadway.

As for Beauty and the Beast playing the Palace, I was totally on board with the concept. I had worked with Alan Menken before, and I loved the music. I also believed that the opening sequence was just like a Broadway show. Critics and the brass at Disney agreed that this show with a basic storyline, one as old as time, would be the ideal opportunity to transition Disney into fresh territory. The movie had already scaled new heights, becoming the first-ever animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, while winning Best Original Score and Best Original Song, “Beauty and the Beast.”

I also loved the fact that the production introduced all the main characters and established where they were, who they were, and what the situation was, right from the beginning. It had a brilliant structure for a musical and came with a built-in audience who grew up watching the film repeatedly. Beauty and the Beast opened on April 18, 1994, bringing a magical Disney production that takes place in a palace, to a real palace. Meanwhile, the critics, who were unfamiliar with “family” fare on Broadway, were baffled. But for those of us at the Palace, the clamor for tickets and ongoing excitement in the air gave us all a rather good idea of what was to come—another huge Disney success, only this time with live performers on a Broadway stage.

The musical was so successful that Disney moved quickly to secure a lease with the New Amsterdam Theatre, which they would refurbish for The Lion King, which opened in 1997. Beauty and the Beast played the Palace for nearly six years before moving to the Lunt-Fontanne because Disney knew it would be less expensive. Disney brought in a whole culture of being in the service business and totally changed the environment of the theater district, making it more family friendly than ever before. Beauty and the Beast at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Beauty and the Beast came to life thanks to the creative teams that had worked on the film while also carefully selecting new talent to help bring the animated favorites to life. As for casting, some 500 young women auditioned for the role of Belle, many of whom tried to emulate the voice and style of the character in the movie. However, it was one of the few who tried to embrace the idea of a human version of Belle who won the coveted position as the first of what would be 17 Belles over the 13-year run of the musical. The selection for the role of Belle was 22-year-old actress Susan Eagan, who hailed from California and debuted on Broadway in the coveted role. Eagan’s closest brush with Broadway had been being cast by Tommy Tune in the role of Kim for his touring production of Bye Bye Birdie. Tune’s selections for any production carried some weight, but Eagan had what it took to embrace Belle’s enchanting, compassionate, and curious character.

A newcomer in the role of Belle would necessitate “a beast” more familiar to Broadway theatergoers. This highly sought-after role went to the multi-talented Terrance Mann. In his 14 years on Broadway, Mann had already demonstrated his adaptable acting abilities in Barnum, Cats, Rags, Les Miserables, and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. Ironically, one of the most familiar members of the cast was Tom Bosley, who played Belle’s father Maurice. Bosley was best known as Howard Cunningham (Richie Cunningham’s father) in the long-running television sitcom Happy Days.

He also had the honor of playing the former mayor of New York City in Fiorello! For which he won a Tony Award. When Beauty and the Beast closed, it was (as of the writing of this book) the tenth longest-running Broadway production in history. Touring the globe afterward, the musical has grossed more than $1.7 billion while visiting 13 countries and playing in 115 cities.

The success of Beauty and the Beast not only opened the door for a host of Disney musicals, but it also gave Disney a stronger presence in New York City. To further win the hearts of New Yorkers, Disney took on a significant role in revitalizing a decaying 42nd Street area and transforming it back into the notable, bustling, crosstown artery it once was. They changed the face of 42nd Street with renovated theaters, theme restaurants, modern office facilities, and a Disney Store. Knowing that Beauty and the Beast was just the first of Disney’s vault full of animated feature films, Disney wanted to change the Times Square environment, and they spent millions of dollars doing just that. They also generated hundreds of millions of corporate and entertainment dollars for the surrounding Times Square businesses.

The success of Beauty and the Beast paved the way for a steady flow of Disney Broadway productions. It also set the stage for other producers to bring family-­ oriented productions to Broadway stages, such as non-Disney hits such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Wicked, and SpongeBob SquarePants, which landed at the Palace.

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