Beauty And The Beast Musical

Act 1: The Curse and Belle's Arrival at the Castle

Main Characters:

• Belle:

  • Initial Outfit (Village):

    • Belle’s costume reflects her simplicity and modesty in Act 1, as she is introduced as the village bookworm. She typically wears a simple, rustic blue dress with a white apron.
    • Accessories: A ribbon or bow in her hair, comfortable shoes, and a basket. Her look emphasizes her practicality and intellect.

  • Costume Change (At the Beast's Castle):

    • As Belle moves into the Beast’s castle, her outfit transitions to more refined, elegant clothing. She wears a soft, pastel-colored gown, often in shades of yellow or green, symbolizing her growing importance in the castle.
    • Accessories: Elegant gloves, a soft shawl or cape, and her hair styled more beautifully, signifying her newfound elegance.

• Beast:

  • Initial Outfit:
    • The Beast’s costume is designed to be intimidating and animalistic, featuring dark fur and elaborate, textured fabrics. His costume is a mixture of human and animal features, including fur on the arms, neck, and face, combined with royal attire.
    • Accessories: A crown, a cape, and a large, exaggerated fur collar. His overall appearance is meant to reflect both the curse’s physical effects and his royal status.

• Gaston:

  • Outfit:
    • Gaston’s costume reflects his vain, narcissistic, and macho personality. He wears a tight, red tunic with black pants and tall boots, emphasizing his muscular build and egotism.
    • Accessories: A belt with a large buckle, a large, dramatic cape, and possibly a rifle or hunting accessories, showcasing his vanity and confidence.

• Lumière (The Candlestick):

  • Outfit:
    • Lumière’s costume is regal yet functional, designed to reflect his role as the castle’s maître d’. He wears a tailored, yellow and gold ensemble, with a flamenco-inspired vest, pants, and boots to mimic his candlestick shape.
    • Accessories: Gloves resembling the flames, a hairpiece to emulate a flame, and a bright, warm smile to add to his lively and charismatic personality.

• Cogsworth (The Clock):

  • Outfit:
    • Cogsworth’s costume is formal and clock-inspired, featuring a dark brown or maroon suit with intricate clock-like detailing on the chest and shoulders. His attire is designed to evoke both the functionality of a clock and his uptight personality.
    • Accessories: A pocket watch and a gold chain, emphasizing his role as the castle’s timekeeper.

• Mrs. Potts (The Teapot):

  • Outfit:
    • Mrs. Potts’ costume is cozy and matronly, featuring a full, tea-pot shaped dress in shades of cream, pink, and gold, symbolizing her nurturing and motherly nature.
    • Accessories: A teapot lid headpiece, an apron, and soft slippers to reflect her warmth and hospitality.

• Chip (The Teacup):

  • Outfit:
    • Chip’s costume is playful and childlike, with a bright, colorful design to evoke his role as the small teacup. His outfit often features a white base with colorful accents, including a painted teacup handle and rim.
    • Accessories: A fun teacup headpiece and a mischievous smile to highlight his youthful energy.

Ensemble (Villagers, Servants, and Castle Objects):

• Villagers:

  • The villagers’ costumes are typical of a French provincial setting in the 18th century, often featuring earth tones and practical fabrics. The women wear dresses with petticoats and aprons, and the men wear trousers, waistcoats, and simple coats.
  • Accessories: Simple hats for the women, and waistcoats, belts, and boots for the men.

• Castle Objects (Ensemble):

  • The enchanted servants, such as the wardrobe, the feather duster, and the piano, wear costumes that reflect their specific item. These outfits are creatively designed with a mix of functional attire and symbolic elements that evoke their object form.
  • Accessories: Each object-servant has unique elements reflecting their enchanted form, such as feathers, fabric swirls, or wood grain patterns.

Act 2: The Beast and Belle’s Growing Friendship and the Final Transformation

Main Characters (Continued):

• Belle:

  • Costume Change (The Ball):
    • Belle’s costume for the ballroom scene is one of the most iconic of the musical. She wears a large, flowing yellow gown with intricate beadwork and luxurious fabric that resembles the classic ball gown from the animated film.
    • Accessories: A sparkling tiara, a pair of gloves, and an elegant updo to match her transformation from village girl to princess.

• Beast:

  • Costume Change (The Ball):
    • The Beast’s costume becomes more refined as he prepares for the ball with Belle. He wears a regal blue suit with gold detailing, a royal red cape, and polished boots. This costume symbolizes his internal transformation as he becomes more noble and human-like.
    • Accessories: A gold watch and regal accessories to complete his look as a transformed prince.

• Gaston:

  • Costume Change (The Final Confrontation):
    • Gaston’s costume stays relatively similar throughout, with his iconic red tunic, black pants, and boots. However, for the final confrontation, his costume may be slightly more rugged, reflecting his escalating aggression and obsession with Belle.
    • Accessories: His rifle, and perhaps more disheveled hair, emphasizing his fall from grace.

Ensemble (Dancers, Servants, and Castle Objects):

• Dancers and Castle Objects:

  • The ensemble in Act 2 wears extravagant ball costumes for the grand final number. The enchanted objects, like Lumière, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts, wear more elaborate versions of their earlier costumes, with additions that reflect their joyous transformation.
  • Accessories: Glitter, feathers, and beads to create a magical atmosphere in the ball scene.

• Villagers (During the Final Confrontation):

  • The villagers in Act 2 wear costumes reflecting the shift from their earlier, conservative looks to more confrontational outfits. For example, they wear more practical, rugged clothing during the fight scene with the Beast, including coats, boots, and hats.
  • Accessories: Simple props such as torches, pitchforks, and other traditional items for a mob.

Special Notes:

• Color Palette:

  • Act 1: The colors are more muted and earthy in Act 1, with browns, grays, and pastels to reflect the village and the somber mood of the Beast’s curse. Belle’s costumes are often lighter, such as soft blues and yellows, to highlight her innocence and optimism.
  • Act 2: The colors in Act 2 shift to warmer, more regal tones like gold, blue, and rich red to reflect the magic and transformation of the story, particularly in the ballroom scenes.

• Fabric Choices:

  • Act 1: The costumes in Act 1 use more humble, practical fabrics like wool, cotton, and linen to reflect the time and setting of the story.
  • Act 2: The fabrics for the ball scene are rich and luxurious, including satin, silk, velvet, and lace, to reflect the transformation of both Belle and the Beast into their true forms.