Beauty and the Beast Bows out after 13 years

Donny Osmond joins cast for final performance..

After 13 years, Beauty and the Beast will take its final curtain call on Broadway, December 29, 2007. The musical has recorded over 5,461 performances, making it the sixth-longest running show in Broadway history. Donny Osmond will join the cast for the final performance.

The show has been seen by over 35 million people worldwide, and has won numerous awards, including eight Tony Awards and a Grammy Award. The Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast" opened on April 18, 1994 and has grossed over $1.27 billion during its run.

The show's closing coincides with the opening of Disney's new musical, "The Little Mermaid," which will open on Broadway in November 2007. "The Little Mermaid" is based on the 1989 Disney animated film of the same name. The new musical will feature a score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Glenn Slater.