I walked into the City Bank Auditorium in Lubbock excited and giddy. Looking around, I saw little girls wearing the famous yellow ball gown. Man, I was way out of my league.

Beauty and The Beast has always been my favorite Disney movie. Belle was different from Aurora in Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella. I love Belle because she isn’t the typical princess; she has dark hair and eyes, and she loves to read–like me. When my mom told me a performance of Beauty and The Beast was coming to Lubbock, I was sold.

I should have figured from the multitude of children flocking to the theatre that Beauty and The Beast would be a fantastic show. Of course, I never expected anything less from a Broadway musical. I had very high expectations for this show. Seriously, how can you top the movie? Let me just say, this production of Beauty and The Beast definitely satisfied.

I have a love for theater, not just the acting aspect of it, but also the technical part. I thought the backdrops we used for Wizard of Oz were amazing, but they were nothing compared to the ones used in Beauty and The Beast. Each backdrop brought the scene to life. The vibrant colors drew me into the show. The set, which was seemingly simplistic, made the whole show. There were a few module staircases that made the interior of the castle. At first, I didn’t know if  I liked the set, but I couldn’t have envisioned a better one.

Since the show is called Beauty and The Beast, I expected to be enthralled with the main characters. That was not the case. The acting was incredible, don’t get me wrong, but my eyes were not focused on the main characters necessarily. I fell in love with the ensemble cast–the enchanted objects in the castle, the townspeople in the tavern and the three giggly girls who fawned over Gaston.

The costuming was absolute exquisite. Every character owned his or her costume. Belle’s gown was a little different from that of the movie, but it was still stunning. My favorite costume, however, was Madame de la Grande Bouche’s (the wardrobe). Her costume was elaborately embroidered with glittery bedazzlement–totally eye-catching.

Beauty and The Beast was a phenomenal show. It did the Disney movie justice. I left the theater awestruck and inspired. I would recommend seeing any show offered at the City Bank Auditorium.

Beauty and The Beast was one of several shows held at the City Bank Auditorium. Legally Blonde (the Musical) will open on April 1. I Googled it and www.theticketguys.com had tickets. If you have never been to a production of this kind, you are missing an ultimate experience.