Donny Osmond to join Beauty and the Beast

By Amy Somensky May 18, 2006, 3:41 GMT

Donny Osmond

New York: Donny Osmond will make a return to Broadway when he joins Beauty and the Beast as Gaston. The last time the pop star was seen on the Great White Way was 1982's Little Johnny Jones. Osmond will join the musical for a limited 9 week engagement on September 19th.

I opened and closed that show" (Little Johhny Jones) "in one night, and I remember thinking 'One of these days, I'm going to do it right,’ ” said Osmond in a statement. “Now almost 25 years later I have the chance-- I couldn’t do it any more right than joining such an iconic show as ‘Beauty.’ I can’t wait to get started!"

Beauty and the Beast currently stars Ashley Brown as Belle, Steve Blanchard as The Beast, Grant Norman as Gaston, Christopher Duva as Cogsworth, Jeanne Lehmann as Mrs. Potts, Jacob Young as Lumiere, Meredith Inglesby as Babette, Jamie Ross as Maurice, Gina Ferrall as Madame de la Grande Bouche, and Aldrin Gonzalez as Lefou. Trevor Braun and Alexander Scheitinger alternate the role of Chip.

The musical features lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, music by Alan Menken, and a book by Linda Woolverton. 

Beauty and the Beast is the elaborate stage production of Disney's animated classic that can currently be seen at the Lunt- Fontanne Theater. Belle is a beautiful, misunderstood young woman who falls in love with the deformed beast who has captured her. Little does she know that a spell was cast on him and it can only be broken (and he can return to his true form) if she truly falls in love with him. 

For Beauty and the Beast tickets click here.