There is no magic quite like attending the theatre with the kids in your life, and Beauty and the Beast at The Paramount (now through October 26th) is a perfect excuse for a night of magic!

I brought my favorite little girls – my nieces ages 11 1/2 and 8 – to see this Disney classic that I grew up with. The setting is perfect – the gold and white interior of The Paramount feels like a place itself. Tip: when you attend, head up to one of the balcony lobbies to look down over the crowd during intermission – it’s so beautiful!

The show itself was delightful, with especially powerful performances from Belle, the Beast, Gaston and Lumiere.

Cameron Bond was perfect in his villainous role. Gaston is one of my favorite numbers in the movie and the live performance surpassed my expectations. The casting is perfect – Bond’s etched features and stature are a perfect fit as is his comic timing. He is absolutely delightful to watch and may be part cartoon.

The girls’ favorite number was Be Our Guest, which really sparkled! They were engaged during the whole performance but especially giggly in reaction to Lumiere’s and Beast’s humorous delivery. The girls are a bit tight lipped when asked to give detailed reviews (it’s sometimes tough to get kids to give you a review when put on the spot) but they really liked it and told me they thought anyone would have fun at the show.

The audience was definitely swept away by the production – during the overture before the second act, the audience joined in by clapping along. The enjoyment was palpable. I would recommend this production to anyone who is a Disney fan!

Tickets, here.