Emily Behny is Belle and Dane Agostinis plays Beast in NETworks Presentations’ production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” Portland Ovations is bringing the hit Broadway musical to Merrill Auditorium on Jan. 4-5.

PORTLAND — “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Portland, as part of Portland Ovations’ Broadway and Beyond Series.

Produced by NETworks Presentations, the theatrical production will come to life onstage Friday and Saturday, Jan. 4-5, at Merrill Auditorium.

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” features the animated film’s Academy Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. 

The original creators of the Broadway production are together again for this new touring production, with Rob Roth as director and Matt West as choreographer. Costume design is by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Natasha Katz, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, sound design by John Petrafesa Jr. and music supervision by Michael Kosarin.

“It has been wonderful to bring the entire original design team back together to work on this new production of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ As a director, it is rare to have the opportunity to revisit your work15 years later,” Roth said.

“We have remained very close as a team over the years of producing the show around the world,” he continued, “and it has been so much fun getting together to re-explore and reinvent the show for this new NETworks tour.”

“The theme of ‘Beauty’ is about seeing past the exterior into the heart of someone, and this is reflected in the design for the show, which is about transparency and layers, seeing past one thing and into another,” Roth said.

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” has played to more than 35 million people worldwide in 21 countries.

For tickets, $45 to $70, call 842-0800, visit the box office window at Merrill Auditorium or log on to www.portlandovations.org. For more information, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.