The Hong Kong Singers are stretching themselves with their new production. Instead of another standard oldie or classic musical, they took a chance and, to their own surprise, managed to get the rights to perform Disney's version of Beauty and the Beast. Based on the 1991 hit animated feature film, the stage adaptation of the musical was a commercial success on Broadway and the West End. Taking a chance, the Singers pitched an application to produce a version of it and, by golly, they got it. 'It is very difficult to get the rights to these shows,' producer Ian Robinson said. 'There are a lot of shows we'd like to put on but their performing rights are booked by professional producers.'

Although the price was a bit higher than what they normally pay for older shows, Robinson felt it was worth it to appeal to a wider and younger audience. He said tickets to the show, which starts tomorrow and continues until Wednesday at the City Hall theatre, are moving briskly. Although the group has relative free rein in terms of interpreting the script with the Alan Menken score, there are some odd Disney contractual requirements. 'We must not put anything in the publicity material to make people think that the production is done in association with Disney. But then it says we have to advertise the show as Disney's Beauty and the Beast.'