Beauty and the Beast's Wardrobe Revealed: Visual History and Character Art

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When Disney brought the production to Broadway in 1994, the script expanded the character's role and christened her Madame de la Grande Bouche, translating literally from French as "Lady of the Big Mouth." Costume designer Ann Hould-Ward faced an extraordinary engineering challenge: how does a living soprano sing complex vocal scores while trapped inside a piece of heavy bedroom furniture?

Hould-Ward designed an articulated hybrid garment that won the 1994 Tony Award for Best Costume Design. The costume utilized an internal harness supporting a rigid hoop structure that mimicked carved, painted paneling. The performer’s head emerged from the pediment like a living sculpture, while actual functioning drawers extended from the hips. Actresses had to navigate steep raked stages while balancing up to 40 pounds of engineered costuming, all while hitting sustained operatic high notes during ensemble numbers like "Be Our Guest."