The current tour has a slightly shorter running time than the original Broadway production. “No Matter What,” “Maison de Lune,” and the Battle in the castle have all been cut and the scenes re-written to accomodate the changes. “A Change in Me” is added to this production (as it was to the Broadway production after it was written for Toni Braxton) which makes the production about even (slightly shorter) with the original production at 2 hours 30 minutes.

“Beauty and the Beast” has not been touring for 17 years. The Broadway national tours closed in 2003 after 8 years, and the current NETworks tour opened in 2010. It’s been on the road for about 10 years cumulatively.

While the designs are not identical to the original Broadway designs, as you point out, they ARE re-designed by the original Broadway design team (albeit on a smaller budget). They are re-conceptualized to fit this production that sets the action in a different season – spring, as opposed to the original designs, which set the action in autumn into winter.

While I understand your qualms with the stich-work backdrop – there are many other aspects of the design that don’t adhere strictly to the “provincial France” setting. Tri-corner hats, sailor pants, and many other design elements take the designs in to a more “fairy tale” realm rather than a realistic interpretation of “provincial France.”