Alan Menken News & Discussion

[disneyprincess11]

According to BroadwayWorld.com forums, Hunchback is NOT coming to Broadway. It was announced to the cast, yesterday.

[Prince Edward]

That is indeed most unfortunate news. I guess that if this is true, we will not get a cast recording of this new production.

I must confess that most of my interest for Disney's stage musicals are dependent on one thing: if Disney make a cast recording (and release it on CD/iTunes) or not. Living in Norway I would most likely not see any (or just a few) of these Disney stage versions myself, and having Menken's music recorded for posterity and to be able to enjoy it and hear the new songs is what I am concerned about regarding the stage adaptions of the Disney movies.

[Sotiris]

Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are working on an original live-action musical film!

Musical Pitch For Josh Gad, Jeremy Garelick Gets Toes Tapping Around Town
http://deadline.com/2015/04/josh-gad-je ... 201407477/

Universal Wins 7-Figure Auction For Josh Gad & Jeremy Garelick Musical With Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz Tunes
http://deadline.com/2015/04/josh-gad-je ... 201411042/

Bart & Fleming: Josh Gad Musical Shows Studio Hunger For Pic Packages
http://deadline.com/2015/04/josh-gad-mu ... 201412569/

Work Underway for New Musical Film from Josh Gad, Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz & More!
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jo ... -201609241

[DisneyFan09]

I'm glad Alan and Stephen are still collaborating. To be honest, I think Stephen is Alan's best partner since Howard Ashman and a lyricst who brings great sophistication to the lyrics.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm happy he still has new projects coming.

[Atlantica]

Absoltely same here, so thrilled for him.

I'd laugh if this was snapped up by Disney

[Sotiris]

I'd laugh if this was snapped up by Disney.

Universal was the one who snatched it up after all.

[Sotiris]

A mysterious new Menken stage musical seems to be in the works.

On May 30th, there was a staged reading in L.A. with Alan Menken present. There were only two people who posted on Instagram about this and in a matter of hours their posts were deleted. From what they said, it looks like this is going to be a jukebox musical based on Menken's body of work similar to Disney's On the Record or Stephen Schwartz's Snapshots.

Guys. Last night I got to be in a reading of a new musical with Alan Menken's music.

Source: https://twitter.com/emilytheactress/sta ... 5514478592

Shaking hands with Alan Menken after performing in a staged reading of a new musical based on his legendary Disney/Broadway music. #Disney #theater #latheater #readings #stage #musicals #performance #broadway

Source: http://sotiris2006.tumblr.com/post/1203 ... nken-after

[Sotiris]

Alan is working with his daughter Anna Rose on a new project.

Just had a great session recording this beautiful vocalist onto a new song for a new project. Stay tuned!

Source: https://instagram.com/p/8jbmCyl7Ts/

It's not often that my dad and I get to work together, but when we do it's pretty awesome.

Source: https://instagram.com/p/8jhXdNBEUN/

[DisneyFan09]

Didn't know that his daughter was into music. But some sweet pictures

[Sotiris]

Alan Menken gave a new interview to Entertainment Weekly to promote the Diamond Edition release of Aladdin in which he talks about Howard Ashman and Robin Williams. A must-read.

Also, Brad Kane, the singing voice of Aladdin, had this to say about Alan Menken in a new interview.

Q: Talk a little bit about Alan Menken. What was his process like?

Brad Kane: His process was making sure that the intention of the song goes forward every time. I remember when he showed me a sketch of Aladdin right before I was going to sing a song called One Jump Ahead which is the opening song that Aladdin sings when he is on the run from the guards. He pointed something out to me in a Aladdin’s eye that the animators had drawn. He told me to capture the gleam in Aladdin’s eye with my voice. He wanted to make sure that the intention of what was in the image was captured in the voice. He was just meticulous about things like that. His music is the soundtrack of all of our lives.

Source: http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2015/10/ ... s-aladdin/

[Disney's Divinity]

How great would a M&C's "Swan Lake" have been?! I didn't know "Humiliate the Boy" was Ashman's last song... I get the connection they're making to what he was experiencing then--"We'll emasculate him slowly," etc. etc. You know, "PoYB" could've worked for Aladdin even if his mother was dead (as in, he's trying to rise in station for his moth), but I guess it would distract from the love story in some ways since it would make his change into Prince Ali even more self-centered. Musker was right about Aladdin being lucky it happened when it did; we saw that demand for "more B&tB" happen with Pocahontas and Hunchback. Who knows if Hercules would've happened (as a comedy) if Aladdin hadn't come out when it did. And, no knock on Buddy Hackett, but Robin Williams would've been a fun Scuttle--but Genie was better because he's a major character. Weren't M&C also two of the polyps in Ursula's garden?

You know, it's too bad the people who worked on the Aladdin sequels couldn't have worked one of "Why Me" or "HtB" into TRoJ instead of "You're Only Second Rate." I can see why they didn't make it to the original film--and "Prince Ali (reprise)" was fantastic--but it's a shame.

[Sotiris]

Menken is writing music for a theme park attraction. It looks like it's for a theme park in Dubai.

Menken has a busy calendar ahead. That's also because he can never say no. "I'm doing music for a theme park. It's nice when people value you and reach out to you," says Menken.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 497481.cms


Update

The song is called All the Wonders of the Universe and it's for the Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Dubai Parks and Resorts releases official theme song
http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/fam ... theme-song

[DisneyFan09]

Could only imagine that, as opposed to those who don't appreciate you (*cough, Lasseter, cough*).

[Sotiris]

Unfortunately, Menken has exited the Broadway-bound musical Happy Trails citing scheduling conflicts.

[Sotiris]

Adam Jacobs, who's currently starring as Aladdin on Broadway, is releasing his debut solo album entitled "Right Where I Belong", which is a compilation of Alan Menken songs. The album will be released December 13th and will be available digitally on iTunes, Google Music, Amazon, and Spotify. CDs can be purchased at the merchandise stand in New York City’s New Amsterdam Theater.

You can watch the trailer for the album as well as the music video for his rendition of Suddenly, Seymour. You can also listen to his renditions of Santa Fe and Sailing On.



Adam Jacobs Releasing Album of Alan Menken Songs
http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/201 ... ken-songs/

Broadway's Aladdin star Adam Jacobs releases debut album Right Where I Belong
http://www.ew.com/2015/12/03/adam-jacobs-debut-album

[DisneyFan09]

Nice. Do you know his age, btw?

[Prince Edward]

"The thing with Alan Menken is, I don’t think he gets enough credit. He’s obviously got multiple awards, but how much he’s interwoven into the fabric of our culture, especially people my age, and how much he’s affected people through his storytelling, is powerful. And I thought, ‘I wanted to highlight that.’”

Well said! Alan Menken's name should be way more known, and the people at Disney should be treating him much nicer than they have been doing the last years. His work has meant so much for Disney.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'd buy Adam Jacobs' album if it was getting a physical release. Too bad about that.

It was nice to see a small cameo of Menken in the Snow White special.

[Sotiris]

I'd buy Adam Jacobs' album if it was getting a physical release. Too bad about that.

You can actually buy the CD, here.