Musical theatre legend Alan Menken has just become the 16th person in history to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Decades before the new Daytime Emmy win, the composer won eight Oscars for Disney classics including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. His film work also won him 11 Grammy Awards, most recently for Tangled in 2012. For the stage, Menken has written music for numerous hits, including adaptations of his Disney classics, Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, and A Bronx Tale. He now joins a famed lineup of theatre composers - including Richard Rodgers, Robert Lopez and Andrew Lloyd Webber - in reaching the coveted EGOT status.
Here are our top 10 musicals and films with music written by Alan Menken that you can explore:
1. Newsies
Based on the 1992 Disney film, Newsies is the tale of newsboy Jack Kelly, who dreams of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. Watch a filmed performance of the 2012 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording, or play along with this digital songbook.
2. The Little Mermaid
Stream the original 1989 Disney film, or watch or listen to The Little Mermaid Live! - a special tribute to the original animated classic featuring live musical performances by a star-studded cast.
3. Beauty and the Beast
The story and characters you love come to life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, or watch the original animated classic with all songs written by Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman. The soundtrack to the 2017 includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as three new songs written by Menken and Tim Rice.
4. Aladdin
Street-smart Aladdin and Princess Jasmine join forces to save the kingdom from the evil sorcerer Jafar in Disney's animated classic, Aladdin. Stream the thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation, or listen to the the 2014 Broadway Original Cast Recording, which features six new songs written for the musical, plus the award winning all time favourite classics like A Whole New World and Friend Like Me.
5. Little Shop of Horrors
Listen to the soundtrack or stream the film adaptation of the 1982 off-Broadway musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a musical based on the 1831 novel of the same name written by Victor Hugo, with songs from the 1996 Walt Disney Animation Studios film adaptation. The original musical premiered in 1999 in Berlin as Der Glöckner von Notre Dame ("The Bellringer of Notre Dame") with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Listen to studio cast recording or play the music with this vocal/piano songbook.
7. Hercules
Taken from the gods as a newborn and adopted on earth, Hercules discovers he has a place on Mount Olympus with his dad Zeus and is on a mission to stick it to Hades once and for all. Watch the animated film on Disney+, or play along with Alan Menken's music with the help from this digital songbook.
8. Tangled
When the kingdom's most wanted — and most charming — bandit, Flynn Rider, hides out in a mysterious tower, he is taken hostage by Rapunzel, a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Watch the action-packed animated film, play along with the digital songbook, or watch a filmed performance of the Disney Cruise Line stage production.
9. Enchanted
This musical romantic comedy film features vocals by Amy Adams and Carrie Underwood, with music composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Take a magical trip from a fairytale world to the streets of New York City with this upbeat, cheerful soundtrack.
10. Sister Act
Based on the popular 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film about a nightclub singer who avoids her vengeful mobster boyfriend by masquerading as a nun, Sister Act The Musical had its West End premiere in 2009 and a Broadway run in 2011. Menken’s songs, with lyrics by his frequent collaborator, Glenn Slater, touch on several popular music styles, including disco, funk, gospel and soul.
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