Alan Menken News

Disney aficionados, film buffs and musical theater lovers can expect an evening like no other when eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken comes to Segerstrom Center for the Arts performing his own music and sharing entertaining anecdotes about his unrivaled career.

The great Alan Menken was on hand for the very special night, and he performed (for the first time in public) an epic medley of cut songs from the beloved musical. Below, we're excited to exclusively bring you some tunes that you've never heard before now!

Broadway In Chicago has announced that THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, THE BOOK OF MORMON, Disney's NEWSIES and SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! will make 1776 half-price tickets available through the League of Chicago Theatres' Hot Tix program Tuesday, June 28 beginning at 12 PM through Sunday, July 10. 

New York City Center today announced casting for the Encores! Off-Center production of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The first musical written by the blockbuster team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the Off-Center productionwill star Skylar Astin, Derrick Baskin, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Nick Choksi, Eddie Cooper, Kevin Del Aguila, Santino Fontana, Clark Johnson, James Earl Jones, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Eddie Korbich, Marla Louissaint, Liz McCartney, Bonnie Milligan, Brynn O'Malley, and Kate Wetherhead.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Little Shop of Horrors Reunion Concert; Blood Brothers in Concert; 54 Celebrates The Neil Simon Theatre; Rob McClure at 54 Below; and 54 Celebrates Prince.

This upcoming Monday, June 27th, an exciting concert will be held at 54 Below...an 'unprecedented evening' that will bring original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS performers together, spanning from the original production to the more-recent Broadway revival. Three of the performers: Jennifer Leigh Warren (Original 'Crystal'), Nikki Rene (Off-Bway 'Chiffon'), and Sheila Kay Davis (Original 'Ronnette') spoke with BroadwayWorld about their experiences, their favorite memories from the production, and what they are most looking forward to for Monday night's concert.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with an array of performances that represent the range of music, dance and theater that have been seen and heard on its stages since opening night of September 29, 1986.

The South Bend Community School Corporation announces the opening of it's 2016 Annual Summerfly high school musical, Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak are proud to announce BrightSide Theatre's 2016-2017 Season - 'Season Six- Classic Broadway' - Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Moon Over Buffalo and Guys & Dolls. 'These three classic shows are recognized to be of the highest quality of their kind and will keep you entertained all season,' explains Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak.

Can Broadway's Jonathan Freeman recognize his lines when Ethan Freeman says then in German?

Miners Alley Playhouse presents, 'Little Shop of Horrors' July 15 through August 21 in Golden.

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs including 'Under the Sea,' 'Kiss the Girl,' and 'Part of Your World.'

New Your City Center's Encores! Off-Center series is back and better than ever! The series will present RUNAWAYS from July 6-9th. Before the production goes up, BroadwayWorld has your first look behind the scenes at rehearsals this past weekend. 

Turning an animated film into a live stage production has its challenges, and Disney's "THE LITTLE MERMAID" is no exception .

What happens when a new musical opens at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse in California and becomes the highest grossing show ever at that venue? Obviously, it is grabbed up by a Broadway producer who opens it on the Great White Way. Right? Wrong!

The Lobby Project, a series of free pre-show events presented in conjunction with New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center season, will take place July 6-9 & 27-30. These events provide an insightful exploration of the topics and themes presented in the season's musicals through performances, conversations with artists and experts, workshops, and a Menken Mixtape contest in which the winners will perform their Alan Menken remixes for Menken himself. The Lobby Project events take place in City Center's Grand Tier lobby one hour before curtain and are free for that evening's ticket holders.

In The Wings Productions, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tanya Glassman and Executive Producer Adam Glassman, presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the historic Snug Harbor Music Hall from July 15-24. Tickets are $20-$30.

We caught up with lyricist and book writer Chad Beguelin just as Aladdin opened in the West End last week - and he was very excited.

Sierra Stages continues its 2016 season with the devilishly delightful hit musical "Little Shop of Horrors" at the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City this summer from July 14 through August 6. "Little Shop of Horrors" is one of the most popular musicals of all time-the show debuted off-Broadway in 1982 and ran for five years, was made into a popular and memorable film (starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin) in 1986, premiered on Broadway in 2003, and has received thousands of professional and amateur productions over the past 35 years. The Sierra Stages production is directed by Robert Rossman, with musical direction by Ken Getz. The set and lighting design is by Erin Beatie and costume design is by Jill Kelly. The cast includes Nevada County actors Jay Barker, Audrey Delgado, Nancy Haffey, Jackie Kolenko, JR Lewis, Ken Miele, Tracy Nickle, Conor Nolan, and Kim Wellman.