Alan Menken News

“Behind the Magic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” airs TONIGHT, DECEMBER 13, (8:00 – 9:00 p.m., EST) on the ABC Television Network.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the only stage collaboration from two masters of the American musical, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, is now available for professional licensing exclusively through Music Theatre International (212-541-4684, www.MTIshows.com).

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, currently playing at Georgetown's Palace Theatre exhibits some truly wonderful performances from many of the actors, unfortunately it is the technical aspects of the show that are less than stellar.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Seattle as part of the KeyBank Broadway at The Paramount series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at The Paramount Theatre from December 11 - 13. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Casting has been announced for the St. Louis engagement of Disney's NEWSIES.   The Tony Award-winning production will begin performances at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Tuesday, January 19 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 31. 

Long Island certainly has some brilliant holiday productions this season. Currently running through December 29th, Oakdale's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC) has mounted a delightful showing of the musical version of A Christmas Carol; the one Madison Square Garden has produced. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Ms. Ahrens with Mike Ockrent, the wonderful cast surely didn't disappoint.

Four critically-acclaimed plays and musicals - "The Cripple of Inishmaan" by Martin McDonagh, "The Last Five Years" by Jason Robert Brown, "Little Shop of Horrors" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and "Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl - make up Sierra Stages' eighth season of presenting quality local theatre in western Nevada County.

There was a moment tonight in the Orpheum's presentation of NEWSIES that I envisioned the entire production as an animated feature -- and why not? There was the infectious music of Alan Menken, who long ago set the 'gold standard' for the resurgence of Disney animation beginning with THE LITTLE MERMAID; there was, too, the 'underdog' hero ('Jack Kelley,' played with panache and charisma by Joey Barreiro), who serves as a point of inspiration for a horde of ragtag 'newsies'; and instead of an 'Ariel' or 'Belle,' there was 'Katherine,' the spirited young 'girl reporter,' who, with her independence and ingenuity, could fall right in line with the other young heroines of Disney films.

Centenary Stage Company's family favorite smash hit holiday spectacular, A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL is now in its final weekend in the Lackland Center. 

Paper Mill Playhouse's recent production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, based on the novel by Victor Hugo and the Disney animated film, may not be Broadway-bound, but it will get a cast recording. The American Premiere Studio Recording of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the only stage collaboration from two masters of the American musical Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, will be released on January 22, 2016. CLICK HERE to preorder today!

Disney Theatrical Productions will hold an open  call audition for male dancers for the North American touring production of NEWSIES, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical smash, in Detroit on Tuesday, December 15 at 12:30pm at Detroit Opera House/Margo V. Cohen Center for Dance (1526 Broadway Street, Detroit, MI 48226). This audition will be first come, first serve and is for technically-trained Equity and non-Equity male dancers between 16 - 22 years old of all ethnicities who can tap and sing well. 

Am Broadway wird Disneys Aladdin mit seiner spektakularen und opulenten Inszenierung und der Musik von Tony Award®- und Oscar®-Gewinner Alan Menken seit der Premiere 2013 gefeiert. Die auf dem weltbekannten und oscarpramierten Disneyfilm basierende Show ist nun in der Neuen Flora in Hamburg zu erleben, wo das Musical seine Europapremiere hat, noch vor einem Transfer ins Londoner West End, der erst fur das nachste Jahr geplant ist. Wir haben hier einige Produktionsfotos fur euch parat, einen ersten Eindruck davon vermitteln, wie 1001 Nacht in Hamburg aussieht.

Bereits wahrend der Auffuhrung belohnte das Publikum, zu dem zahlreiche prominente Personlichkeiten aus Politik, Schauspiel, Kultur und Sport gehorten, die Darsteller und das Orchester mit euphorischen Standing-Ovations. Susan Sideropoulus schwarmt: „Das beste Musical, das ich je gesehen habe!' Collien Ulmen-Fernandes bringt es auf den Punkt: „Es war lustig, es war bunt!' Auch Sky du Monts Begeisterung kennt keine Grenzen: „Diese Musik, diese Buhne, sensationell! Dschinni ist zum Niederknien. Und den Teppich muss ich haben!' Jorge Gonzalez sagt: „Tolle Show, ich habe so viel gelacht! Ich liebe die Anspielungen auf die moderne Zeit.' Und Dr. Dieter Wedel erganzt euphorisch: „Ich bin begeistert! Choreografie und Buhnenbild sind enorm!'

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Boise as part of the 2015-2016 Broadway in Boise series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Morrison Center today and tomorrow, December 8-9, 2015.

BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you an exclusive track from the album- 'Sailing On.' The song was the first that Menken wrote with Dean Pitchford in 1982 for an album that didn't end up happening. Now the song is out of the vaults and you can check out Jacobs' rendition below!

Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel today announced the creative teams for New York City Center's 2016 Encores! season. J. Bernard Calloway, Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Carly Hughes, LaChanze, Norm Lewis, Forrest McClendon, and J.D. Webster will star in Vernon Duke and John Latouche's jazz?filled fable Cabin in the Sky, running for seven performances at City Center from February 10-14. The 1940 musical will be directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago?Hudson with choreography by Camille A. Brown.

Hamburg im Rausch aus 1001 Nacht: Sonntagabend feierte das Disney Musical ALADDIN seine fulminante Europa-Premiere im Stage Theater Neue Flora in Hamburg. Über 1.800 Gaste verfolgten gebannt die zeitlose Geschichte von Aladdin, Dschinni und den drei magischen Wunschen. Mit der heiß ersehnten Premiere halt die opulente Show vom Broadway nun auch Einzug in die Musicalmetropole Hamburg. Bereits wahrend der Auffuhrung belohnte das Publikum die Darsteller und das Orchester mit euphorischen Standing-Ovations. Auch die Kritiker zeigte sich großtenteils begeistert von der nun schon dritten großen Premiere in Hamburg (nach Das Wunder von Bern und Liebe Stirbt Nie) in reichlich 12 Monaten. Wir haben hier die Pressestimmen zusammengefasst:

Below, watch as Adam records the album and catch a sneak peek of the song that the title comes from, HERCULES' 'Go the Distance.'

Adam Jacobs, currently starring as Aladdin in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway, is releasing his debut solo album entitled 'Right Where I Belong,' a compilation of songs by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Aladdin). Featured on the album will be well known tunes such as 'Proud of Your Boy' (Aladdin), 'Go The Distance' (Hercules), 'Santa Fe' (Newsies), and 'Suddenly Seymour' (Little Shop of Horrors, in duet with Jacobs' sister Arielle Jacobs), as well as other melodies from Menken's earlier works.

YES! It's the 4th HIT year of 'Sharron and George's SUPERFUN Christmas Sing A-Long!' It is has become a bonafide tradition, with ticket requests (in the dozens) beginning as early as June! People come again and again - and again and again!