Photo Coverage: 'Sir Tim Rice & Friends' at Times Talks
By: Walter McBride Jan. 09, 2011
"Sir Tim Rice & Friends," a salute to the Disney on Broadway songbook was held on Friday, January 7 and hosted by Oscar® and Tony Award®-winning lyricist Tim Rice. All seven of the accomplished performers are veterans of one or more Disney Theatrical Productions' Broadway shows.
As part of The New York Times 10th annual Arts & Leisure weekend celebration, the Disney evening featured Ashley Brown (original title star of Mary Poppins on Broadway), Heidi Blickenstaff (Ursula in The Little Mermaid; [title of show]), Merle Dandridge (Kala in Tarzan; Aida; Jesus Christ Superstar), Christopher Jackson (Benny in In the Heights; The Lion King), Tshidi Manye (currently starring on Broadway as Rafiki in The Lion King), Josh Strickland (original title star of Tarzan; currently starring in Peep Show and E!'s "Holly's World") and Alton Fitzgerald White (currently starring on Broadway as Mufasa in The Lion King, Miss Saigon)."Sir Tim Rice & Friends" featured selections from the musical theater scores of Disney's seven Broadway shows including King David, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, Tarzan®, Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh and The Little Mermaid. James Abbott served as musical director.
A versatile and prolific lyricist and librettist, Sir Tim Rice is a longtime collaborator for Disney Theatrical Productions, having written lyrics for four of the seven Disney scores heard on Broadway. Rice partnered with composer Alan Menken for Beauty and the Beast and King David and with Elton John on the blockbuster The Lion King (film and stage) and the musical Aida. He was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Original Score for his work on Beauty and the Beast (1994) and The Lion King (1998), earning the 2000 Tony Award® for Best Original Score for Aida. A three-time Tony Award® winner, Rice's other notable Broadway and West End credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita (1980 Tony Award® winner for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Chess, among others.
Sir Tim Rice
Sir Tim Rice
Sir Tim Rice
Sir Tim Rice
Sir Tim Rice
Tshidi Mayne
Sir Tim Rice
(L-R) Actress Heidi Blickenstaff, aMerle Dandridge, lyricist and author Tim Rice, Ashley Brown and Tshidi Mayne
Christopher Jackson, lyricist and author Tim Rice, Alton Fitzgerald White and Josh Strickland
Christopher Jackson, lyricist and author Tim Rice, Alton Fitzgerald White and Josh Strickland
(clockwise from top left) Heidi Blickenstaff, Merle Dandridge, lyricist Tim Rice, Tshidi Manye, Ashley Brown, Alton Fitzgerald White, Josh Strickland
(clockwise from top left) Heidi Blickenstaff, Merle Dandridge, lyricist Tim Rice, Tshidi Manye, Ashley Brown, Alton Fitzgerald White, Josh Strickland
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos
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