Alan Menken News

The cast of Little Shop of Horrors has arrived to Playhouse on Park!

In the Music Circus production the role of Quasimodo is played by Deaf actor, John McGinty.

The highly anticipated Los Angeles return of Disney's NEWSIES begins performances next week on Tuesday, August 30 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a one-week engagement through Sunday, September 4. Disney Theatrical Productions and the Nederlander Organization are announcing that a day-of-performance DIGITAL lottery for a limited number of $20 orchestra seats will be held daily.

A Spanish BEAUTY AND THE BEAST fan site -- La Bella y la Bestia de Disney -- has revealed a couple of amazing behind-the-scenes stills from Disney's upcoming live-action remake of the classic animated film.

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) will honor Javier Muñoz, Broadway star in the lead role in 'Hamilton: An American Musical,' with the 2016 Howard Ashman Award, for his activism in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Sam Mendes is in “very early” discussions with Walt Disney Studios to helm a live-action version of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.

The Orpheum Theatre Group is excited to announce that a one-week engagement of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID has been added to its 2016-2017 Broadway Season, playing July 25-30, 2017. With the addition of this live musical production, new subscribers can now customize a series with a Pick 4 season ticket package option. 

Cheryl Ann Allen will return to the stage with a new show entitled I'm A New Yorker written and directed by Ian Finkel. I'm A New Yorker will debut at Don't Tell Mama's (343 West 46th Street) on Wednesday, September 14 at 6:30.

The chance to see Stephen Schwartz perform his music onstage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre for a one-night-only benefit concert? It's the kind of opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime.

On last night's LATE NIGHT, guest Robert DeNiro discusses the 40th anniversary of his classic film 'Taxi Driver.' Later, the actor talks about directing the Broadway-bound musical A BRONX TALE.

Today in 2012, Sister Act closed at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 561 performances. Sister Act is a musical written by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Alan Menken. It is based on the hit 1992 film comedy of the same name. Patina Miller, who originated the role of Deloris in the West End production, reprised the role on Broadway, making her Broadway debut. The original cast featured Victoria Clark (Mother Superior),Fred Applegate (Monsignor), Sarah Bolt (Sister Mary Patrick), Chester Gregory (Eddie), Kingsley Leggs (Curtis), Marla Mindelle (Sister Mary Robert) and Audrie Neenan (Sister Mary Lazarus).

Disney musicals generate a lot of hype. The Lion King transformed the art of puppetry. Beauty and the Beast told a tale as old as time. And the upcoming Frozen… well, it's Frozen. But the company's stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame took a slight step to the side, never making the move to Broadway. Instead, after successful runs at La Jolla and Paper Mill playhouses, the musical was licensed to three regional theatres for 2016, including Sacramento's Music Circus. The announcement of Sacramento's engagement met much excitement, making Tuesday's less than full house opening a shocking surprise. But the excellent cast did receive a well-deserved standing ovation.

'On the twenty-third day of the month of September in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do, in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places.' And so goes the prologue to the popular small cast musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Based on the 1960 movie directed by Roger Corman, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by writer Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, is the marriage of a 60's love story and the apocalyptic sci-fi films of the era set to music. The result is a crowd pleasing intimate campy black musical comedy. Its success led to the musical being produced as a movie in 1986 with Rick Moranis, Vincent Gardenia, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin in the lead roles.

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Theatre Memphis is presenting the Disney family classic musical, Beauty and the Beast, September 2 - 25, 2016, on the Lohrey Stage.

Whittier Community Theatre presents the first show of their 95th Season, Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' opening September 9 and playing September 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8:00pm, with one Sunday matinee September 18 at 2:30pm.

The City Theatre will end the 2016 summer season with the out-of-this-world hit musical Little Shop of Horrors, continuing August 25 - September 11. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

Broadway couple Nick Verina and Erin Henry-Verina recently relocated from New York City to Scituate, MA, and whether it was their luggage or their bulky resumes that weighed more is anyone's guess. The talented couple first travelled the country together in the first national tour of the recent GREASE revival (Nick played Sonny and Erin played Patty Simcox), although the pair has individual credits that shine on their own.

On last night's TONIGHT SHOW, guest Robert De Niro discusses co-directing the Broadway-bound musical A BRONX TALE.  'I've always thought it would be a terrific musical,' he shares.