Alan Menken is in a position to become only the third composer to ever win the EGOT, which is bestowed to artists that won all four major annual American entertainment awards: the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. The other composers who were previously honored with the EGOT are Richard Rogers and Marvin Hamlisch. Menken composed the original song Sing Like a Larry Bird for a musical episode of this TV season’s hit ABC alien comedy The Neighbors, in which the aliens discover Broadway. Menken won Oscars for his scores of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Pocahontas, a Tony for the Broadway musical Newsies and a Grammy for Disney’s Tangled. His work on The Neighbors is eligible for an Emmy in the Original Music and Lyrics category.
Tag: Alan Menken
‘Leap of Faith’ Broadway Cast Recording Album Announced
Ghostlight Records will release the official cast recording album for the Broadway musical Leap of Faith. The album features the musical’s songs composed by multiple Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The soundtrack will be released digitally on December 4, 2012 and physically on December 18. To pre-order the CD, visit Amazon and check out audio clips from all tracks on the album after the jump. Leap of Faith is based on the 1992 film of the same name starring Steve Martin (and featuring a score by Cliff Eidelman) and centers on a con man who is posing as a man of faith and who is redeemed by the love of a good woman. The Tony Award-nominated musical scripted by Janus Cercone and Warren Leight premiered in Los Angeles in 2010 and opened on Broadway this past April.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (March 30, 2012)
Two new movies are opening in wide release this weekend:
The first wide release of the week is the 3D fantasy film Wrath of the Titans directed by Jonathan Liebesman and starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Danny Huston, Edgar Ramirez, Rosamund Pike and Bill Nighy. The sequel to the 2010 film Clash of the Titans is scored by Javier Navarrete (Pan’s Labyrinth). A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score has been released by Watertower Music earlier this week. For audio clips and more details, visit our previous article. Also visit Film Music Magazine for an interview with Navarrete about his work on the project.
Also opening wide is the family fantasy comedy Mirror Mirror directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Lily Collins as Snow White, Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, as well as Armie Hammer, Sean Bean and Nathan Lane. Eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken has composed the music for the film. Relativity Music Group has released a soundtrack album featuring the score, as well as the original song I Believe in Love performed by Lily Collins. Check out soundtrack announcement for audio clips and the full album details.
‘Mirror Mirror’ Soundtrack Details
Relativity Music Group will be releasing the official soundtrack album for the upcoming family fantasy comedy Mirror Mirror. The album includes the original score from the film composed by eigth-time Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken, as well as the original song I Believe in Love performed by the movie’s lead actress Lily Collins. The album will be released on March 27, 2012 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Sony Classical is releasing the soundtrack digitally overseas later this week on March 9. Check out audio clips from all tracks on the album below. Mirror Mirror is directed by Tarsem Singh and stars Lily Collins as Snow White, Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, Armie Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott, Sean Bean as the King and Nathan Lane as the servant to the queen. Relativity Media will release the movie nationwide on March 30, 2012.
Alan Menken Featured on CBS News
This morning, CBS News featured a lengthy video segment on composer Alan Menken, focusing on the composer’s eight Academy Awards for Disney musicals. The video also shows Menken working on his most recent feature project, Mirror Mirror directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Sean Bean, Armie Hammer and Nathan Lane (visit our previous article for more details) at his home studio near New York. In the segment, Menken also talks his work for the stage. The composer will be having three shows playing simultaneously on Broadway this spring, including Newsies, Sister Act and Leap of Faith. Check out the full 8-minute video after the jump.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (January 13, 2012)
Three movies are opening in wide release this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the thriller Contraband directed by Baltasar Kormakur and starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Lukas Haas, Giovanni Ribisi, Diego Luna and J.K. Simmons. Clinton Shorter (District 9) has written the music for the film. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as the movie’s songs performed by J Roddy Walston and the Business, Eli “Paperboy” Reed and The True Loves, Ryan Shaw, The Heavy and Big Head Todd & The Monsters. For the full soundtrack details and to listen to audio clips, visit our previous article.
Also coming out this weekend is the gospel-choir comedy Joyful Noise written and directed by Todd Graff and stars Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Kris Kristofferson, Courtney B. Vance and Jesse L. Martin. The film’s score is written by Mervyn Warren who also arranged and produced the film’s songs performed by the cast. Watertower Music has released a soundtrack featuring the songs, as well as a score suite. For audio clips and more information, visit our soundtrack announcement.
Tarsem Singh’s ‘Mirror, Mirror’ to feature Music by Alan Menken
Alan Menken has announced on Twitter that he will composing music for the upcoming fantasy comedy Mirror, Mirror. The film is directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell) and stars Lily Collins as Snow White who enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright and Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen who steals control of a kingdom. Also starring are Armie Hammer as Prince Andrew Alcott, Sean Bean as the King and Nathan Lane as the hapless servant to the queen. Melissa Wallack and Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher) have written the screenplay and Bernie Goldmann (300, Fool’s Gold), Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter, Zombieland) and Brett Ratner (Tower Heist, Rush Hour) are producing the project.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (July 22, 2011)
Two new movies are opening in wide release this weekend:
The comic book adaptation Captain America:The First Avenger directed by Joe Johnston and starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Dominic Cooper features music by Alan Silvestri. A soundtrack album including the composer’s score has been released on Buena Vista Records. Check out our soundtrack announcement for more information and audio clips. Also featured on the album is the song Star Spangled Man (music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel). Visit Hitflix for an interview with the composer about the song and check out Film Music Magazine’s interview with Silvestri on the score.
Also opening wide is the comedy Friends with Benefits directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Emma Stone, Jenna Elfman and Andy Samberg. A soundtrack album featuring song selections from the film has been released on Madison Gate Records earlier this week. To check out the soundtrack details, visit our previous article.
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Soundtrack Details
Buena Vista Records has announced the details for the soundtrack release of Captain America: The First Avenger. The album includes the original score by Alan Silvestri, as well as the original song Star Spangled Man with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel. The soundtrack will be released on July 19, 2011 and is available to pre-order on Amazon. Check out audio clips from each track on the album below. The music was recorded at Air Studios in London. Captain America: The First Avenger is directed by Joe Johnston and stars Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Dominic Cooper.
Alan Menken to Write Music for Dreamworks Animation’s ‘Lidsville’
Alan Menken has revealed in a recent posting on Twitter that he is in talks to work on the Dreamworks Animation musical Lidsville. The project would be the first non-Disney animation project for the multiple Academy Award-winning composer. The film is based on characters developed by Sid and Marty Krofft (Land of the Lost) from the 1970’s TV series of the same name. In the movie, a rebellious kid falls into an alternate reality world of living hats and talking caps. Conrad Vernon, who directed the animated hits Shrek 2 and Monsters vs Aliens brought the project to Dreamworks. The Krofft brothers will serve as exectuive producers on the production.