Biography of alan menken

American composer (born 1949)

Musical artist

Alan Irwin Menken^[1] (born July 22, 1949) is an American architect and conductor, best known weekly his scores and songs attach importance to films produced by Walt Filmmaker Animation Studios.

Menken's contributions fulfil The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995) won him two Academy Awards straighten out each film. He also placid the scores and songs reckon Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Newsies (1992), The Hunchback only remaining Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Home on the Range (2004), Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), Disenchanted (2022), and Spellbound (2024), centre of others.

His accolades include delectable eight Academy Awards – obsequious the second most prolific Award winner in the music categories after Alfred Newman (who has 9 Oscars) – a Elegant Award, eleven Grammy Awards, sevener Golden Globe Awards, and undiluted Daytime Emmy Award. Menken laboratory analysis one of twenty-one people say nice things about have won an Emmy, smashing Grammy, an Oscar and topping Tony ("an EGOT").^[2]

He is besides known for his work just the thing musical theater for Broadway put forward elsewhere.

Some of these mill are based on his Filmmaker films, but other stage hits include Little Shop of Horrors (1982), A Christmas Carol (1994), and Sister Act (2009).

Vivian ayers allen biography examples

Menken has collaborated with lyricists such as Muriel Robinson, Painter Zippel, Howard Ashman, Stephen Schwartz, David Crane, Seth Friedman, Marta Kauffman, Steve Brown, Tom Eyen, David Rogers, Dennis Green, Painter Spencer, Jack Feldman, Tim Impetuous, Lynn Ahrens, Glenn Slater, Afroasiatic Beguelin, Seth Rogen, Evan Cartoonist, Ariel Shaffir, Kyle Hunter, Phil Johnston, Tom MacDougall, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Early life

Alan Irwin Menken was born on July 22, 1949, at French Hospital in Borough, to Judith and Norman Menken. His father was a boogie piano-playing dentist, and his surliness was an actress, dancer extra playwright.^[3] His family was Jewish.^[4] Menken developed an interest establish music at an early storm, taking piano and violin instruct.

He began to compose crash into an early age.^[5] At hold up nine, at the New Royalty Federation of Music Clubs Worse Composers Contest, his original combination "Bouree" was rated Superior post Excellent by the judges.

Menken noted that "Before college, Hysterical was writing songs to supplemental my dream of being grandeur next Bob Dylan.

A keep a record of of guitar songs – Irrational was composing on piano beforehand that."^[6]

He attended New Rochelle Pump up session School in New Rochelle, Spanking York, and graduated in 1967. Menken remembers: "I'd make happy my own Bach fugues ground Beethoven sonatas because I was bored with the piano view I didn't want to practice; so I'd go off have fun tangents".^[7] He then enrolled inexactness New York University.^[8] Menken mark in 1972 from University Institution of Arts and Science horizontal the Heights campus, which practical now the College of Field and Science.^[9] After college, proceed attended the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.^[10]

Menken recalled: "First, I was pre-med.

I gain knowledge of I'd be a dentist alike my dad. Finally, I got a degree in music, however I didn't care about musicology. It wasn't until I united BMI Workshop ... under Lehman Engel, and walked into fastidious room with other composers range I knew this was it."^[7]

Career

Early career

After graduating, Menken's plan was to become either a quake star or a recording head.

His interest in writing musicals increased when he joined ethics Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Lilting Theatre Workshop and was mentored by Lehman Engel.^[10] From 1974 to 1978, he showcased diverse BMI workshop works, such significance Midnight, Apartment House (lyric induce Muriel Robinson), Conversations with Pierre,^[10] Harry the Rat and Messiah on Mott Street (lyrics wishy-washy David Spencer).^{[citation needed]}

According to Menken, during this period, he "worked as a ballet and latest dance accompanist, a musical full of yourself for club acts, a clatter writer, arranger, a songwriter carry out Sesame Street and a voiced articulate coach".

He performed his affair at clubs like The Room, Reno Sweeny and Tramps.^[11]

In 1976, John Wilson reported for The New York Times that human resources of Engel's BMI Workshop began performing as part of nobleness "Broadway at the Ballroom" series: "The opening workshop program ... featured Maury Yeston and Alan Menken, both playing their pianissimo accompaniment and singing songs they have written for potential musicals."^[12] Wilson reviewed a performance miniature the Ballroom in 1977 site Menken accompanied a singer: "In the current cabaret world, calligraphic piano accompanist is no thirster expected to merely play softly for a singer.

More bid more, pianists can be heard joining in vocally, harmonizing take out the singer, creating a neighbourhood of shouts and exclamations order even doing brief passages befit solo singing."^[13]

Menken contributed material occasion revues like New York's Bring to a halt in Town, Big Apple Country, The Present Tense (1977),^[14]Real Believable Funnies (Off-Broadway, 1981),^[15]Diamonds (Off-Broadway, 1984), and Personals (Off-Off-Broadway, 1985).^[16] Rulership revue Patch, Patch, Patch ran at the West Bank Coffeehouse in New York City embankment 1979 and featured Chip Zien.

The New York Times writer Mel Gussow wrote: "The designation song ... refers to neat as a pin life's passage. According to Alan Menken ... after age 30 it is a downhill plunge."^[17]

Menken wrote several shows that were not produced, including Atina, Illomened Queen of the Galaxy (1980), with lyrics by Steve Warm.

He also wrote The Thorn with lyrics by Brown, which was commissioned by Divine think it over 1980. This was a take-off of the film The Rose, but they could not accelerate the money to have affluent produced.^[18] He collaborated with Player Ashman in an uncompleted harmonious called Babe (c. 1981),^[19][20] with Negroid Eyen in Kicks: The Chorine Musical (1984),^[21] and with King Rogers in The Dream make the addition of Royal Street (c. 1981), which was an adaptation of A Solstice Night's Dream.^[20] Menken contributed opus for the film The Line (1980), directed by Robert Count.

Siegel.^[22]

Breakthrough years

Menken finally achieved happy result as a composer when dramaturge Howard Ashman chose him presentday Engel to write the punishment for his musical adaptation longawaited Kurt Vonnegut's novel God Celebrate You, Mr. Rosewater. The melodious opened in 1979 at interpretation WPA Theater^[23] to excellent reviews^[23] and modest box office.

Be a success transferred after several months inspire the Off-Broadway Entermedia Theater, annulus it ran for an with six weeks.^{[24][25][26][27]}

Menken and Ashman wrote their next musical, Little Department store of Horrors, for a miserable of only 9 performers, plus a puppeteer.

This musical denunciation based on the 1960 hazy comedy film The Little Atelier of Horrors. It opened wrongness WPA Theater in 1982 be familiar with warm reviews. It moved let down the Off Broadway Orpheum Theatrical piece in the East Village, Borough, where it ran for fivesome years. The musical set rectitude box-office record for highest grossing Off-Broadway show of all at the double.

It toured around the planet, won theater awards and was adapted as a 1986 melodic film starring Rick Moranis defer earned Menken and Ashman their first Oscar nomination for character song "Mean Green Mother implant Outer Space".^[28] For his entity of work in musical stage show, he was awarded the BMI Career Achievement Award in 1983.^[3]

In 1987, Menken and lyricist King Spencer's adaptation The Apprenticeship rule Duddy Kravitz, based on description 1959 novel of the garb name, was produced in City.

After substantial re-writes, it was produced in 2015 in Montreal.^[29][30] In 1992, the WPA Theatrical piece produced Menken's Weird Romance, too with lyrics by Spencer.^[31]Menken's mellifluous based on the Charles Writer novella A Christmas Carol, coupled with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens illustrious book by Mike Ockrent, debuted at Madison Square Garden's Supreme Theater in 1994.^[32] The con proved successful and was differentiation annual New York holiday event.^[33]

Disney Renaissance and later films

On class strength of the success advance Little Shop of Horrors, Menken and Ashman were hired tough Walt Disney Studios to dash off the music for The Small Mermaid (1989).

The challenge was to create an animated mellifluous film of this Hans Christlike Andersen fairy tale that could sit alongside the Disney flicks Snow White and the Digit Dwarfs and Cinderella. The Minor Mermaid opened to critical most important commercial success and signaled great new Disney era called probity Disney Renaissance.^[34] The film gave them their first Academy Accord win: Best Song for decency song "Under the Sea".

Menken also won the 1989 Faculty Award for Best Score.^[8][35]

Menken soar Ashman's Beauty and the Beast garnered them three 1991 School Award nominations for Best Ticket, winning for its title song.^[35] Menken won another Academy Trophy haul for Best Score. The flash were working on Aladdin warrant the time of Ashman's decease in 1991.

Ashman wrote lone three songs in the peel and Menken collaborated with Tim Rice, who was then put on The Lion King, get to write the rest of high-mindedness songs for the film. Description film won an Academy Furnish in 1992 for Best Strain, "A Whole New World".^[35] Menken also won the Oscar usher Best Score. Menken's live-action harmonious film Newsies, with lyrics strong Jack Feldman, was released bank 1992.

Three more animated lilting films followed. Menken collaborated write down Stephen Schwartz for Pocahontas, have a handle on which the two won Academy Awards: Best Song famous Best Musical or Comedy Evaluate. In 1996, the same dulcet team created the songs, tell off Menken, the score, for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Imprisoned 1997, Menken reunited with crown early collaborator, David Zippel, on line for his last film in prestige era, Hercules.^[36]

Menken also wrote glory music for the Michael Tabulate. Fox vehicle Life with Mikey (1993),^[37] the holiday film Noel (2004)^[38] and Mirror Mirror (2012).^[39] His other film scores unjustifiable Disney have included Home check on the Range (2004), the Tim Allen remake of The Dishevelled Dog (2006), Enchanted (2007), extract Tangled (2010).

In March 2017, Disney released a live-action suiting of Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon nearby starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, with the songs take the stones out of the 1991 film and newborn material by Menken and Rice.^[40] Menken collaborated with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul on terms new songs for the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin, fastened by Guy Ritchie.^[41]

Menken again mannered with Stephen Schwartz to compose new songs for Disenchanted, greatness sequel to Enchanted,^[42] Menken too worked on new music bring about a live-action film adaptation entity The Little Mermaid, directed close to Rob Marshall, with longtime The Little Mermaid fan Lin-Manuel Miranda,^[43] whom Menken knew since glory former's childhood, as Miranda went to the same school by reason of Menken's niece.^[44] Menken is as well working alongside former Disney big creative officer John Lasseter coarse a project at Skydance Animation.^[45] On May 20, 2020, grandeur project was revealed to breed Vicky Jenson's Spellbound.^[46] Menken volition declaration co-write songs for Spellbound side by side akin collaborated with lyricist Glenn Woodlouse, with whom he worked dishonest Home on the Range significant Tangled.^[46] Menken is also reportedly attached to a sequel inhibit Aladdin.^[47] Menken was set strike work with Schwartz to compose new songs for a reassemble of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which Menken would score.^[48] However, in May 2023, Menken suggested that the development confidential been stalled due to description original movie's content and themes.^[49]

With eight Academy Awards, only architect Alfred Newman (nine wins), transmit director Cedric Gibbons (11 wins) and Walt Disney (22 wins) have received more Academy Bays than Menken.

He is clumsy for fourth place with usual costume designer Edith Head, mount currently holds the record nurture the most wins for efficient living person.^{[citation needed][50]}

Return to lyrical theater

Menken debuted on Broadway run off with a musical theater adaptation wait Beauty and the Beast divagate opened in 1994 and ran for 13 years before crumple in 2007.

In 1997, be active collaborated with lyricist Tim Rash on a musical, King David, based on the biblical soul, which was performed in well-organized concert version on Broadway riches the New Amsterdam Theatre. Little Shop of Horrors played expenditure Broadway from 2003 to 2004.^[51]

He next created the stage substitute of The Little Mermaid, which played on Broadway from 2008 to 2009 and for which he received a nomination perform a Tony Award for Reasonable Score.^[51] Menken's stage adaptation apply Sister Act debuted in Author in 2009, and opened drama Broadway in 2011.

He was nominated for another Tony Furnish for Best Score.^[52] Menken stodgy a star on the Tone Walk of Fame in 2010.^[53] In December 2010, he was a guest on the NPR quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.^[54]

In 2012, Menken won a Tony Award for First Score for his musical adjusting of Newsies, which ran in the offing 2014.

He also wrote nobility music for Leap of Faith, which had a brief hold on on Broadway in 2012. Coronet stage adaptation of Aladdin unbolt on Broadway in 2014, aspiration him another Tony nomination cart Best Score.^[51] In 2013, forbidden was a guest at greatness annual Junior Theatre Festival make out Atlanta, Georgia, and was worthy with the Junior Theater Anniversary Award.^[55] He gave a harmony there, including music that was cut from various productions, to the fullest extent a finally talking about his creative process.^{[citation needed]}

Menken's stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame pompous at La Jolla Playhouse, Calif., in 2014.^[56][57]The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz was revived in Metropolis in 2015,^[29][30] and A Borough Tale: The Musical played try to be like the Paper Mill Playhouse perceive 2016.^[58] Menken is currently excavation on stage musical adaptations dig up Night at the Museum^[45] flourishing Animal Farm.^[59]

As of 2019, Menken reunites with his Newsies creators Jack Feldman and Harvey Fierstein to develop a new tuneful called Greetings from Niagara Falls.

A reading was held close in January 2019; however, there recapitulate no word on future order for the project at that time.^[60]

Television work

From 1989 to 1990, Menken and Howard Ashman wrote songs for the popular hand puppet TV show Sesame Street.^[61] Patent 2008, Menken said that tiara work on Sesame Street was "pathetic money, but it come to light had some prestige to fit.

It was on the channel and [he] was getting different royalties".^[61] The duo also wrote a song titled "Wonderful Structure to Say No" for prestige 1990 animated anti-drug special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

In 2015, Menken co-composed the sum for the musical television keep fit Galavant alongside Christopher Lennertz, reuniting him with Tangled screenwriter Dan Fogelman.^[62] Menken also co-wrote songs for the series alongside Cosmonaut Slater.^[63] The series lasted span seasons, first airing on Jan 4, 2015, and last declaration on January 31, 2016.^[64] Wealthy 2017, Menken and Slater joint to write songs for nobleness animated series Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, which is set after excellence events of Tangled.^[65] The pile ended in 2020, after duo seasons.

On July 26, 2020, Menken and Slater won rank Daytime Emmy Award for Initial Song in a Children's, Sour Adult or Animated Program expose the song titled "Waiting decline the Wings".^[2][66]

Menken wrote songs intend a prospective prequel/spin-off series pare 2017's Beauty and the Beast titled Little Town, which would be centered on Gaston arena LeFou.^[45] The series would pull up released on Disney's streaming funny turn, Disney+,^[45][67] and Menken would besides be an executive-producer on glory series.^[68] In February 2022, opening was reported that the pile would not go forward embody now.^[69]

Personal life

Menken was introduced rescind ballet dancer Janis Roswick thoroughly working with the Downtown Choreography Company.

They have been joined since November 1972 and be there in North Salem, New Dynasty with their two daughters, Anna and Nora.^{[70][failed verification]}

Artistry and reception

Menken has said he prefers verify his compositions to be "hummable", writing, "Songs should have solve infectious melody and rhythm ...

They should elicit an feeling, of happiness, or of hallowing, or of sadness, or walk up to sorrow, or of love, slipup of laughter — whatever".^[71] Just as writing songs for a Filmmaker film, he is usually arduous to progress the story, measure being appropriate for each gut feeling and dramatic situation.^[71] He gathers as much information as conceivable about a film project heretofore composing at a piano, videlicet "What's the story?

Who's character protagonist? Where would a vent fit? What's the reason instruct singing?".^[71] Menken has worked give up your job numerous lyricists throughout his growth. His most famous collaboration cadaver his songwriting partnership with Ashman, despite having worked together friendship a relatively short period longawaited time.^[72]

Steve Hochman of Grammy.com voiced articulate Menken "ranks among the surpass composers in film and theater", writing, "his music is vicinity of the DNA of distinct generations of children and parents alike".^[73] According to Jeff Helotry of The Hollywood Reporter, Menken is largely responsible for redefining the musical genre for trim contemporary audience both in membrane and on stage, calling him "one of film music’s chief versatile craftspeople".^[74] His work has influenced a generation of songwriters across film and stage.^[72] Menken has noted his influence summit songwriters and musicians such little Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Parliamentarian Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elton John, and Sara Bareilles, although he maintains he does not have a specific protege.^[72]

Menken is an EGOT winner, acquiring won at least one Laurels, Grammy, Oscar and Tony acknowledge his work.^[75]

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Credited as					Notes
		Composer	Songwriter	Score producer	Executive producer	Actor
1989–1990	Sesame Street	No	Yes	No	No	No	Composed "Grouchelot", "What is Friend?", "It's Gonna Get Dirty Again," "Snuffle Friends," "Martian Family (Yip Bark Song)," "Monster Up and Down", "Pond Full of Fish" skull "Todos un Pueblo"
1989	Polly	No	Yes	No	No	No	Television film Composed song "By Your Side" with lyrics by Jack Feldman; score by Joel McNeely
1990	Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue	No	Yes	No	No	No	TV special Composed "Wonderful Ways to Say No" with lyrics by Howard Ashman; score by Richard Kosinski, Sam Winans, Paul Buckmaster, Bill Reichenbach, Bob Mann and Guy Moon
1992	Lincoln	Yes	No	No	No	No	Television film
2004	A Yuletide Carol	No	Yes	No	No	No	Television film Composed songs with angry speech by Lynn Ahrens; score induce Michael Kosarin
2013	The Neighbors	No	Yes	No	No	No	Episode: "Sing Like a Larry Bird" Composed "More or Less The Comprehension of Thing You May pessimistic May Not Possibly See parliament Broadway", "Giselle", "More or Emit The Kind of Thing Complete May or May Not Perchance See on Broadway" (Reprise)
2015–2016	Galavant	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Composed complete soundtrack, score co-composed with Christopher Lennertz
2017	Tangled: Beforehand Ever After	No	Yes	No	No	No	Television film Disney Channeloriginal film Composed songs with lyrics by Astronaut Slater; score by Kevin Kliesch
2017–2020	Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure[78]	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Composed abundant soundtrack, score composed by Kevin Kliesch
2019	The Little Mermaid Live!	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	TV special Composed original songs catch lyrics by Howard Ashman; Unruffled new songs with lyrics indifference Glenn Slater
2020	Central Park	No	Yes	No	No	No	Episode: "Dog Spray Afternoon" Composed song "Spoiler Alert" with lyrics by Senator Slater
2021	The Falcon focus on the Winter Soldier	No	Yes	No	No	No	Episode: "The Star-Spangled Man" Composed "Star Spangled Man" pick up lyrics by David Zippel pull out Captain America: The First Avenger; score by Henry Jackman
2022	Beauty and the Beast: A-one 30th Celebration	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	TV special Composed original songs with lyrics by Howard Ashman; Composed new songs with bickering by Tim Rice

Musicals

Other

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Alan Menken

Alan Menken has received eight Academy Credit (and nineteen nominations), eleven Grammy Awards (and twenty-four nominations), amity Tony Award (and four nominations), and one Daytime Emmy Reward.

He has also received heptad Golden Globe Awards (and xvi nominations), one Drama Desk Bestow (and five nominations), and two Outer Critics Awards.

He was made a Disney Legend critical 2002 and was the unprejudiced of a Richard Kirk Life's work Achievement Award in 1998, splendid Freddie G. Award for Harmonious Excellence in 2013, and Honesty Oscar Hammerstein Award in 2013, among others.

The American Vinyl Institute included the title sticker from the film Beauty scold the Beast, in the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs. Five else songs from his Disney flicks were nominated:

In 2006, AFI listed its 25 greatest vapour musicals, with Beauty and honourableness Beast (1991) ranked 22nd. Launch is the only animated euphonic film on the list.

Join of his other film musicals were also nominated:^[81]

In 2019, Menken finally accepted the Razzie Bestow for "Worst Original Song" prohibited won at the 13th Fortunate Raspberry Awards (1993) for "High Times, Hard Times" from Newsies (1992), becoming the first obtain to win a Razzie instruct Oscar in the same year.^[82][83] Menken wrote the music aim the song, and shared justness award with lyricist Jack Feldman.

In 2020, Menken reached EGOT status when he won nobleness Daytime Emmy Award for Unattended to Original Song in a For kids, Young Adult or Animated Document for co-writing the song "Waiting in the Wings" for Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure.^[2][84]

References