Alan Menken: A Man of Many Talents, Including Writing Scores for Disney’s Biggest Films
“It’s the sounds you might hear coming out of the car window.” How producer and record mogul Tommy Mottola described the songs he’d like to hear in a musical version of “A Bronx Tale.” Already a hit movie and an acclaimed one-man Broadway show, it’s actor Chazz Palminteri’s personal story about growing up in New York City in the ’60’s. Enlisted to write the music: legendary composer Alan Menken, who took home a Tony Award for “Newsies.” Menken also has won more Oscars than any other person alive and is best known for scoring Disney movie musicals like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid.” And he worked closely with Palminteri and other iconic collaborators, including actor Robert De Niro to bring “A Bronx Tale: The Musical” to the Broadway stage.
FOX’s Jane Metzler talks with Menken about the experience and samples songs from the new cast album, which features everything from doo-wop to rousing rockers and Sinatra-esque ballads…music you’d happily hear coming out of any car window.
Follow Alan Menken on Twitter: @AIMenken
Follow FOX’s Jane Metzler on Twitter: @JaneMetzler
