Alan Menken, whose songs are favorites with Broadway fans as well as with children who hear them in Disney movies, will be toasted with "Part of Your World:" The Music of Alan Menken, a concert tribute that will be performed at the Kaufman Center's Merkin Hall (129 West 67th Street) on Monday, September 26th at 8 PM as part of the Broadway Closeup series.
A number of stars have already signed on to appear in the concert, with more to be announced. They include Kerry Butler (Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray), brian d'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success, off-Broadway's The Wild Party) and Judy Kuhn (Les Miserables, Chess).With the late Howard Ashman, Menken composed the doo-wopesque score of off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors (which received a recent Broadway production), as well as the beloved Disney films The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. He has received eight Academy Awards for his film work as a composer; in addition to those three, he won for Pocahontas, which was co-written with Stephen Schwartz (Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score and Best Music, Original Song). Also the recipient of three ASCAP Awards, his other film credits include Newsies, Hercules and Home on the Range. He is also the composer (with David Spencer) of the cult musical Weird Romance and of God Bless You Mr. Rosewater (with Ashman).
A number of other Broadway concerts and events will be presented at the Kaufman Center in the fall as well: Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn will be toasted on October 31st in William Finn: Even More Infinite Joy, and new musical theatre works will be performed in Bound for Broadway VI on November 28th.Tickets for "Part of Your World:" Alan Menkenare available at $35, and can be ordered by visiting the following link. A Broadway three-concert subscription, priced at $85, includes the Menken and Finn concerts as well as Bound for Broadway VI.For more information, visit www.kaufman-center.org.
