Menken, Star. Star, Menken.

Jim Hill reports that Composer Alan Menken, winner of eight Academy Awards – more than any living person- will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 10 prior to his new film “Tangled” opening in theaters this Thanksgiving.

Menken has created many of the 20th and 21st century’s most memorable film and theatrical music including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” His score and original songs for Walt Disney Pictures’ 50th animated feature can be heard in the film formally known as “Repunzel” which will be released November 24.

Mr. Menken will be in attendance and will be honored at an open to the public, star-studded ceremonial unveiling of his star next week in front of Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, site of the premieres of many of his films. The ceremony will be held at 11:30 AM at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA.

“I wanted folk rock on this,” explains Menken about the score. “I thought about Rapunzel’s long hair and the freedom she wanted. Immediately I thought about Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning” and all that folk music that I love. Cat Stevens and that energy.”

Mandy Moore (“A Walk To Remember”) voices Rapunzel, a feisty teen with 70 feet of magical hair who is joined by Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) as Flynn Rider and Tony winner Donny Murphy (“The King and I”) as Mother Gothel on the playful soundtrack. The first song written for the film was the “Healing Incantation” sung by Mandy Moore which runs throughout the movie. “Mandy brings that wonderful quality that’s totally compatible with Rapunzel. This voice that’s light, airy, and yearning. She’s adorable, and Rapunzel is adorable.” Moore and Levi perform a duet on “I See The Light,” a sweeping, romantic ballad to make hearts swoon.

A musical theatre type song was created for Mother Gothel, performed by Donna Murphy. “I’ve known Donna for a long time; in fact she was one of our Audreys in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ way back. Donna brought that kind of exciting drama to the song.”

Alan Menken has won four Oscars® for Best Score (“The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “Pocahontas”) and four Oscars for best song (“Under the Sea,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World” and “Colors of the Wind”). In addition, he has been nominated 18 times, including Best Song nominations for “Mean Green Mother From Outer Space,” “Kiss the Girl,” “Belle,” “Be Our Guest,” “Friend Like Me,” “Go the Distance,” “Happy Working Song,” “So Close” and “That’s How You Know,” plus a Best Score nomination for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He has won ten Grammy Awards® (including Song of the Year for “A Whole New World”), seven Golden Globes®, London’s Evening Standard Award, the Olivier Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Other notable achievements include Billboard’s number one single (“A Whole New World”) and number one album (“Pocahontas”), an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from New York University and induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Earlier this fall the musical stage adaptation of the Steve Martin film “Leap of Faith” with original music by Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater had its world-premiere.

Alan Menken’s upcoming projects include the April 2011 Broadway opening of the musical “Sister Act” and the development of a stage musical version of the films “Newsies” with writer Harvey Fierstein and lyricist Jack Feldman as well as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Aladdin.”

ALAN MENKEN’S NEW HAIR-RAISING MUSIC TO “TANGLED” AVAILABLE ON CD NOVEMBER 16

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