Tale as old as time, tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange…
Musical theatre partnerships: Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (active 1979-1991)
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Off-Broadway 1979
Little Shop of Horrors, Off-Broadway 1982 (Broadway 2003)
The Little Mermaid, 1989 (Broadway 2008)
Beauty and the Beast, 1991 (Broadway 1994)
Aladdin, 1992 (Broadway 2013) - only three of their songs appeared in the filmHoward Ashman and Alan Menken’s partnership produced some of musical theatre and film’s most beloved, celebrated, and most performed pieces in the entire musical theatre repertoire. True masters of their craft, their work is noted for the versatility of its music (by Menken), and the cleverness and poetic beauty of its lyrics (by Ashman). In particular, Ashman’s lyrics and overall creative vision have hugely influenced the world of musical theatre and the medium of musical storytelling itself. Little Shop is many young artist’s first production, leaving its psychological mark and influencing how we process and perceive theatrical art. A true masterpiece of satire, it combines the biting wit of sarcasm with genuinely heartfelt dreams of tangible characters in a heightened reality, vividly expressing a unique humour and outlook on life. Through their work with Disney, Ashman and Menken began what would later be known as the Disney Renaissance. More importantly, however, the innocence and beauty of their creations and characters, richly layered with cleverly disguised intricate language and complex musicality, has captured the imagination of children and adults alike. The impact on the individuals who treasure their works can not be measured, nor can their impact on the creative tapestry of musical storytelling. Their partnership was a true marriage of vision and talent, instantly creating some of the most wonderful scores that have ever graced the stage and screen. Such greatnesses that were achieved by them are seldom witnessed; they were but a fleeting moment of vivid clarity and genius amongst a world of chaos and grey. The stars aligned with Ashman and Menken - no, they were a total eclipse of the sun.
Awards honouring the achievements of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken:
for Little Shop of Horrors; New York Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics, Villager Theater Awards for Outstanding Production, Villager Theater Award for Outstanding Acting, Villager Theater Award for Outstanding Scenery, Villager Theater Award for Outstanding Puppet Design, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding lyrics, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music - Nominated, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical - Nominated (Howard Ashman), Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - Nominated, Academy Award for Best Original Song - Nominated (Mean Green Mother From Outer Space)
for The Little Mermaid; Golden Globe for Best Original Song (Under the Sea), Golden Globe for Best Original Score, Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical - Nominated, Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (Under the Sea), Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media - Nominated (Kiss The Girl), Grammy Award for Best Album Written For Children, Academy Award for Best Original Song (Under the Sea), Academy Award for Best Original Song - Nominated (Kiss The Girl), TONY Award for Best Original Score - Nominated
for Beauty and the Beast; Grammy Award for Song of the Year - Nominated (Beauty and the Beast), Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (Beauty and the Beast), Grammy Award for Best Album for Children, Golden Globe for Best Original Song (Beauty and the Beast), Golden Globe for Best Original Song (Beauty and the Beast), Golden Globe for Best Original Song - Nominated (Be Our Guest), Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy, BAFTA for Best Film Music - Nominated, Academy Award for Best Original Song (Beauty and the Beast), Academy Award for Best Original Song - Nominated (Belle’s Song), Academy Award for Best Song - Nominated (Be Our Guest), Academy Award for Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics - Nominated, TONY Award for Best Original Score - Nominated, Olivier Award for Best New Musical
for Aladdin; Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media - Nominated (Friend Like Me), Golden Globe for Best Original Song - Nominated (Friend Like Me), Academy Award for Best Original Song - Nominated (Friend Like Me), Academy Award for Best Original Score
Special gifset: Mrs. Shiva’s flower arrangement.
Made in celebration for Ms. Ellen Greene’s 62nd birthday! February 22, 1951. Happy birthday, dearie!
This is probably one of the best posters for one of the weirdest musicals I have ever been a part of.
Don’t feed the plants.
From my blog.
Skip to bottom for videos.
While working on DAD, I got an e-mail on my DAD account with the subject line “Regarding the Little Shop of Horrors movie.” I never use this email account for any trading of any kind, so I opened it, thinking somebody had sent some forgotten film demo or recording for me to upload. I opened it, and it said in a nutshell, “I’m trying to get the word out to others that somebody uploaded these Little Shop deleted scenes. Here are the links, enjoy.” I checked the links, making sure they weren’t for some virus, and, just to be safe, I opened them on my phone. I then had what I call a “Holy. Crap.” moment.
The scenes are in two videos, and includes cut lines, alternate shots, extended jokes and scenes, the “final approved cut” of the original ending (with sound-effects, and Levi Stubbs laughter), and the cut verse of The Meek Shall Inherit.
I’ll repeat that last one: SEYMOUR’S CUT VERSE IN MEEK SHALL INHERIT THAT EVERYONE WOULD GIVE AN ARM AND A LEG TO SEE AND WE ALL THOUGHT WAS LOST FOREVER! According to the uploader, they’re from “the only workprint ever shown to preview audiences.” I’ll try and find out more about it, but right now, who cares. They exist and we can watch them
Here’s the videos:
Excuse me while I go dance in the streets and do 1000 consecutive cartwheels.
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OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut (1986/2012) - dir. by Frank Oz
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So at my new job, I was thinking it was pretty rad getting to handle DVD’s/Blu-rays/Toys all night. Then last night, I got stoked because I got to see that we got blu-rays for Little Shop of Horrors and Rock of Ages… when I started thinking about it, I just got bummed out. Why can’t we break street dates?! I wun tell. Pwomise. :’(
OH MY GOD
NYFF Q&A: Little Shop of Horrors (by filmlincdotcom)
Full. Including “Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon.”
For those of us who were not able to attend the world premiere New York FIlm Festival screening at Lincoln Center this past weekend, here is an excellent review by an excellent blogger about the upcoming new release (this Tuesday!) along with a video of the panel discussion featuring star Ellen Greene, director Frank Oz, composer Alan Menken, and—new to the team—film restorer Kurt Galvao!
Note: Part 3 only goes up to the Alan Menken medley. For the “Somewhere That’s Green” rendition you can see the video embedded in the blog post or search YouTube for other videos that have been posted of it; I know I have already posted a few myself. Enjoy!
P.S. I understand there was a recording played of the late Howard Ashman singing the cut song, “Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon.” I know that the song itself is fairly easy to find, but if anyone has a video of them playing it or even just more information about the presentation or the panel discussion itself, I would love to hear about it!
