“For Scores” Podcast Highlights Alan Menken
In its 28th episode, the musical Disney podcast, “For Scores,” united host and music journalist Jon Burlingame with a true Disney songwriting legend, Alan Menken. The incredible interview that debuted in late August is the first in a two-part series in which Burlingame and Menken revisit the incredible works of his past as well as his upcoming creations.
The Legend Alan Menken
“We spend a little time talking about the songs of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas and Aladdin,” Burlingame said in a recent D23 article. “But what we talk about a lot more is his background and how he got into this unique realm. My favorite part about the two broadcasts with Alan is when he talks about his long partnership with Howard Ashman. And about how Howard Ashman’s musical theatre sensibilities really created the Disney renaissance in the early ‘90s. Whereby The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin in particular benefitted from the Menken and Ashman magic.”
Burlingame shares in the D23 article that his “obsession with music” really inspires his conversations and passion for the artform, which exudes throughout his interviews on the popular podcast.
Prior to Menken, Burlingame recently hosted “Black Widow” composer Lorne Balfe and Ludwig Göransson, who not only crafted the score for Marvel’s “Black Panther” but also for the Star Wars/Disney+ hit series, “The Mandalorian.”
During the August 28th interivew, Menken chronicles inspirations in his life that led to his incredible career, including his “familly of dentists, his love of Fantasia, and his life-changing writing partnership with Howard Ashman; which would skyrocket them both to Off-Broadway success with Little Shop of Horrors, and eventually to Disney royalty with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin,” according to the podcast preview description on Apple podcasts.
Menken’s Continuing Brilliance
The second episode will further explore his more recent work, including on the upcoming “Disenchanted,” the long-awaited sequel to “Enchanted,” starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel and James Marsden. According to the D23 article, Menken and Burlingame will also chat about Menken’s work with Lin-Manuel Miranda. The pair are currently teamed up working on the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.”
“This is my favorite thing I’ve ever done, because Alan himself is so—forgive me—animated. And he’s so much fun to talk to about this stuff,” Burlingame said in the D23 article.
Listeners can explore the first episode in the interview now. The second installment in the highly entertaining interview with Menken premieres on Sept. 22nd.
In October, Burlingame presents the ultimate in Halloween guests to the podcast: the Pumpkin King himself, Danny Elfman.
Feature Image Credit: Ron Eshel/Invision/AP