Alan Menken

Alan Menken, the multiple Oscar-winning composer of multiple Disney animated movies, took home his first Tony Award for another Disney property - the musical "Newsies. " Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, "Newsies" is a family-friendly extravaganza about newspaper boys who decide to go on strike. Menken shared the awards with lyricist Jack Feldman. It has been a mixed season for Menken. While "Newsies" has proven to be popular with ticket buyers, the musical "Leap of Faith," for which Menken also wrote the score, flopped and closed after less than a month of performances.

In bygone days "extra, extra" is what newspaper hawkers used to shout to sell copies. Now it's what the Walt Disney Co. is adding to its bottom line, with word that "Newsies, the Musical," about turn-of-the-20th century paperboys who go on strike, has recouped its initial $5-million investment on Broadway and is heading into the black. Disney Theatrical Productions announced Thursday that the show, which began previews in mid-March, has recouped its costs more quickly than any of its four previous Broadway hits -- "Beauty and the Beast," which ran from 1994 to 2007, "The Lion King," still running after opening in 1997, "Aida," which ran from 2000 to 2004, and "Mary Poppins," running since 2006.

Don Mischer and Bruce Cohen, producers of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, have lined up the talent who will perform the Oscar-nominated songs during the ceremony on Feb. 27. Gwyneth Paltrow, who won the lead actress Oscar for 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," will perform "Coming Home" from her latest film, "Country Strong. " A.R. Rahman, who won Academy Awards two years ago for score and song for "Slumdog Millionaire," and Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, will perform "I Rise" from the film "127 Hours.

Alan Menken, the multiple Oscar-winning composer of multiple Disney animated movies, took home his first Tony Award for another Disney property - the musical "Newsies. " Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, "Newsies" is a family-friendly extravaganza about newspaper boys who decide to go on strike. Menken shared the awards with lyricist Jack Feldman. It has been a mixed season for Menken. While "Newsies" has proven to be popular with ticket buyers, the musical "Leap of Faith," for which Menken also wrote the score, flopped and closed after less than a month of performances.

There was a person missing at the interview. And it was precisely the person who, more than anyone, should have been there to talk about how Walt Disney Studios' "Beauty and the Beast" became a musical. Absent was the man credited by both the composer and the screenwriter for making the movie work as a musical. He's the person to whom the animated feature film is dedicated--who is described in the film's closing credits as "our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice, and a beast his soul."

Oscar's best song category sometimes feels like the field that gets no respect. Two years ago, only three songs were nominated, and the prior year much of the music recognized by the academy came from one film, Disney's "Enchanted. " In 2010, a long-standing tradition was done away with, as the contenders for best song did not perform on the telecast. But what feels like a lack of attention from the academy isn't reflected in the films themselves. The likes of Randy Newman, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Carrie Underwood and John Legend were among the many who lent their vocals and musical talents to films this year.

Most 1990 Grammy Nominations 1990 Past Past Artist Noms. Noms. Wins Phil Collins 8 12 5 Quincy Jones 6 69 19 Mariah Carey 5 0 0 Leonard Bernstein 5 55 10 M.C. Hammer 5 0 0 Hugh Padgham 4 4 2 Sinead O'Connor 4 1 0 Alan Menken 4 0 0 Note: O'Connor has withdrawn from the Grammy competition and awards show, which will be Wednesday in New York. Menken is a composer; Padgham an engineer and producer. SOURCE: National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences

In bygone days "extra, extra" is what newspaper hawkers used to shout to sell copies. Now it's what the Walt Disney Co. is adding to its bottom line, with word that "Newsies, the Musical," about turn-of-the-20th century paperboys who go on strike, has recouped its initial $5-million investment on Broadway and is heading into the black. Disney Theatrical Productions announced Thursday that the show, which began previews in mid-March, has recouped its costs more quickly than any of its four previous Broadway hits -- "Beauty and the Beast," which ran from 1994 to 2007, "The Lion King," still running after opening in 1997, "Aida," which ran from 2000 to 2004, and "Mary Poppins," running since 2006.

"Leap of Faith," the Broadway musical that had its world premiere in 2010 in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre, will close its doors earlier than expected. Organizers announced Tuesday that the musical starring Raul Esparza will officially end its run at New York's St. James Theatre on Sunday. The musical will have run for less than a month by the time it closes. The show received mixed reviews on Broadway, including a vicious pan from the New York Times. The show has seen its box-office grosses drop steadily in the weeks since it officially opened in New York.

Film and music industry watchers were shocked on Tuesday to find that only two songs got Oscar nominations in the song category, "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" and "Real in Rio" from "Rio," both films aimed at family audiences. "I was surprised to see that there were only two," said Bruce Broughton, one of three governors and chair of the music branch that oversees the song category. "I thought there were several songs that could have made it. " Veteran Latin pop musician and bandleader Sergio Mendes was one of the two who did make it, for his song in the animated hit "Rio.

"Leap of Faith," the Broadway musical that had its world premiere in 2010 in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre, will close its doors earlier than expected. Organizers announced Tuesday that the musical starring Raul Esparza will officially end its run at New York's St. James Theatre on Sunday. The musical will have run for less than a month by the time it closes. The show received mixed reviews on Broadway, including a vicious pan from the New York Times. The show has seen its box-office grosses drop steadily in the weeks since it officially opened in New York.

Film and music industry watchers were shocked on Tuesday to find that only two songs got Oscar nominations in the song category, "Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" and "Real in Rio" from "Rio," both films aimed at family audiences. "I was surprised to see that there were only two," said Bruce Broughton, one of three governors and chair of the music branch that oversees the song category. "I thought there were several songs that could have made it. " Veteran Latin pop musician and bandleader Sergio Mendes was one of the two who did make it, for his song in the animated hit "Rio.

Don Mischer and Bruce Cohen, producers of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, have lined up the talent who will perform the Oscar-nominated songs during the ceremony on Feb. 27. Gwyneth Paltrow, who won the lead actress Oscar for 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," will perform "Coming Home" from her latest film, "Country Strong. " A.R. Rahman, who won Academy Awards two years ago for score and song for "Slumdog Millionaire," and Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, will perform "I Rise" from the film "127 Hours.

Oscar's best song category sometimes feels like the field that gets no respect. Two years ago, only three songs were nominated, and the prior year much of the music recognized by the academy came from one film, Disney's "Enchanted. " In 2010, a long-standing tradition was done away with, as the contenders for best song did not perform on the telecast. But what feels like a lack of attention from the academy isn't reflected in the films themselves. The likes of Randy Newman, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Carrie Underwood and John Legend were among the many who lent their vocals and musical talents to films this year.

DIRECTOR Kevin Lima had a number of concerns in his struggle to film a script about an animated young woman who winds up in live-action New York. Among them, "that the audience be invested in the character, first, not the star." He found his perfect lead at audition No. 275 (out of about 300) in the relatively unknown Amy Adams, although the studio wasn't quite as sold. But more on that later.

THE song was called "A Great Big Buncha Happy!" but none of the authors of "Sister Act: The Musical" seemed terribly cheerful. For a year and a half, the new musical's composer, lyricist, director and two writers had toiled to transform the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy into a production worthy of Broadway.

DIRECTOR Kevin Lima had a number of concerns in his struggle to film a script about an animated young woman who winds up in live-action New York. Among them, "that the audience be invested in the character, first, not the star." He found his perfect lead at audition No. 275 (out of about 300) in the relatively unknown Amy Adams, although the studio wasn't quite as sold. But more on that later.

THE song was called "A Great Big Buncha Happy!" but none of the authors of "Sister Act: The Musical" seemed terribly cheerful. For a year and a half, the new musical's composer, lyricist, director and two writers had toiled to transform the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy into a production worthy of Broadway.

There was a person missing at the interview. And it was precisely the person who, more than anyone, should have been there to talk about how Walt Disney Studios' "Beauty and the Beast" became a musical. Absent was the man credited by both the composer and the screenwriter for making the movie work as a musical. He's the person to whom the animated feature film is dedicated--who is described in the film's closing credits as "our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice, and a beast his soul."

Most 1990 Grammy Nominations 1990 Past Past Artist Noms. Noms. Wins Phil Collins 8 12 5 Quincy Jones 6 69 19 Mariah Carey 5 0 0 Leonard Bernstein 5 55 10 M.C. Hammer 5 0 0 Hugh Padgham 4 4 2 Sinead O'Connor 4 1 0 Alan Menken 4 0 0 Note: O'Connor has withdrawn from the Grammy competition and awards show, which will be Wednesday in New York. Menken is a composer; Padgham an engineer and producer. SOURCE: National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences