Oscar Winning Composer Alan Menken Scores Mirror Mirror

Reflects a New Dawn for the Classic Fairytale Opens March 30. End Quote

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) March 03, 2012 - Academy-Award winner Alan Menken, the composer behind the scores and songs from classic Disney animated films such as "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin," scores Relativity Media's Mirror Mirror. Celebrated as both a film and stage composer, Menken has received numerous honors including eight Oscars, eleven Grammys and seven Golden Globes. He is the only composer of the new millennium to have three Broadway productions, Leap of Faith, Newsies, and Sister Act: The Musical, on stage simultaneously. Mirror Mirror opens March 30, 2012.

Mirror Mirror is a whimsical reimagining of the classic fairytale Snow White starring Lily Collins (The Blind Side), Oscar-winner Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich) and Tony-winner Nathan Lane (The Producers). Filled with jealousy, romance and betrayal, the film tells a story about an evil enchantress who steals control of the kingdom as an exiled princess enlists the help of seven quick-witted rebels to win back her birthright.

Alan Menken wrote an original score but no original songs for the production. Menken describes the film scoring process, "The period of time I spend with a motion picture is an exquisite combination of being at the service of the director's vision and yet in a powerful position to influence and interpret the meaning of the film." The composer developed a thematic score, one which the music reflects and enhances the multidimensional characters and the timeless story. "I created purely heartrending theme music for Snow White, a formal Mozart theme for the Queen and used classic hunting horns for the noble Prince," Menken explains.

Alan Menken's professional career began when he met Howard Ashman and collaborated on the off Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. The production's success led Menken and Ashman to Walt Disney Studios. Their Disney films ushered in a new renaissance for the studio with numerous Oscar wins, including Best Original Score and Best Original Song for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Menken has collaborated with several prominent lyricists including Tim Rice, Stephen Schwartz, Glenn Slater and Dave Zippel on films including Pocahontas, Aladdin, Hunchback of Notre Dame and recently, Enchanted and Tangled. His film success led to Broadway productions including The Little Mermaid-The Musical and Beauty and the Beast- The Musical. He recently received the Grammy award for Best Original Song for Tangled "I See the Light". Menken was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.

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