The Anatomy of a Song (Working In The Theatre

Host Thomas Schumacher gives us a unique look at a song -- what it is, where it comes from, the process from idea to stage, and how it fits in a show. He's joined by Tony, Oscar and Grammy award winning composer Alan Menken who plays and sings us through the stages of some of his most memorable work including his numerous collaborations with Tom Schumacher and Disney Theatricals; Newsies lyricist Jack Feldman; and Newsies star, actress Kara Lindsay.
An acclaimed fixture on New York television and in the theatre community for 30 years, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" offers an unprecedented forum for the meeting of theatrical minds.
American Theatre Wing’s Working in the Theatre documentary series features the most fascinating people on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. From Tony Awards® and Obie Awards® winning artists to the next generation of theatre makers, we capture theatre’s inner-workings, industry luminaries, and unique stories that surround important work.
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[@lttrbox]

- "Hey Allen, would you like to finish a sentence?" - "Yes, thank you, I would actually"- -"Great. So can you tell us some more about something else entirely?"

[@lttrbox]

-"One more thing, Allen. I'm going to pretend to ask you a question, but I actually ask you three in rapid succession, because I don't know what I want and I don't care if you'll be able to reply, because I'll just interrupt you again."

[@filipeesantos]

I mean, we also gotta remember he's there alone trying to interview two people at once and they have a set time to do it, so he seems to be squeezing everything to fit in one go.

[@thedarkness97]

Menkens work on Hunchback of Notre Dame is outstanding!

[@VFXCommander]

thedarkness97 couldn't agree more, brother!

[@VFXCommander]

thedarkness97 The choir was absolute madness!!!

[@TheHManShow]

thedarkness97 and he said that was one of his favorite works

[@kandyappleview]

It’s absolutely stunning!

[@Peechiness]

I love that Alan has a style of composing. It's his signature

[@CongressAdmin]

It's just unbelievable that all that music is in his head and ready to play at a moment's notice--Every song, every lyric. So impressive!

[@filigree4103]

That song they wrote for crutchie here is now being used in the touring show and it's preformed so movingly.

[@mattbabineau197]

I love that we get to see where Letter from the Refuge came from.

[@MujakiKid]

Alan's by far my favorite composer for musicals, I hope so much he does another Disney musical soon! I really prefer his style over the Frozen songs. Thank you so much for uploading this, it was amazing to see his process.

[@JustinHenderson0]

Thomas Shumacher... HUSH!

[@MattVargas]

That really felt like 58 minutes of exactly what the video's entitled. Thankyou so much for sharing this, I've seen dozens and dozens of Alan Menken interviews and somehow 70% was new deep analytical discussion about musical theater.

[@VFXCommander]

Two Words: PURE LEGEND!!!

[@melischang]

Good lord, them just riffing on a hypothetical number for Crutchie MAKES ME WANT IT SO BADLY. ALAN MENKEN/JOHN FELDMAN YOU GENIUSES.

[@pandabearinconcert]

the beginnings of "letter from the refuge"! ^^

[@Gsjweihieijsswom]

Timestamp?

[@aimsical285]

Love the theme at 15:03. I can never get over how beautiful it is.

[@krystenindisguise]

"Where's the recorder?? Oh wait I turned my phone off..." - I can relate

[@leilanecozzi]

Menken is a genius..... enough said.

[@StarSnowGhost]

Like many others here I just wish Tom would shut up and let Menken talk. He wants to rush him from one topic to another. More than that though, I'm surprised Shumacker and Menken even want to acknowledge "Home on the Range." I assumed they meant the word "classic" ironically when they first mentioned it. Terrible film, but Menken's music still shines through I suppose.

[@nelihmazen1420]

He called it "classic", cause that's how Disney animated features are called. And more specifically, Walt Disney Animated Classics.

[@StarSnowGhost]

TRIMC95 If that's really how it works, then they really need to re-define their brand name. That makes "Chicken Little" an Animated Classic. -__-

[@nelihmazen1420]

StarSnowGhost As much as this movie is awful, yes, it's basically called Disney Animated Classic... :(

[@JscoMusic]

So glad that they ended up eventually putting that song with Crutchie into the musical. I tear up everytime

[@cindyloyd8673]

This was so inspiring, except the interviewer changed the subject every single time they started to answer. It was so frustrating, because I really wanted to hear the answers, and there was almost not a completed thought in the whole interview. For instance, he asked what Elton John meant by Alan Menken chords, and before he could get half a sentence out, changed the subject. I loved the part where they were improvising a new song for Newsies. I'd really like to hear them finish that song.

[@maurymtana5899]

Thanks for the program for bringing my idol to the studio

[@ughhh]

The interviewer kept interrupting Alan in every mid sentences.

[@bookwoman53]

It’s unfortunate but he wants to ask his question before he forgets what he wants to say. He could have written it down but most people don’t do that.

[@kablessed4720]

Very noticeable! Either he adores him (starstruck) or he thinks he knows everything about him or he secretly doesn't think there's all that

[@alextw13jf]

This is priceless. I just can't stop listening such a genius talking about the process of creation, it is something that enriches and inspires me and eventually makes me feel fine. Thanks a lot for posting.

[@christinakakoulli]

I wouldn't be the same person without this man

[@halos.1]

This is so fascinating. It's amazing to see into his mind and how he's able to take any scenario place or time and write a musical piece that suits it perfectly.

[@troyjohnson5067]

Lol why is everybody cutting each other off? Hahaha

[@NeekoFreeman]

This is a great video. Thank you for uploading. Alan Menen and Jack are two great artist. As a composer, playwright and lyricist, this video is so inspiring to me. Thank you, again

[@FedeHepburn]

perfect....if it wasn't for the host that cut alan's musical moments all the time!!

[@helenchelmicka3028]

thats so great he's so psyched to get a Razzie!! haha.

[@jordanbriskin238]

Well, ya can't be in show biz without a sense of humor, ya know.

[@cinimod621]

He is soooo great!!

[@mistressofgotham942]

I love him so much!😍😍😍

[@mustuploadtoo7543]

this series is epic you need to get alan menken back on :)

[@jordanbriskin238]

Jack Feldman and Tom Snow didn't write JUST "One of Us" and "We Are One" for "Simba's Pride", they also wrote "Love Will Find a Way".

[@PS-DLMA]

And the song for crutchie got added

[@BobJoeman]

Menken's Musicology background really shines through here

[@hcpiano]

This is just great! I am very entertained ^^

[@jasonongchaysioco8172]

I love watching this stuff!!! I want to see more!!!

[@karsonbollinger8412]

Wait they’re about to write Letter from the Refuge right in front of us!?!?

[@pokedot91]

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!

[@dingothing]

I don't think Alan is particularly fast or slow for that matter, in conversation. He is a smart guy of course, but his speed only really stands out when he composes. The only unusual thing here is how quickly the interviewer cuts him off, just when he gives those rare examples of things he hasn't played in any other interviews! Very frustrating. 5.34 is a good example of this.

[@emmawilcox1534]

The lyrics are just rushing through my head

[@tomorobo4472]

56:17 i genuinely thought for a good portion of my childhood that alan wrote mulan. (also the chord i associate with alan would be the sus4. Idk there's just somet about it.)

[@naomiandalex]

Great stuff!

[@PatrickQT]

What a genius

[@KunaiForce]

Can we hear Alan speak, why are we going from one movie to another lol

[@EricMontreal22]

This is so great. At the seven minute mark Nenken does a song he writes for the BMI workshop which he says is based on Midnight a Billy Wilder film. I can’t find any Wilder film with that title. Any idea what he means??

[@rocknroll20024]

the man is a leagend

[@dingothing]

Fantastic! Wish this lasted two hours. Host Thomas Schumacher is a bit too quick on the trigger when it comes to interrupting the musical examples, but you gotta approve of a guy who apparently has a soft spot for Menken/Rice's great "King David".

[@sherrylowery7720]

love it

[@JohnnyNatrium]

What's that song with "Why am I so lonely" around 5:25? I'd love to hear the whole thing

[@Grayfox541]

Which Beethoven's sonata does he play at 2:25??

[@Grayfox541]

2:52, sorry

[@Pianubi]

Grayfox541 pathetique sonata

[@kpoptimes5826]

Crutchie song origin story

[@IanWagner94]

Omg the interviwer just wont shur up... I want to hear THEM talk. Choose your questions ahead of time and give them what they need to answer. Come on

[@Abc-cp6cb]

whats with the 1980s opening

[@hannesnaumann7101]

Haha, years ago, still now.

[@edwardwatkins6572]

JAMES MARSDEN KING PRINCE EDWARD COMPOSER LOPEZ MUSIC PIANO 🎹 MUSIC SHOW YOU PARIS TIM PORTER SONG SHOW MUSIC 🎶 🎵 TOUGHER TALKNG ALAN MENKEN COMPOSER LOPEZ MUSIC PIANO 🎹 MUSIC TOUGHER MEET TALKNG YOU CALL PHONE 📲 TALKNG YOU ROOM THOMAS SCHUMACHER TALKNG

[@edwardwatkins6572]

THOMAS SCHUMACHER TALKNG JAMES MARSDEN KING PRINCE EDWARD COMPOSER LOPEZ MUSIC PIANO 🎹 MEET TOUGHER ALAN MENKEN COMPOSER LOPEZ MUSIC PIANO 🎹 MEET CALL 📞 TALKNG YOU MEET YOU POSTER PHOTO 📸 HOME YOU FAMILY VIDEO 📹 GAME SHOW TALKNG LOVE YOU TOO MUCH 🎬 🎞 🎥 ACTORS VOICE TALKNG SHOW

[@ilsaj9489]

this host is so annoying, he won't let Alan speak!!!!!

[@jawhoneytv]

I’m surprised the top comment isn’t about Harvey Weinstein being mentioned

[@rileybrennan3529]

It's actually Harvey Fierstein, who's a huge name on broadway.

[@PS-DLMA]

Its Fierstein.....best known to non musical people as the brother who does the makeup in Mrs Doubtfire.....but to musical fans original Edna Turnblad etc

[@samuellongo9530]

Which Beethoven's sonata does he play at 2:51?

[@Pianubi]

Samuel Longo pathetique sonata

[@samuellongo9530]

@@Pianubi It's not; it is sonata no.9 in E major...

[@Pianubi]

Samuel Longo oh I was wrong then. Thank you for finding the right one.