Oscar winner Alan Menken heads to India for Broadway debut

The stage is set and the date is locked for the timeless classic “Beauty and the Beast” to come to life in India with its maiden Broadway show here. And Oscar-winning music composer-pianist Alan Menken will be attending the premiere of the live stage musical here on October 21.

Being brought to the country by Disney India, the live stage musical will first set its foot here on October 23, and then travel to Delhi.

But a special red carpet premiere of the musical is planned for Bollywood celebrities and industry bigwigs, and they will get the first glimpse of the show in India.

Menken, who has composed music for “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Enchanted” and “Tangled“, is coming for the red carpet premiere, read a statement.

Menken has won four Academy Awards each for Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

Other than Menken, Tom Schumacher, producer and president, Disney Theatrical Group, will also be present for the red carpet premiere of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” musical.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this classic musical love story will be presented to Indian audiences on the same scale as the mega productions seen on New York’s Broadway and in London’s West End.

Over 100 of the musical theatre performers will bring the story alive on stage, with the musical developed locally in India, while retaining the original script and music of the Broadway show. Vikranth Pawar has directed the show.

In Mumbai, it will be performed at Dome@NSCI, SVP Stadium, while in Delhi it will be held at Thyagaraj Sports Complex. The Mumbai show will be held on selective days starting from October 23, and in Delhi from December 18.