Students in Professor Matt Wolf's summer theater program at
SU London were recently paid a
special visit by eight-time Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken. Menken is
currently in London putting finishing touches on "Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy," which
first appeared in the United States in 2006 and opens in London's West End on June 7.
Menken joined students at Faraday House on May 19 for a 90-minute lecture and
demonstration, where he talked spiritedly about "Sister Act," musical theater, Disney, and what
makes theater work. Menken's openness and down-to-earth nature resonated with students
like James Miller, who was struck by Menken's comment that "Composers and writers really
get into trouble when they regard their work as precious."
SU musical theater student Jessica Jaros describes Menken's visit as "truly inspirational,"
adding, "In a world that seems to demand perfection, it was encouraging to meet such a
successful artist who openly admits that he is not a perfectionist."
Menken turned to the piano and gave the students a sneak peek of his upcoming musical "Leap
of Faith" before wrapping up the afternoon with a thrilling medley of his most famous tunes.
Student Catie Pinkard reflects: "One of the best experiences by far was meeting Alan Menken.
It was like a dream come true when he played his songs for the class, including my personal
favorite, 'A Whole New World.' He was so gracious and so kind to stop by and talk to our
class, and I know it will always be one of my favorite memories."
Menken's first big hit in the musical theater world came in 1982 when "Little Shop of Horrors"
opened off-Broadway, later destined for Broadway and the big screen. Although Menken has
continued working and collaborating in musical theater, he is most famous for his screen
partnership with Disney animation. His work for "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast,"
"Aladdin" and "Pocahontas" each won him two Oscars for Best Original Song and Score.
Menken was one of 11 guest speakers Wolf arranged for his two-and-a-half-week program.
"The students would literally see a show in the evening and have a guest from that same show in
class the next day," says special projects coordinator Brian Nocella, who also teaches in SU
London's drama department. "It didn't feel like they were students or audience members. They
became embedded in the London theater scene."
Other visitors included producers Kim Poster and Diane Borger, director Christopher
Luscombe, music director Nigel Lilley, designer Stephen Brimson Lewis, casting director
Alastair Coomer, choreographer Anthony Van Laast, and actors Tomiwa Edun, Stephen Hagan
and Hannah Waddingham.
Syracuse University Abroad (SU Abroad) consistently ranks among the highest quality
international education programs in the United States. More than 2,000 students from both SU
and colleges across the country study abroad with SU every year.
SU Abroad programs foster scholarship in action through a combination of world travel,
academic excellence, internships and community collaboration. The University currently
operates seven centers: Beijing, Florence, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Santiago, and
Strasbourg. Through the World Partners program, SU students may also study in more than 20
additional countries, including Australia, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, India, Japan, Korea, Russia,
Turkey, and a variety of locations in Africa. Visit
http://suabroad.syr.edu to learn more.
