The Premiere of Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular
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Alan Menken called the gift redundant stating that 'the gift has been working with you and being associated with the Disney Comapny and this incredible tradition that is Disney.'
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Alan Menken: Rumor had it that there was a gift but I had no idea what it was. And Michael, I have to say receiving this gift from you is redundant because the gift has been working with you and being associated with the Diseny Company and this incredible tradition that is Disney. the opportunities I've had working on all these animated pictures are the envy of, they have to be the envy of every songwriter and composer in the world. I feel so fortunate to have been associated with all the brilliant animators and the lyricists and the bookwriters and all the people at Disney who bring something unique and special to the world. So I'm just thrilled with that and a lamp...do I get three wishes with it? (laughs) Thank you.
Alan shows off the sparkling lamp to Anne Hamburger.
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Eisner: In the mid-eighties when we were trying to figure out how to reinvent animation and we were trying to understand the movie musicals we went to Alan and Howard Ashman and presented our problem which is how did Walt do it? And they knew more about Disney animation then most of us and figured out with The Little Mermaid how to recapture that spirit that was at the heart of Disney. Between Little Mermaid, the first movie and Beauty and the Beast, the second movie, and Aladdin, the third movie, we were really on a roll. And actually Alan and our animating company are putting the finishing touches on Home on the Range which is his next musical contribution to the Disney Company which opens about 18 months from now. We're unbelievably grateful to Alan for your artistic contributions to the Walt Disney Company and the entire world of entertainment. And I congratulate Anne and her entire creative staff who brought this amazing new show to life here at Disney's California Adventure. And so now I invite you to sit back, and relax and enjoy Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. Thank you very much.
The house lights came back on and guests were asked to remain in their seats as the show would be starting soon. The camera crews that had been setup in the middle of the orchestra level to film the ceremonies quickly moved to the back area of the level to allow those seated behind them a clear view of the upcoming performance. Suddenly, the a voice told us that we were about to travel to the world of Agrabah, an ancient world with no video lighting, cellphones, pagers, etc., a reminder to turn them off. Then with a burst of lighting and a crack of thunder the show began with the familiar rhythms of Arabian Nights.