Tony-Nominated Composer Alan Menken Compares Newsies to an 'Adorable Problem Child'

The morning the Tony nominations are announced, phones start buzzing with texts and calls for the happy few who get nods. As usual, Broadway.com is among the callers offering congratulations and getting responses. Here are the first reactions from 2012 Tony nominees. Congrats to all!

Alan Menken
Nominated for Best Score, Newsies

"I’m feeling generally very good. I’m blessed that I have two musicals [Newsies and Leap of Faith] nominated for best musical. I’m really blessed that Newsies has eight nominations; a little sad that my Leap score with my great collaborator Glenn Slater was omitted, but that's the way it goes. Nobody would’ve ever predicted that Newsies would be in this place. Newsies was sort of the adorable problem child that just sort of dropped out of school and, I don’t know, went to live in a cave somewhere. You know, Newsies was gone, and I would occasionally play songs from it at a benefit or something, and I’d go, aww, that’s sweet, they remember Newsies. I’m thrilled about the Best Score nomination. I’m so happy about Newsies. Newsies is just the gift that keeps giving. Mostly I’m happy to be associated with all the people I’m associated with on all the shows I’m doing [including Sister Act]. It’s a day where I just appreciate those people so much."

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