Melbourne and Sydney audiences are in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with legendary composer Alan Menken confirming one-night-only performances of A Whole New World of Alan Menken in May 2026.
The celebrated musical genius behind Disney classics The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Broadway favourites Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act and Newsies, Menken has shaped generations with songs that have become woven into the cultural fabric.
He is one of only 21 people ever to achieve EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) status and holds more Academy Awards than any living individual, cementing his place as one of the most awarded and influential composers of our me.
Taking to the piano for his first ever public performance in Australia, A Whole New World of Alan Menken brings his extraordinary career to life, featuring chart-topping hits including Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World, Colors of the Wind and Go the Distance, and many more.
Providing the backdrop to Alan Menken, seated centre stage at the piano, is projected archival photos and rarely seen footage that will bring audiences inside his creative world, revealing the inspiration, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped some of the most iconic songs of all me.
The evening offers an inmate look at his legendary collaborations, especially with the late lyricist Howard Ashman, whose partnership helped define the Disney Renaissance.
Following acclaimed seasons in Japan, London, multiple US cities and with engagements to come in Dublin and Toronto early 2026, A Whole New World of Alan Menken arrives in Australia with rave reviews in tow. BroadwayWorld described it as “absolutely magical,” praising Menken’s “truly incredible voice” in a glowing 5-star review.
Menken holds more Academy Awards than any living individual, earning 8 Oscars®, 11 Grammy® Awards, 7 Golden Globes®, A Daytime Emmy® Award, A Tony Award®, as well as the Olivier Award®, Evening Standard Award, 3 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 2 Drama Desk Awards, a Billboard #1 soundtrack with Pocahontas, and the Max Steiner Award.
A Whole New World of Alan Menken offers a nostalgic, joyful and immersive journey through one of the most influential musical careers of our me, creating an unforgettable night with a true master storyteller.
A Whole New World of Alan Menken will play at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Wednesday 6 May and the Sydney Event Centre on Friday 8 May 2026. For more information, visit: www.wholenewworldalanmenken.au for details.
Image: Alan Menken – photo by Maco Hayashi