Disney Theatrical Group and Disney Music Group/Walt Disney Records have announced the release of the Disney’s Hercules Original London Cast Recording.
The album will be available digitally from 10 October, followed by CD release on 21 November and vinyl on 5 December.
Featuring brand new recordings of beloved songs from the 1997 animated film, including “Go the Distance,” “Zero to Hero,” and “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love),” the album also includes seven new songs written for the stage adaptation.
Alan Menken, who composed the music, said:
“This Hercules cast album represents the culmination of a journey that started way back in the mid 90’s in the world of Disney animation. The unique opportunities that came from composing a score filled with stylish pop and gospel influences, combined with David Zippel’s brilliant, sophisticated lyrics, never failed to delight me. I believe audiences connected, both then and now, with that sense of joy we had in our writing process.
One of my favorite aspects of adapting my own pre-existing material for a stage production is being able to give voice to characters who never sang before, like Hades. Including Hades’ new song, David and I have written seven new songs that bring even more heart and soul into the story.
I’m thrilled to share our enthusiasm for this next chapter in our hero’s journey. So, here it is, please enjoy our new, theatrical, Hercules!!”
Lyricist David Zippel added:
“What a joy it has been for Alan and me to reconnect with Hercules, The Muses, Meg, Hades, The Mount Olympus gang, our brilliant music department and the extraordinary singing actors who bring these characters and our songs to life. We have loved the chance to write new songs and deepen Hercules’s emotional journey and we cannot be more excited to share this album with, what the ancient Greeks called, the known world.”
The album features the London cast including Luke Brady as Hercules, Mae Ann Jorolan as Meg, Trevor Dion Nicholas as Phil, and Stephen Carlile as Hades.
The Muses are played by Candace Furbert (Thalia), Sharlene Hector (Clio), Brianna Ogunbawo (Melpomene), Malinda Parris (Calliope), and Robyn Rose-Li (Terpsichore). Craig Gallivan and Lee Zarrett appear as Bob and Charles.
The musical, currently playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, features a new book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah, and is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with co-choreography by Tanisha Scott.
Inspired by the animated film and the ancient myth, Hercules offers a wise-cracking, underworld-rocking ride of adventure, self-discovery, and love.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
