The Little Mermaid came, she saw, she conquered. Walt Disney's 28th animated feature opened to rave reviews, excellent box office, and seems destined to earn its place among Disney's celebrated classics.
The film's songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken is reaping the benefits of association, though they tasted the fruits of success once before with their long-running, off-Broadway musical, The Little Shop of Horrors. "In its own way, Little Shop gave me an idea of what success is like," says Menken. "It kicked open a lot of doors and everyone loved it. It made a huge splash. Emotionally, that was a first step towards knowing what this incredible reaction is like. The phone is continually ringing off the hook with people saying, 'My God, I've never seen notices like these,' and they're offering deals. […]
