“HOWARD”, AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING LYRICIST HOWARD ASHMAN, PREMIERES AUGUST 7 ON DISNEY+

“HOWARD”, AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING LYRICIST HOWARD ASHMAN, PREMIERES AUGUST 7 ON DISNEY+

Acclaimed Filmmaker Don Hahn Directs Feature-Length Documentary

BURBANK, Calif. (July 16, 2020) Disney+ announced today that the original documentary film “Howard” will premiere exclusively on the service on Friday, August 7, 2020. The film, which first premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, follows the captivating life story of Disney Legend and Academy Award®-winning Lyricist Howard Ashman.

Directed by Don Hahn (“Beauty and the Beast”), “Howard” is the untold story of Howard Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind Disney classics like “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and creator of musicals including “Little Shop of Horrors.” Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, personal films and photographs, as well as interviews with Howard’s friends and family, the film is an intimate look at the Disney Legend’s life, his creative drive, and the process behind the music. Spanning his childhood in Baltimore, to his formative years in New York, and his untimely death from AIDS, “Howard” goes in-depth to explore his journey to become the lyricist behind some of the most beloved and well-known classic family films in the world. 

“You may not know his name, but you sure know Howard Ashman’s music,” said Director, Writer and Producer Don Hahn. “He’s one of the greatest storytellers of the twentieth century who helped to revitalize the American musical and re-energize Disney Animation. He left us a songbook that still lives on in us today, yet his personal story has never been fully told until now.”

The film features interviews with Ashman’s longtime musical collaborator Alan Menken, who also scored the film, Bill Lauch (Ashman’s Partner), Jodi Benson (“The Little Mermaid”), Paige O’Hara (“Beauty and the Beast”), Sarah Gillespie (Ashman’s Sister), and more. 

Produced by Don Hahn and Lori Korngiebel at Stone Circle Pictures, “Howard” premieres Friday, August 7, streaming only on Disney+.

Jodi Benson Lends Her Voice To Save Music Program!

Have you and your children ever dreamed of seeing Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, sing live? 

That dream came true for the lucky students of Mosaic Preparatory Academy, a PreK-6 public elementary school located in the heart of East Harlem in New York City. Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) recently helped save Mosaic's music department and Jodi Benson lent her voice to the cause. 

Jodi and BIV are both supporters of music in school and recognize the importance of the arts in a well rounded curriculum. Please take a look at the featurette below. The students sign “Part of Your World” as Jodi sings to celebrate music in school and the recent Blu-ray release of The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition.  

About BIV

BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES:

Founded in December of 1999, Broadway Inspirational Voices is a gospel ensemble comprised of actors performing on and off Broadway. Some of the shows represented are Annie, Avenue Q, Book of Mormon, Cinderella, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, Motown The Musical, Pippin, and Wicked.

Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) has been seen on the Smash, America’s Got Talent, 2009 Tony Awards, Today Show, Vanessa Williams Total Request Live, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The 2000 Tony Awards, and in concerts on Broadway, Carnegie Hall, City Center, Constitutional Hall in Washington, D.C. and the Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim, California. This versatile choir has performed with such musical greats as: Elton John, Patti Labelle, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vanessa Williams, Stephanie Mills and Oleta Adams.

The mission of Broadway Inspirational Voices is to raise awareness, provide spiritual support, and to help raise funds for people in need. We lift our voices as a multi-ethnic choir of singers, actors, and dancers from some of the top performers on Broadway, national tours, and regional theatre.

Photos from Disney's The Little Mermaid Screening at NY's Walter Reade Theater

September 21, 2013 ­ New York - Jodi Bensen (voice of Ariel), Samuel Wright (voice of Sebastian) and Ron Clements (writer/producer) graced the blue carpet today at the exclusive film screening of "The Little Mermaid," in celebration of  the Diamond Edition in-home release, at the Walter Reade Theater in New York.