Spotlight on Lyricist Howard Ashman & bringing ”I Want” songs to Disney

Studying the Song - Audition Prep and Musicianship for Musical Theatre

Learn the hallmarks of Ashman’s lyric style and how he brought the dramatic conventions of musical theatre songs to Disney.

Howard Ashman was playwright, lyricist, and director who wrote lyrics for some of my favorite shows: Smile, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. His song lyrics feature delightful rhymes and incredibly specific imagery that enrich the world of the musical.

In this episode, I analyze lyrics from his hit shows and put a spotlight on how he uses songs to

• create more three-dimensional characters
• paint the specific world of the show
• and communicate a character’s “want” through the “I want” song

Songs we’ll discuss include “Under the Sea,” “Be Our Guest,” “Part of Your World,” and “Somewhere that’s Green,” and “Until Tomorrow Night.”

If you’re ready to get a deeper understanding of Ashman’s lyrics that will, in turn, deepen your enjoyment of performing his songs, then press play now!

Xo,

Korrie

Mentioned in this episode: Howard, a documentary about Howard Ashman available on Disney+.

Visit www.korrieyamaoka.com for FREE RESOURCES and sign up for the Studying the Song Email List for weekly resources about auditions and artist branding.

Did you enjoy today’s episode? Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe today!