I don't write songs for myself anymore. I only write songs on assignment. It's purely a business, but it is still so important to me emotionally.
Alan MenkenI've always juggled a lot of projects because at least half the projects you do get shelved. So you have to do a lot of things in order for things to move forward.
Alan MenkenThe best parts about writing a show are [its] first, second and 10th anniversaries. Everything else is relative levels of hell.
Alan MenkenIf you write enough musicals you pretty much have a sense of where they should go, what you'll need, and when; how to pull people on that journey.
Alan Menken