And Lorrell Loves Disney...

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:35pm

Congrats to Tony-winner Anika Noni Rose for voicing the first African-American hero or heroine in a Disney animated feature!


Atta girl!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:36pm

Great choice.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:43pm

I didn't think it could be possible for me to love Disney or Anika Noni Rose more than I already do. But this film just might give me reason to do so.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:49pm

AWESOME! I am so happy she is having such a good career.

[beyondblessed]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:54pm

Yea, yeah YEPPERS!!!!

This excites me anew!!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 2:59pm

unfortunately, she will have to sing Randy Newman songs...

[theatrejock310]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:03pm

Didn't she win or get nominated for a Tony or something, before Dreamgirls...?

[jv92]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:07pm

She won Featured Actress in 2004 for Caroline or Change.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:12pm

Lorrell loves Disney
Lorrell loves Disney, it's true
'Cause Lorrell and Dreamworks are through

I got a show to do baby, remember?

Oh, baby, I got a shoooooooooooooooooooooooooooow to doooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

[jv92]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:14pm

"unfortunately, she will have to sing Randy Newman songs..."

I thought that Alan Menken was writing this? It doesn't matter, his newest material hasn't been so great either.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:33pm

Randy writes terrific material. His style will be perfect for a New Orleans musical. I'm very excited for Anika but regret that we have to wait till 2009 to hear her sing this score.
JHud was amazing in Dreamgirls, but Anika had the best voice of anyone up there! I hope she gets to do Porgy & Bess in NYC when it comes over.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:34pm

*looks at wristwatch*

Its about time!

[ABSteel]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:47pm

I was thrilled to read this!

YAY!

But why a frog?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 4:19pm

it's part of the initial story
The Frog Princess

[jv92]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:25pm

"Randy writes terrific material."
He wrote a really beautiful song for Cars that was miles ahead of his competition at the Oscars this year. Other than that, I can't remember a single song for a Disney film he's written since the Toy Story theme.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:31pm

Great for her! She'll get some attention for this.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 8:42pm

I thought that Alan Menken was writing this? It doesn't matter, his newest material hasn't been so great either.

He was, until a few months ago when they replaced him with Newman. I believe it was mostly because Menken was already working the score for "Enchanted", another Disney movie in production that combines live action with animation and will supposedly be something of a send-up of the Disney princess genre.

ETA: Oh yeah, and how could I forget to mention how great this news is? I, too, am more excited for this project now.

Updated On: 4/20/07 at 08:42 PM

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 10:21pm

The best song Newman wrote for Disney was "When Someone Loved Me" from Toy Story 2. That should have easily won over Phil Collins' dreck from Tarzan. Blame Canada from South Park and Aimee Mann's song from Magnolia were also superior to Phil Collins' song.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 10:28pm

When I first heard about this project, I thought it would be Jennifer Hudson for sure, but GO ANIKA!

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 10:47pm

*very happy*

[HumATune]

Posted: 4/20/07 at 11:26pm

It's nice to see Disney cast the same person for the speaking/sining voice.

[MatthewAddison]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:12am

Wow, I'll actually have to rent this when it comes out on DVD because I love me some ANR.

[silent]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:23am

Congrats Anika!

[ABSteel]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:54am

"It's nice to see Disney cast the same person for the speaking/sining voice."

Very true.

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 1:01am

Congrats to her! It's nice she's getting some more recognition, I thought she was great in Dreamgirls.