Changes

==Career==

==Career==

Ashman worked on a lot of plays, including a 1982 play with Alan Menken called “Little Shop of Horrors” which was based off the Roger Corman film from 1960. It was popular enough for Frank Oz to adapt it into a film in 1986, with Ashman writing the script. Also in 1986, his play “Smile” made it to Broadway, but didn’t last long. It was around that time when Disney Studio Chairman [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] hired Ashman to be a lyricist, and he accepted. After writing a song in “Oliver in Company,” he was tasked with “The Little Mermaid” where he served as co-producer with John Musker. He brought in Jodi Benson who starred in “Smile” to voice the main character in Ariel. The movie was a major success, and it won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Under the Sea” with “Kiss the Girl” also receiving a nomination.

Ashman worked on a lot of plays, including a 1982 play with Alan Menken called “Little Shop of Horrors” which was based off the Roger Corman film from 1960. It was popular enough for Frank Oz to adapt it into a film in 1986, with Ashman writing the script. Also in 1986, his play “Smile” made it to Broadway, but didn’t last long. It was around that time when Disney Studio Chairman [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] hired Ashman to be a lyricist, and he accepted. After writing a song in “Oliver and Company,” he was tasked with “The Little Mermaid” where he served as co-producer with John Musker. He brought in Jodi Benson who starred in “Smile” to voice the main character in Ariel. The movie was a major success, and it won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Under the Sea” with “Kiss the Girl” also receiving a nomination.

After that night, Ashman brought Menken into his home in New York, and told him he was sick, as he tested positive for HIV, and that’s why he didn’t show up often to recording sessions in California. He was also worried that had his diagnosis been made public, he would have been fired. Afterwards, everyone at Disney was informed, and he kept his job. He worked on “Aladdin,” but was tasked to due “Beauty and the Beast” where he served as an executive producer. Like “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” was a major success, and won Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Beauty and the Beast” with two other songs “Belle” and “Be Our Guest” also getting nominations. However, he died before the movie came out. The film is dedicated to him, and at the end of the credits, the film reads “To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950-1991”

After that night, Ashman brought Menken into his home in New York, and told him he was sick, as he tested positive for HIV, and that’s why he didn’t show up often to recording sessions in California. He was also worried that had his diagnosis been made public, he would have been fired. Afterwards, everyone at Disney was informed, and he kept his job. He worked on “Aladdin,” but was tasked to due “Beauty and the Beast” where he served as an executive producer. Like “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” was a major success, and won Best Original Score and Best Original Song “Beauty and the Beast” with two other songs “Belle” and “Be Our Guest” also getting nominations. However, he died before the movie came out. The film is dedicated to him, and at the end of the credits, the film reads “To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950-1991”

Most of his “Aladdin” songs were cut due to changes made to the story, which he had no say in due to being dead. However, many of his songs were revived for the 2011 Broadway show.

Most of his “Aladdin” songs were cut due to changes made to the story, which he had no say in due to being dead. However, many of his songs were revived for the 2011 Broadway show.

==Controversy==

==Controversy==