Learn more about Alan Menken and David Zippel's songs from the mythological musical, including "Go the Distance", "Zero to Hero", and "I Won't Say I'm in Love".
While perhaps not as well-known as several other Disney films of the 1990s – such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King – the score for Hercules with music by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, and many Disney credits) and lyrics by David Zippel (City of Angels, The Woman in White) is top-notch.
Filled with pop, musical theatre, gospel and Motown influences, it’s sure to raise the roof of Theatre Royal Drury Lane when it opens in summer 2025.
Hercules was first performed at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre in 2019 and then moved indoors to New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse in 2023. A substantially revised German-language production directed by Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon) opened in Hamburg earlier this year, and Nicholaw’s West End staging is likely to be similar to this version.
The guide below to the songs from the film is only a taster of what we can expect from the score as there’ll be more songs to look forward to in the stage musical, also written by Menken and Zippel. As you can see, there are many musical gaps in the storytelling – this isn’t a problem in an animated film but would feel more exposed in a fully-fledged musical.
There has yet to be a recording of the stage production in English or German, but reviews of the Hamburg production have referenced a villain song for wicked uncle Hades, a march led by Hercules’s mentor Phil with the Muses (who are bound to steal the show with their bluesy narration) as majorettes as the Act One closing number, and an Act Two opener involving a tap break for Phil. We’ll have to wait and see!
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"Long Ago…" / "The Gospel Truth"
A voiceover (the sonorous tones of Charlton Heston in the movie) introduces “A Golden Age of powerful gods and extraordinary heroes… but what is the measure of a true hero?” The Muses, “goddesses of arts and the proclaimers of heroes” and gospel-style girl group aren’t keen on the way he makes everything sound so serious, “like a Greek tragedy” and take over the storytelling. It all started with the mess inflicted on the world by the Titans before daddy Zeus cleaned things up.
Of course, the gospels are a Christian concept and this is a story that originated in a pagan society many centuries before Christianity… the anachronisms are part of what makes the score so fun!
"The Gospel Truth II"
But it isn’t all ambrosia and vermouth on Mount Olympus as Zeus’s brother Hades, god of the Underworld, is “as mean as he was ruthless” and plotting to shake things up.
“The Gospel Truth III”
Hades strips baby Hercules of his immortality with a potion. However, Hercules doesn’t drink every last drop, which means his retains his superhuman strength. His parents Zeus and Hera now have to watch him grow up from afar while he’s raised by human foster parents.
“Go the Distance”
Now a teenager, an isolated Hercules is struggling with his identity. His “I want” song charts the way in which “I would go most anywhere / To feel like I belong”.
It’s a stirring anthem and was released as a single by rock singer Michael Boulton. Ricky Martin’s version from the Spanish dub was also released as a single. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original song but lost to “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic.
“Oh Mighty Zeus”
Hercules visits the temple of Zeus for guidance, not knowing Zeus is his father. The statue of Zeus comes to life and tells Hercules that he can earn back his divine status by becoming a “true hero”.
“Go the Distance” (Reprise)
A buoyant Hercules is well on his way to pursuing his destiny.
“One Last Hope”
We meet Philoctetes (“Phil”), a satyr (a nature spirit with the body of a man and the ears and tail of a horse) who’s disillusioned with his job as the trainer of heroes (“Everyone’s a disappointment / Pain for which there ain’t no ointment”). Now this kid of Zeus is asking him to come out of retirement… “Oy vey!”
He explains: “To be a true hero, kid, is a dying art / Like painting a masterpiece, it’s a work of art / It takes more than just sinew / Comes down to what’s in you.” Phil, who sings with a broad New Jersey accent (he was voiced by Danny DeVito) is on the cantankerous side but he has a heart of gold really, and, like his protégé, wants to prove himself “before that blasted Underworld gets my goat”.
“Zero to Hero”
Previously a nobody, Hercules is on a roll with all his heroic antics, making him “Person of the week in every Greek opinion poll”. “He comes, he sees, he conquers” (a reference to Julius Caesar's “Veni, vidi, vici” – Latin rather than Greek, but who cares?) and is now a major celebrity and heartthrob with his face on all the vases. This will be a fantastic ensemble number onstage and perfectly suited to Nicholaw's exhuberent style of choreography.
“I Won’t Say I’m in Love”
Megara (“Meg”) berates herself for previous poor judgement and insists she hasn’t had her head turned by the hunky hero who has rescued her from a centaur. Unlike other Disney heroines, she has a past with another man: “No man is worth the aggravation / That’s ancient history, been there, done that!” The Muses are her backing singers as she protests (too much). By the end, she’s softening but won’t admit to her feelings out loud.
This could be a number made famous by The Supremes (“Sha-la-la-la-la!). It also has similarities with “I’m Not at All in Love” from The Pajama Game. Belinda Carlisle recorded two versions of this song, as well as a music video.
“A Star is Born”
After lots more adventures, Hercules proves his mettle by saving Meg’s soul (it turns out she was Hades’ slave – it’s a long story). Zeus and Hera welcome him home to Mount Olympus as he’s proven himself a true hero through “the strength of his heart”. However, he chooses to remain in Greece with Meg and relinquishes his divine powers.
The company celebrates as Zeus creates a constellation in his son’s honour. A fabulous finale fit for a role model for us all ("A star is born / Just remember in the darkest hour / Within your heart's the power / For making you / A hero too”).
Check back soon for Hercules tickets on London Theatre.
