Alan Menken to return to Broadway with Roy Rogers musical 'Happy Trails'

Alan Menken and Glenn Slater are turning from the medieval knights of Galavant to a Hollywood cowboy.

Producers today announced that Menken and Slater are writing the music and lyrics for Happy Trails, a new musical heading to Broadway about Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans. Marshall Brickman, who won an Academy Award for co-writing Annie Hall with Woody Allen, is responsible for the book, and Tony winner Des McAnuff will direct.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Roy Rogers since I was a kid, so working on this show is a dream come true,” Menken said in a statement. “Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were consummate, one-of-a- kind entertainers and I’m extremely excited to create a period-specific score that celebrates their legacy.”

The musical is aiming to hit Broadway in 2016. Menken’s music is currently on Broadway in Aladdin, the stage adaptation of the Disney film. The prolific composer is also writing music for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s animated film Sausage Party, and has been developing a musical version of Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale.