Songs That Got Cut
In musical theatre, not all demos end up in the final product—but the Internet has allowed these unproduced numbers to find an audience. Consider the following demos that never quite got there. For each, discuss with your team: why do you think it was left out of the finished product?
- Aladdin | “Count on Me” (1994)
- Pocahontas | “First to Dance” (1995)
- Book of Mormon | “Family Home Evening” (2009)
- Dear Evan Hansen | “In the Bedroom Down the Hall” (2017)
Alan Menken wrote a whole friendship anthem for Aladdin — music and lyrics, the works. It's genuinely good. It never made the film.
Every work — at a glance
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Count on Me — Alan Menken (song)
An upbeat friendship-and-destiny number Menken wrote for Aladdin — music and lyrics both his, composed after Howard Ashman's death — that was cut from the final score.
+ 11 more works explained inside
What to know
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01
Why was it left out? Almost never because it's bad. “Count on Me” is a fine song; it simply wasn't what Aladdin needed — a cut number usually slows the story, repeats another song's job, or breaks the tone, so it goes for fit, not merit. Editors call this killing your darlings: cutting what you love when it does not serve the whole.
+ 1 more insight inside
Across subjects
Theme connection
"Are We There Yet?"
Practice — a sample
ART'Count on Me' was one of several tries at Aladdin's opening want-song. Which would you tell Menken?
- A Give it a new singer
- B Replace it with another song
- C Move it to a reprise
- D Drop it and move on
- E Keep it for the album
Sign in to answer and see why each option is right or wrong.
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