In 1987, Menken and lyricist David Spencer's adaptation "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz", based on the 1959 novel of the same name, was produced in Philadelphia. After substantial re-writes, it was produced in 2015 in Montreal. In 1992, the WPA Theatre produced Menken's "Weird Romance", also with lyrics by Spencer. Menken's musical based on the Charles Dickens novella "A Christmas Carol", with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent, debuted at Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theater in 1994. The show proved successful and was an annual New York holiday event.