Kenny Ortega News

The Paley Center for Media today announced that it will host the New York premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 3. Part of the PaleyLive Summer Season, the premiere will take place on Tuesday, July 30 at 5:30 pm and will be immediately followed by a discussion with members of the cast and creative team.

The Cooper Company and Catalina Jazz Club are pleased to announce the return of Ben Vereen, one of North America's greatest entertainers performing his popular stage show, Steppin' Out with BEN VEREEN. The strictly limited engagement plays two performances only on Friday, July 19 at 8:30 pm and Saturday, July 20 at 8:30 pm at Catalina Jazz Club.

'Descendants 3,' the third movie in Disney's global smash franchise, is set to premiere on FRIDAY, AUG. 2 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.

Today, D23, the official Disney fan club, has announced the eleven recipients for the 2019 Disney Legends Award. This year's recipients are Bette Midler, Wing Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer. 

Today, the Nederlander Organization and Hollywood Pantages Theatre announced that Jonathan Bennett will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for THE 8TH ANNUAL JERRY HERMAN AWARDS, a celebration of the achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre in Los Angeles. This celebrated annual awards show will take place at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 7pm.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley presents the Northern California premiere of Archduke. Written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, Archduke explores how one man, one moment, can derail an entire century. Focusing on the cataclysmic 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, three hapless insurgents embark on a darkly comic quest for immortality and purpose, unaware that their actions will launch World War I.

Netflix today announced that it has entered into a multi-year overall deal with producer, director, and choreographer Kenny Ortega. Ortega is known for the High School Musical franchise, which earned him a Primetime Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award. Widely acclaimed for his genre-bending work in musicals, drama, comedy, and family programs, Ortega has directed and choreographed international hits including the Descendants trilogy, Newsies, and Hocus Pocus, and choreographed classic films including Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Pretty in Pink, among others. Truman Alfaro will serve as Ortega's development executive.

There is a joyful feeling in the air at Westchester Broadway Theatre's production of "Newsies." That's the only way to describe the euphoric energy one feels upon leaving the theatre.

The first trailer has been released for The Descendants 3!

Now entering its 28th year, Broadway Theatre Project (BTP) announces Ben Vereen will rejoin the visiting faculty team in 2019.  During the 28 years BTP has been educating young artists, Ben has served in a variety of capacities: as a Master Artist, Artistic Advisor to the Project, and Co-Artistic Director. BTP's faculty members in 2019 include dancers and choreographers, vocal technique teachers as well as coaches, directors, playwrights, casting directors, and talent agents and an award winning photographer. The 2019 Summer Apprenticeship program is being held June 23-July 14 on the campus of the University of South Florida. Applications and recorded auditions are due March 1st.  Requests for exceptions should be addressed to Debra McWaters, Co-Artistic Director, at 888-874-1764.   

After a long week of treading the boards, what better way for performers to unwind than with the affection of a furry friend? In BroadwayWorld's Tails of Broadway, photographer Jessica Fallon Gordon is capturing priceless moments between Broadway's brightest stars and their pets.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley announces a special post-show political forum for its production of the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated drama Frost/Nixon. Following the 2pm performance of Frost/Nixon on Saturday, February 2 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, audiences are invited to discuss the history and current relevance of the Watergate scandal with Dr. Theodore Glasser of Stanford University and Dr. Terri Bimes of University of California Berkeley in a conversation moderated by Cameron Wells, the assistant director of Frost/Nixon. Glasser, a professor emeritus of Communication whose research specializes in media practices and press accountability, and Bimes, a lecturer and Assistant Director of Research for the Institute of Governmental Studies who teaches about the presidency, will bring their unique perspectives to this free political forum, open to audience members and community members.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will kick off the new year with the Tony and Olivier Award nominated drama Frost/Nixon. Written by Golden Globe winner Peter Morgan (creator of Netflix's The Crown), Frost/Nixon is a riveting political prizefight where the cameras roll, the truth spins, and it becomes clear that he who controls the medium controls the message. With America caught in the riptides of Watergate and Vietnam, the former leader of the free world and a lightweight British talk-show host clash in a legendary series of TV interviews that will determine the President's legacy forever. Directed by Leslie Martinson, Frost/Nixon will be presented January 16 - February 10, 2019 (press opening: January 19, 2019) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will kick off the new year with the Tony and Olivier Award nominated drama Frost/Nixon. Written by Golden Globe winner Peter Morgan (creator of Netflix's The Crown), Frost/Nixon is a riveting political prizefight where the cameras roll, the truth spins, and it becomes clear that he who controls the medium controls the message. With America caught in the riptides of Watergate and Vietnam, the former leader of the free world and a lightweight British talk-show host clash in a legendary series of TV interviews that will determine the President's legacy forever. Directed by Leslie Martinson, Frost/Nixon will be presented January 16 February 10, 2019 (press opening: January 19, 2019) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

After a sold out run last fall, the recent revival of The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman ('97 Broadway version) will return for a limited engagement previewing January 11, 2019.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 - Broadway's newest intimate concert venue - will present Lesli Margherita in "Yule Your Kingdom" for two shows on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15, both at 11:30 PM. In this tinsel sparkly edition of Rule Your Kingdom, Olivier Award winner 'Queen' Lesli Margherita (Zorro, Matilda, Dames at Sea) inspires, uplifts, and slaps you across the face with a Yule Log. From memorable favorites with a holiday twist to brand new stories bound to become the classics you recite as you down spiked Egg Nog, Margherita's 70 minute show-stopping set will leave you screaming, "YASSSSS HOLIDAYS!!!" Written by Margherita, "Yule Your Kingdom" is directed and produced by Lauren Bass, featuring musical direction and arrangements by Brett Ryback. 

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will kick off the new year with the Tony and Olivier Award nominated drama Frost/Nixon. Written by Golden Globe winner Peter Morgan (creator of Netflix's The Crown), Frost/Nixon is a riveting political prizefight where the cameras roll, the truth spins, and it becomes clear that he who controls the medium controls the message.

Bringing their energetic style of holiday joy to Folsom on the night before Christmas, DRUMLine Live returns to the Harris Center with a dynamic holiday program. Combining Gospel, Jazz, Soul, Motown rhythms, and The Nutcracker Suite to the driving force of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band, over 30 talented musicians and vocalists employ energetic choreography, spectacular lighting, and beautiful holiday costumes to create a holiday extravaganza like no other. "DRUMLine Live shows the thrill, the musical genius and the true flavor of the ever exciting halftime show" (The Star Ledger).

Produced and Presented by Cheryl Baxter-Ratliff and Allen Walls, in association with Break The Floor and held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA, there was an overwhelming turnout within the Dance Community to this event. There were reportedly 1,400 people attending. It was a spectacular evening! The all -inclusive 8th Annual WORLD CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDS. Because this is the 8th Annual Awards Ceremony, I feel a change has evolved regarding categories up for Awards. Wider acceptance of all forms of Dance, Interpretive Movement, new forms of technology and genres not considered previously. All-Inclusive is a modern term, but it's great to see that the WCA is embracing and incorporating so many more possibilities that qualify for our consideration.

The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead Program presented The 2018 Looking Ahead Awards on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the magnificent Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. Hosted by Ashley Argota and Garrett Clayton, The Looking Ahead Awards honors leaders in the current and former young performer community who inspire the world by living the program's core values of growth, education, leadership and community service.