Walt Disney News

(Los Angeles) September 17, 2015 — LA Opera's 30th Anniversary Season will include the west coast premiere of Song from the Uproar, a new multimedia opera by Brooklyn-based composer Missy Mazzoli. This compelling new work is presented under LA Opera's Off Grand banner, which complements the company's mainstage programming through a wide variety of forms of artistic exploration. A unique combination of live music and original film, Song from the Uproar was inspired by the life and writings of early 20th-century explorer Isabelle Eberhardt. The audience witnesses key moments in her life: the death of her family, her journeys in the North African desert, her ecstatic religious conversion and, ultimately, her tragic drowning in a flash flood at the age of 27. 

Multiple Grammy Award-winning, Golden Globe Nominated and acclaimed singer and songwriter Chris Cornell will release his fifth studio album Higher Truth today, September 18, 2015

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio.

The New York Philharmonic will present the third season of THE ART OF THE SCORE: Film Week at the Philharmonic September 18-21, 2015, featuring two complete Academy Award-winning films screened with live performances of their acclaimed scores: On the Waterfront and The Godfather.

Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group present The Christians, the New York premiere of a new play by Lucas Hnath (A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac's Eye, Death Tax). Directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters (Doris to Darlene at PH; the recent 10 Out of 12; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Big Love; eurydice), the play is the opening production of the theater company's 2015/2016 Season.

Orange County, Calif.—Sept. 15, 2015—Most folks didn't discover the world of classical music through formal concerts. They discovered it through Elmer Fudd singing “Kill the Wabbit!” and by watching Mickey Mouse trying to stop an army of living broomsticks from drowning him. That same spirit of curiosity, discovery, informality and playfulness fills the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., as Pacific Symphony launches its 2015-16 Family Musical Mornings season, sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, with “Phantoms of the Orchestra.” This Halloween-themed concert features the orchestra, under the direction of its new assistant conductor, Roger Kalia, joined by the renowned Magic Circle Mime Company (MCMCo). While the Symphony brings the music to life, the story is told by MCMCo, one of the most popular and highly acclaimed family attractions in the nation. The company is consistently praised for its creativity, innovation, and theatricality.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 15, 2015) Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT -  Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) announced today that Garth Fagan Dance will bring to Los Angeles Fagan's tribute to the late Geoffrey Holder, "Dance for/With Geoffrey." Performances at the 400-seat Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) in Los Angeles will run October 16-18, 2015. www.ebonyrep.org

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) introduces the FSPA Dance Company this fall, providing expanded options for students in many disciplines with opportunities to travel to NYC and Walt Disney World for classes and performances. Building upon FSPA's dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and more, the Dance Company will provide students with the chance to develop their craft and performance experience. There's flexibility for dancers to choose how they'd like to be involved – across which disciplines and with what time commitment. 

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE offers an unprecedented look at the life and legacy of one of America's most enduring and influential storytellers.

It's Mary that we love, and Mary's coming back! According to Variety, Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Chicago) will direct a Disney reboot of their classic 1964 film, Mary Poppins. The project will be produced by John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The film will reportedly take place 20 years after the events of the original movie, and will include 'storylines from the P.L. Travers' children books focusing on the magical nanny's continued adventures with the Banks family.' Casting has not yet been announced. 

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: CHICAGO gets a new 'Roxie', Gloria Estefan 'congas' for Viva Broadway, Nicole Kidman takes the stage in London and more!

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, September 13, 2015 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!

FINALLY! Disney has a first look at their upcoming live-action film- but don't blink, or you might miss it.

I honestly don't think I can name a single person who I know who hasn't seen Disney's The Little Mermaid.  Not even one.  It has been a favorite of so many since the movie premiered in 1989.  The story is based off of a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, and was adapted for the big screen with music written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.  It tells the tale of a 16-year-old mermaid named Ariel, who falls in love with Prince Eric, a land creature.  This love is forbidden by Ariel's father, King Triton.  Disobeying her father, Ariel goes on a quest with her friends Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle to make a deal with the sea witch Ursula that will turn her into a human so she can be with her love at last.

'Pastors have to be very careful not to remake the gospel into their own image.'

Below, check out Fallin's preview illustration for the fall 2015 Broadway season, featuring Danny Burstein in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (bottom left), Al Pacino in CHINA DOLL, Bruce Willis in MISERY, Cicely Tyson & James Earl Jones in THE GIN GAME, Annaleigh Ashford & Matthew Broderick in SYLVIA, Clive Owen in OLD TIMES, and Keira Knightley & Judith Light in THERESE RAQUIN!Below, check out his illustration of composer Leonard Bernstein, who would have turned 97 years old today, August 25.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE offers an unprecedented look at the life and legacy of one of America's most enduring and influential storytellers in Walt Disney, a new two-part, four-hour film premiering Monday and Tuesday, September 14-15, 2015

A wide range of stories and voices comprise Goodman Theatre's 2015/2016 Season-a 'Big-Bold-Brilliant' line-up, beginning this month.

A new trailer, remixed by BloodBlitz Comedy gives an eerie view of what Disney's megahit animated film FROZEN may have looked like if Princess Elsa had actually been the villain of the story.