Walt Disney News

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that actor Dean Jones passed away of Parkinson's disease yesterday, September 1, 2015 in Los Angeles. He was 84. Jones, who was inducted into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 1995, appeared in 46 films, 5 Broadway shows, and numerous television series and specials.

11 NFL players will join seven-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood for her performance of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the opening theme for primetime television's No. 1 program

BERKELEY, CA (UPDATED September 1, 2015) – Music Director Joana Carneiro and Berkeley Symphony have announced programming for the 2015-2016 season, including the West Coast premiere of Laterna Magica by Kaija Saariaho, who will be a visiting music professor at UC Berkeley this fall; the West Coast premiere of Mark Grey's new Frankenstein Symphony, co-commissioned with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; and the U.S. premiere of Fachwerk by Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, featuring the Bay Area debut of Geir Draugsvoll, a pioneer of the bayan, or classical accordion, for whom the work was written. The Orchestra also welcomes soprano Simone Osborne, and violinist Simone Porter, both making their Bay Area debuts, in addition to a first-time Berkeley Symphony appearance by pianist Conrad Tao.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced today a New Year's Eve Celebration presented by Dr. Phillips Charities starring Kristin Chenoweth with special guest Cheyenne Jackson. 

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the return of its multi award-winning hit AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', November 14 - December 20, music by Thomas "Fats" Waller, book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby Jr., direction and choreography by multi Jeff-Award winner and Artistic Associate Brenda Didier with music direction by Jeff-Award winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. 

Garfunkel & Oates will film their first hour-long special on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 7:30 PM and 10 PM at The Neptune. 

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.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music, will play the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a limited engagement from November 10 through November 15, 2015 as part of the 2015-2016 FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando Season presented in partnership with Florida Theatrical Association.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announced today that legendary director, choreographer and producer Kenny Ortega will be the 2015 Diversity Award Artistic Honoree, and Abel Ramirez, founder of Pasadena's El Portal Restaurant and business and cultural leader of the Pasadena community, will be the Community Honoree at the 9th Annual Pasadena Playhouse's Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project fundraising benefit on Sunday, September 13, 2015, in honor of the opening of Josefina Lopez's Real Women Have Curves.

Beginning tonight, August 27, Weston Playhouse Theatre Company presents Tennessee Williams' timeless masterpiece, The Glass Menagerie. The final production of an exciting summer lineup, Williams' iconic work also launches Weston's 5-year American Masters series, an initiative dedicated to bringing classics of American drama to Weston's stage with artists of national stature.

On the heels of Disney Television Animation's most successful year ever, several key executive appointments have been made to further bolster the content development pipeline for the Disney Junior, Disney Channel and Disney XD branded platforms. 

Arturo Sandoval, one of the world's most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer will play the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, October 24, 2015, 8:00 pm, as part of the 2015-2016 Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center.

BroadwayWorld recently announced a new partnership with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Fallin previously drew for BroadwayWorld and our readers have long wanted his return, so it is with great pleasure that we welcome him back! Be sure to check back for more of Ken's exclusive art. Below, check out his illustration of composer Leonard Bernstein, who would have turned 97 years old today, August 25.

Verve Records and Walt Disney Records will present the compilation album WE LOVE DISNEY, which will be released on October 30th.

Hodges & Hodges Set the Stage provides a wide-ranging look into select productions that are premiering or touring in the Bay area. Dedicated to enhancing the theater-going experience, Hodges and Hodges act as your very own dramaturges, theater critics and local restaurant, local tour guides so that you can fully immerse yourself in the show - even before you enter the actual theater. It's nothing you couldn't look up yourself - but why bother when they've already done the research for you?

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to announce the full cast for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of their multi award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, opening at Leicester Curve on 12 October 2015.

Broadway vet Rosie O'Donnell who is mourning the loss of her father, Edward Joseph O'Donnell, who passed away following a battle with cancer

Walt Disney Records releases the final four installments to The Legacy Collection series. Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection Lady and The Tramp, Pocahontas, The Aristocats, and Disneyland complete the 12-set series that launched with The Lion King in June 2014.

San Diego Musical Theatre announces the third production of their 2015 season, La Cage Aux Folles, September 25 - October 11, 2015 (press opening on Saturday, September 26), at the Spreckels Theatre on Broadway in downtown San Diego.

Below, watch Tony Award-winner James Monroe Iglehart (ALADDIN) perform 'Under the Sea' and an Ashely Brown (MARY POPPINS) and Josh Strickland (TARZAN) Duet on 'Beauty and the Beast'!