Walt Disney News

L.A. Dance Project, which gave its inaugural performances at Disney Hall in Los Angeles this past September, will make its Peak Performance debut, October 25-28, with a program of classic works by two of the greatest dance innovators of their generations, William Forsythe ("Quintett") and Merce Cunningham ("Winterbranch"), and the local premiere of "Moving Parts" by L.A. Dance Project's Founding Director Benjamin Millepied.

Tickets for MARY POPPINS go on sale to the public next Friday, October 19th at 10:00AM! This eagerly awaited stage production will run for 8 performances at the Times-Union Center's Moran Theater from Tuesday, January 22nd through Sunday, January 27th. Tickets for MARY POPPINS begin at $37.00 and are available at www.artistseriesjax.org or (904) 442-BWAY (2929). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at (904) 442-2947 or groupsales@fscj.edu.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts has selected Arvind Manocha as the not-for-profit organization's new President and CEO. Manocha will begin his tenure on January 2, 2013 following the retirement of long-time leader Terrence D. Jones. Manocha is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, where he oversees the Hollywood Bowl, a venue that serves more than one million patrons annually and shares a commitment to the all encompassing programmatic vision of the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. During his tenure at the Bowl, he has been responsible for growing attendance, increasing the variety and scope of concerts, and managing a multi-million dollar program of ongoing capital improvements. Since he took on management of the historic facility, the Hollywood Bowl has been named "Best Outdoor Amphitheatre in the U.S." eight years in a row by Pollstar magazine (2004-2011).

The annual Halloween haunt at Walt Disney Concert Hall features the chilling film, The Cat and the Canary, starring Laura La Plante. The projection of the 1920s silent movie will be accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by organist Clark Wilson on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 8:00 PM.

Hennepin Theatre Trust and Theater Latte Da announced today the launch of Broadway Re-Imagined, a new collaborative partnership taking a fresh look at Broadway and other musical theatre productions. The series kicks off in January 2013 with a co-production of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, imaginatively directed by Latte Da's acclaimed artistic director Peter Rothstein, at the historic Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis.

Moviehole.net reports that the Walt Disney Company is currently considering a remake of the 1981 Charles Jarrott film CONDORMAN. The original film starred Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, and James Hampton.

Universal Pictures and Focus Features today announced that Kelly Marcel will write the screenplay to the highly anticipated film adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti will produce the film based on E L James' #1 Bestselling book, alongside James. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Co-Chairman, Donna Langley and Focus Features' Chief Executive Officer, James Schamus.

Daryl Roth Productions (DRP) announces the formation of a new division responsible for facilitating the licensing of DRP titles and productions to professional and amateur theaters around the world as well as for film, online and television. The catalog will include the company's Broadway, Off-Broadway and DR2 Kids programming titles.

The forthcoming Philip Glass remix project REWORK_Philip Glass remixed is streaming in its entirety at NPR Music's First Listen:http://n.pr/ON560f. The album, a two-disc or 2xLP set of remixed Philip Glass works, is due October 23 on Orange Mountain Music/Ernest Jenning Record Co./The Kora Records. REWORK is now available for pre-order at http://www.philipglassrework.com as well as via the iTunes store and Amazon.com.

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Vuguru LLC today announce a major new first-look deal for international rights to the independent studio's original commission programming.

Starz Entertainment announced today the launch of the STARZ PLAY and ENCORE PLAY authenticated online services.

The Moscow production of THE LITTLE MERMAID will open tonight, on the 175th anniversary of the first publication of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. This marks the first musical production to play the newly-renovated ROSSIA Theatre on Pushkin Square, now the largest theatrical venue in Moscow.

The Celebration Theatre in association with DEMAND PRoductions and Peter Schneider has launched its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere musical JUSTIN LOVE. On hand for the September 21st opening was Broadway World TV and Los Angeles correspondent Michael Sterling and BWW TV's Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group, Inc. Watch interviews with the cast and creative team below!

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater continues its 52nd season with "Bob Baker's Halloween Hoop-Dee-Do" playing today, October 6-November 10, 2012.

Laura Matalon, President Allied Live, announced today that Andrew Damer will be joining the company's Touring Division as a Senior Marketing Director. In this role Damer will take a prominent role in the engagement management of various touring properties including Billy Elliot the Musical, the upcoming tour of ELF and other accounts. Damer will be based in the Washington, DC office where he will also provide guidance and support to the agency's East Coast clients.

IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and The Walt Disney Studios today announced that Tim Burton's stop-motion, animated film, Frankenweenie will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® 3D format and released in IMAX® digital theatres worldwide day-and-date today, Oct. 5, 2012. The film marks the first black and white Hollywood feature and first stop-motion animated movie to be presented in IMAX.

The 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Times, is pleased to announce that screenwriter/director Quentin Tarantino will be given the 'Hollywood Screenwriter Award,' at this year's awards gala.

Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced a comprehensive distribution agreement to deliver Disney's robust lineup of top quality sports, news and entertainment content to Cablevision TV customers across television, internet, tablets and handheld devices.

The Albuquerque premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, October 4 at 7:30pm at Popejoy Hall for a limited engagement of four weeks through October 28, 2012. In Albuquerque, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday evenings at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm and Sundays at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. There will be a 1:00pm matinee performance on Thursday, October 11. "Albuquerque has received The Lion King with open arms," said Tom Tkach, Director of Popejoy Hall. "Though we have sold out of several performances, tickets may still be purchased, with weeknight performances having the best availability."