Walt Disney News

Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! The Musical the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Christopher Gattelli, will open a Los Angeles company with performances beginning tonight, August 31, at the Hayworth Theatre. This engagement marks the West Coast Premiere of the Off-Broadway hit. The press opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 8, 2012. SILENCE! The Musical is produced by Theater Mogul.

Los Angeles, CA- Colburn School President and Chief Executive Officer Sel Kardan today announced details defined by innovation and growth for The Colburn School's Conservatory of Music and Academy 2012-2013 academic year/performance season. The announcement included information on continuing collaborations with its neighbor, Los Angeles Opera's Domingo-Thornton Young Artists Program; the introduction of new performance series and a new partnership; the tenth anniversary season of The Colburn Conservatory of Music and Colburn Orchestra; new faculty members; and expansions to education and community engagement programs.

Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will take its guests on an incredible journey to an amazing new world with its special engagement of the all new Tinker Bell "Disney Fairies" movie "Secret of the Wings" from August 31 through September 13 2012, it was announced today by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Guests will experience a special live appearance by Tinker Bell and Periwinkle - each with magically illuminated wings -- before each showing of this latest Pixie Hollow adventure.

DreamWorks Studios has signed an agency deal with Mister Smith Entertainment, it was announced today by Jeff Small, President and COO at DreamWorks Studios, and David Garrett, CEO at Mister Smith Entertainment.

During 'Millionaire's' 'Broadway Week,' this season, contestants will have the chance to win tickets to see a Broadway show in addition to their 'Millionaire' money. As part of the specialty week, cast members from 'The Lion King' will play on 'Millionaire' for charity and Meredith Vieira will make a cameo appearance at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre in THE LION KING's iconic opening number, 'Circle of Life,' in celebration of the production's 15th anniversary.

Shaina Taub plays a rare solo acoustic concert tonight, August 28th at Room 5 Lounge at 8:30 PM, featuring brand new original music and celebrating the one-year anniversary of her record, What Otters Do.

This fall comes three books based on hit ABC shows.

Bellissima intervista a Riccardo Simone Berdini: eclettico artista italiano, autore, vincitore del Premio Nazionale Sandro Massimini nel 2009 e sincero amante del musical theatre attualmente impegnato nei tour estivi di HAPPY DAYS e GREASE, entrambi prodotti dalla Compagnia della Rancia. Wonderful interview to Riccardo Simone Berdini: versatile Italian artist, author, winner of Premio Nazionale Sandro Massimini in 2009 and sincere lover of musical theatre currently tied-up with the summer tours of HAPPY DAYS and GREASE, both produced by Compagnia della Rancia.

The beloved Disney classic, MARY POPPINS, is set to land in Kansas City at the Music Hall next year. The show will play a limited run from April 4-April 9, 2013. For tickets to MARY POPPINS' stop in Kansas City, visit www.ticketmaster.com/Music-Hall-Kansas-City-tickets-Kansas-City/venue/49167.

On Tuesday, January 8, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, the only late-night broadcast talk show to increase in Total Viewers this past season, will move to 11:35 p.m., putting the show in head-to-head competition with 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' and 'Late Show with David Letterman.'

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold open houses for prospective students and families on Wednesday, August 29 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, September 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 38 Main Street in Franklin. The community is invited to visit the school, tour the facility and learn about FSPA's programs in music, dance and drama. Beginners are welcome!

Shaina Taub plays a rare solo acoustic concert on Tuesday August 28th at Room 5 Lounge at 8:30 PM, featuring brand new original music and celebrating the one-year anniversary of her record, What Otters Do.

The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County will hold its second annual gala benefit, Dressing for the Night this evening, August 18 at Bellport's Gateway Playhouse. Ken Page leads the all star cast of entertainers for the evening which includes Jennifer Hope Wills, Ed Staudenmayer, Erica Aubrey and Jamie Jackson.

The CBS network has dropped its law suit against ABC over the reality series THE GLASS HOUSE. Last June, CBS alleged that its rival network was copying their long-running reality series 'Big Brother' with the impending show.

World-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo joins Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the first time in concert together for an unforgettable evening of arias and songs on Sunday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m. The two longtime friends will announce the varied program from the stage, which will include popular classical, pop, Broadway and Latin American song selections.

Composer and writer Mary Rodgers Guettel is at work on her memoirs, according to the New York Post.

When Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's moralistic take on traditional European fairy tales, mostly penned by The Brothers Grimm, last hit town in a major production, it was April of 2002.  The city was still very much rattled by the events of the past September, but a positive spirit was growing from our observances of acts of heroism surrounding us.

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios' sequel to the biggest Super Hero blockbuster and third highest grossing film of all time, Marvel's THE AVENGERS. Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the UNTITLED MARVEL'S AVENGERS SEQUEL set for release May 1, 2015.

The St. Louis return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, August 16 at 8pm at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, September 2.