Walt Disney News

James Gaffigan comes to Walt Disney Concert Hall for the first time to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in three performances of music by Ottorino Respighi, Bela Bartok and Edvard Grieg, Friday, March 30, at 8 pm, as well as Saturday and Sunday, March 31 and April 1, at 2 pm. Andre Watts plays Grieg's Piano Concerto, a piece he put into his active repertoire in the 2007/08 season and has played several times a season since.

Greenway Arts Alliance has announced the world premiere production of THE BEWILDERED HERD by LA Weekly Award and Ovation Award nominee Cody Henderson, directed by Laurie Woolery. There will be two preview performances on April 12 and 13, and opening night is set for Saturday, April 14 at 8:00. The limited engagement will run through Sunday, May 6.

Following its acclaimed, sold-out run earlier this season as part of Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival, playwright Brandt Johnson's JUST SEX will return to Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue) for a limited Off-Broadway engagement. Preview performances of JUST SEX begin March 22 prior to an official press opening of March 27. Alex Kilgore (founding Artistic Director of stageFARM - OLIVER PARKER!, THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE, VENGEANCE) directs.

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park presents the male chorus, Chanticleer, at Rollins College April 15 at 3 PM. Based in San Francisco, Chanticleer is known for the blend of its twelve male voices and original interpretations of vocal literature.

Conductor Jeffrey Milarsky replaces John Adams, who was scheduled to lead the LA Phil New Music Group in a Green Umbrella concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tuesday, April 10, at 8 pm. Adams has withdrawn from the performance due to scheduling demands. Additionally, Five Star Signs from Stockhausen's Tierkreis will be performed in place of the complete Tierkreis set.

Who knew that Mary Poppins, that brightly colored stage spectacle of a musical comedy confection, would be the theatrical offering that most eloquently addresses the questionable shenanigans of unscrupulous bankers, financiers and other assorted nefarious London financial district/Wall Street types and which champions the importance of family and the common folk?

The sixth and final concert series in The Palm Beach Pops' 20th Anniversary Season, The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites will feature Broadway stars Lea Salonga, Tony and Drama Desk Winner, best known as the singing voice in Disney movies and for her leading roles in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and 2007 Helen Hayes Award winner David Burnham of Wicked. Six concerts are scheduled beginning March 29, 30 & 31 at The Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at FAU, Boca Raton, April 1 at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens and April 2 & 3 at the Kravis Center, West Palm Beach.

Three performing troupes from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) have been selected to perform at Walt Disney World during the upcoming April school vacation week. Broadway Bound, Broadway Light and the CenterStage dance company will entertain large Disney audiences and have the opportunity to take master classes with Disney performers and directors. FSPA will feature these troupes on Saturday, April 7 in a Disney Showcase, to be performed at 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Lodge of Elks, 1077 Pond Street. Ticket proceeds will help defray travel and workshop expenses for the Disney-bound performers.

New York Women in Communications will present the 2012 Matrix Awards on Monday, April 23, 2012 to honor 'Women Who Change the World,' during a luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The ceremony, hosted by Interpublic Group, will feature honorees and presenters such as Glenn Close, Ann Curry, Meredith Vieira, Rocco DiSpirito, Kirsten Gillibrand and Lesley Stahl.

The Beatles' classic 1968 animated feature film, Yellow Submarine, has been digitally restored for DVD and Blu-ray release on May 28 (May 29 in North America). The film's songtrack album will be reissued on CD on the same date.

Open Fall Registration for new students and families begins Monday, April 2 at Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA). Advanced Fall Registration for currently enrolled FSPA students begins Monday, March 26 and runs for one week prior to open enrollment. Registration is also ongoing for all summer programs, including one-week camps, a two-week SummerStage musical theater program, and a full roster of dance classes, voice classes, and private voice and instrumental lessons. Prospective students and families are encouraged to visit the school, tour the facilities and try a complimentary class.

TV and stage icon Hayley Mills will be starring alongside Belinda Lang in the world premiere stage production of Ladies In Lavender at Royal & Derngate this spring. This evocative and heart-warming story of unfulfilled dreams and unrequited love runs from Friday 6 April to Saturday 28 April, as part of the 2012 Made In Northampton season before embarking on a national tour.

Video of Gershwin's, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, taped Live during the 2011/12 Season Opening Night Concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, is available exclusively on iTunes for free from March 18 to March 26.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) and NCM Fathom have announced the third and final performance of the LA Phil LIVE second season featuring world-renowned Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil with Jazz legend Herbie Hancock for a celebration of quintessential American composer George Gershwin on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. local time.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) and NCM Fathom announced today the third and final performance of the LA Phil LIVE second season featuring world-renowned Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil with jazz legend Herbie Hancock for a celebration of quintessential American composer George Gershwin on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. Pacific / 5 p.m. Eastern.

The New Orleans premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, April 15. In New Orleans, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m., with an additional performance on Thursday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

Now that the warm weather is setting in...I mean continuing...it might seem counter-intuitive to sit your kids down in a dark theatre in the middle of the afternoon. Buttrust me, by the time Spring break rolls around, you'll have seen one playgroundtoo many and both you and your kids will be hungry for something more. That'swhen it's time to take advantage of being in (or close to) New York City and take insome awesome family theatre. Here are my top picks for Spring 2012. I've carefullyselected shows that are geared towards younger kids but not 100% annoying toparents. I'll be posting reviews on many of these productions as I catch them overthe next few months, so watch this space for the low down on BroadwayWorld Jr.'s2012 SPRING FLASH!

The sixth and final concert series in The Palm Beach Pops' 20th Anniversary Season, The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites will feature Broadway stars Lea Salonga, Tony and Drama Desk Winner, best known as the singing voice in Disney movies and for her leading roles in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and 2007 Helen Hayes Award winner David Burnham of Wicked. Six concerts are scheduled beginning March 29, 30 & 31 at The Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at FAU, Boca Raton, April 1 at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens and April 2 & 3 at the Kravis Center, West Palm Beach.

The sixth and final concert series in The Palm Beach Pops' 20th Anniversary Season, The Magic of Broadway and Disney Favorites will feature Broadway stars Lea Salonga, Tony and Drama Desk Winner, best known as the singing voice in Disney movies and for her leading roles in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and 2007 Helen Hayes Award winner David Burnham of Wicked. Six concerts are scheduled beginning March 29, 30 & 31 at The Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at FAU, Boca Raton, April 1 at the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens and April 2 & 3 at the Kravis Center, West Palm Beach.