Walt Disney News

Broadway In Boston announces the upcoming 2012-2013 Lexus Broadway Season which will include eight theatrical productions at the Boston Opera House and the venerable Citi Performing Arts Center Colonial Theatre.

It's finally here! The first festival created for the development of children's theatre in New York is happening next month, and they've just announced their fab lineup of original, family-friendly shows!

Avila Productions, LLC, by special arrangement with Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Jack Sharkey, today announced the world premiere of TERESA'S ECSTASY, written by Begonya Plaza and directed by Will Pomerantz.

It's March Madness as ABC Family airs the network television premiere of Disney's ALIC IN WONDERLAND, starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter on Saturday, March 3rd at 8:30pm ET/PT and Sunday, March 4th at 7:30pm ET/PT.

Avila Productions, LLC, by special arrangement with Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Jack Sharkey, has announced the world premiere of TERESA'S ECSTASY, written by Begonya Plaza and directed by Will Pomerantz.

Edward Gero and Patrick Andrews star in Red at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, produced in association with Goodman Theatre.

Classical tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 8 PM, as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's 2011/12 World Music Series. Hussain is joined by Masters of Percussion, an ensemble of leading percussion artists, the Meitei Pung Cholom Performing Troupe which combines dance, drumming and martial arts, and special guest, kathak dancer, Antonia Minnecola.

Pablo Heras-Casado, who was recently appointed Principal Conductor of Orchestra of St. Luke's, returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in three performances,Friday, March 2, at 8 pm, as well as Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, at 2 pm. The program features the West Coast premiere of Brooklyn-based composer James Matheson's LA Phil-co-commission Violin Concerto, played by LA Phil Principal Concertmaster Martin Chalifour. Additionally, Beethoven's EgmontOverture will be performed Saturday and Sunday, and Strauss' Ein Heldenleben will be performed all three dates.

San Francisco-based string quartet Kronos and L.A.'s own modern jazz pianist/composer Billy Childs each play their own sets and then collaborate on a piece written by Childs to stunning effect. "The most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years" (Wall Street Journal), Bill Frisell begins the evening with his spacious jazz and country-inflected drum/violin trio.

MARY POPPINS, now in its 5th successful year on Broadway, continues to break ground with its new entirely digitized marquee made from LED lights. Check it out below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Kinky Boots' and 'The Jungle Book' try out, Sarah Siddons and Windy City host benefit concerts, new works from Josh Schmidt and more, the Leap Day connection plus 'Mansical!'

Walt Disney Pictures has just released a new trailer for their highly anticipated action adventure THE AVENGERS, coming to theaters on May 4, 2012. The film is directed and written by Joss Whedon.

HUGO AND HARRY POTTER and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, June 20.

The New York Children's Theater Festival has announced the accepted participants for its inaugural season, chosen by a judging panel of over 30 industry professionals including Kevin ("Elmo") Clash, Cheryl Henson (President, The Henson Foundation), John Tartaglia (Emmy, Tony, and Drama Desk Award nominated actor, producer, puppeteer), Thomas Schumacher (President, Disney Theatrical Productions), and Michael Jung, (Vice President, Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering).

First Lady Michelle Obama connects with kids and families about the importance of getting up, getting outside and getting active during a 'Disney XD Xtra,' an interstitial hosted by Doc Shaw, Kelsey Chow (both of Disney XD's 'Pair of Kings') and Olivia Holt (of Disney XD's 'Kickin' It'), premiering today, February 28 on Disney XD. The young actors met the First Lady at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort during an event celebrating 'Let's Move!,' the First Lady's initiative to fight childhood obesity, and Disney's Magic of Healthy Living, a Company-wide initiative designed to inspire kids and families to lead healthier and active lifestyles.

Hector Olivera performs the final organ recital of Pacific Symphony's 2011-12 "Pedals and Pipes" series showcasing the 4,322-piped William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. Born in Buenos Aires, Olivera began playing the pipe organ at age 3, and at age 5 played for the legendary Eva Peron. Since attending The Juilliard School of Music, his interpretations of both classical and popular music have earned him standing ovations around the world. Olivera performs works by Bach, Clarke/Purcell, Franck, Liszt, a little improvisation and more for a one-night-only concert, Sunday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets are $15-59; for more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Brian Stokes Mitchell returns to Los Angeles where it all started for him on March 9, 2012. Brian Stokes Mitchell's credits include work as an actor, singer, dancer, voice-over artist, author, arranger, orchestrator, conductor and record producer. He has enjoyed a career on Broadway, television and film, along with appearances in the great American concert halls. On Valentine's Day this year, he joined the national TV phenomenon of Glee (along with Jeff Goldblum) to play one of Rachel's (Lea Michele) two Dads.

Today we are talking to one of the busiest lyricists in show business, Glenn Slater. In the first part of our extensive discussion, besides discussing all aspects of the writing of LOVE NEVER DIES with Andrew Lloyd Webber and its West End debut, Slater also elaborated on the rewriting of the show and how this new Australian production and unprecedented in-theater presentation of it across the US is the ultimate realization of Lloyd Webber's dream vision for the musical drama - something the Lord shared with me himself when he recently did this column. In addition to all about LOVE NEVER DIES, in this second half of our recent chat Slater and I also trace his career trajectory to date, with a focus on his recent collaborations with composer Alan Menken on the smash hit Disney animated film, TANGLED, along with the currently-running Broadway hit, SISTER ACT, and, the upcoming Spring opening of their new musical, LEAP OF FAITH, starring Raul Esparza, as well as their previous theatre venture, THE LITTLE MERMAID. Plus, Slater shines some light on his upcoming projects, which include a Dreamworks animated musical with Menken, as well as a stage collaboration with his wife, Wendy Leigh Wilf, titled BEATSVILLE - all of that and much, much more!

Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. Previously, we've run columns with Tim Curry, former Will & Grace costars Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack, Sandra Bernhard, Barry Bostwick, and Patrick Cassidy. Today, take a walk down memory lane with this photo of a young Christina Aguilera.