Ruth Righi

Also joining the cast in recurring guest roles are Ellie Kemper ('Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt') as the school librarian, Chee; Jack McBrayer ('30 Rock') as a pet kanga bird; Ryan Michelle Bathé ('The Endgame') as Barry's mom, Sierra; and Wendell Pierce ('Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan') as Barry's father, Cliff.

BroadwayWorld had the pleasure of sitting down with the two stars via email and chatting about Howie and Kourtney, their personal trajectories to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and so much more.

The series is produced by Academy Award® nominated animation studio Brown Bag Films ('Doc McStuffins') in association with Disney Junior. The announcement was made today by Joe D'Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming and general manager, Disney Junior.

Disney Channel will present three special programming events for kids and families to kick-off the holiday season in December. 

A series of new interstitial messages, from kids' favorite Disney Channel stars, designed to offer reassurance and a sense of community during the present global health crisis premieres FRIDAY, MARCH 27, on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube. The series includes over 35 Disney Channel stars who each filmed their message from their homes and around their neighborhoods, sharing how they stay positive, active and, with the help of parents and family members, navigate through this uncertain time. The series is designed to demonstrate for viewers age 6-14 that they are not alone in this experience, and we are all in this together (#WAITT).

Disney Channel has ordered a third season of its popular live-action comedy 'Sydney to the Max' ahead of its season two premiere, scheduled for 2020. The endearing daughter/father comedy, set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1990s, follows middle schooler Sydney Reynolds who lives with her single dad, Max, and her unconventional grandmother, Judy. As Sydney navigates becoming a teenager alongside her bestie Olive, Max's flashbacks of his childhood with his best friend Leo parallel her adventures, illustrating how life's 'growing pains' never change. The series stars Ruth Righi, Ian Reed Kesler, Caroline Rhea, Jackson Dollinger, Ava Kolker and Christian J. Simon. Created and executive produced by Mark Reisman ('Frasier,' 'Wings,' 'The Exes'), the show is currently in production on season two.

Increasing the degree of both comedy and complexity, Disney Channel will present 'Just Roll With It: You Decide LIVE!,' an interactive, live telecast of 'Just Roll With It,' a series which stands apart for its blend of scripted and improvisational comedy, on FRIDAY, OCT. 4 (9:00 p.m. EDT/6:00 p.m. PDT). During the Halloween-themed special—the first of its kind for the channel—viewers nationwide can join the studio audience in the fun of determining plot twists in real-time. As viewers watch the special LIVE on Disney Channel, they will be able to vote on certain elements of the show via the DisneyNOW app or DisneyNOW.com—and, as they do in each episode, the talented cast will improvise and just roll with it … live!

Filmmakers, talent and special guests celebrated Disney's “The Lion King” tonight in Hollywood. The movie, which opens on July 19, 2019, welcomes beloved characters back to the big screen in a whole new way.

Disney Channel has picked up a second season of the popular live-action daughter/father comedy 'Sydney to the Max,' starring 13-year-old actress/musical artist Ruth Righi in the title role of Sydney. Geared for kids ages 6-14 and families, the series is set in the present day with flashbacks to the 1990s and follows outgoing middle schooler Sydney Reynolds, who lives with her single dad Max (Ian Reed Kesler, 'Suits'), in the house he grew up in, along with her progressive grandmother Judy (Caroline Rhea, 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch,' Disney's 'Phineas and Ferb'). As Sydney's preteen pursuits begin to expand, Max's flashbacks of his childhood help him gain a better perspective of his daughter's experiences. Created and executive produced by Mark Reisman ('Frasier,' 'Wings,' 'The Exes'), production on season two will commence later this summer.

'Sydney to the Max,' a sitcom introducing 13-year-old actress/musical artist Ruth Righi (Broadway's 'School of Rock The Musical') in her first leading role, is set to premiere FRIDAY, JAN. 25 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST/PST), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.  Created by Mark Reisman ('Frasier,' 'Wings,' 'The Exes'), the series is geared for kids ages 6-14 and families. It also stars Ian Reed Kesler ('Suits'), Caroline Rhea ('Sabrina the Teenage Witch,' 'Phineas and Ferb'), Jackson Dollinger (“Puppy Dog Pals”), Ava Kolker ('Girl Meets World') and Christian J. Simon (“The Amazing World of Gumball”).

Production has begun on 'Sydney to the Max,' a daughter/father comedy series created by Emmy® Award-nominated writer, showrunner and executive producer Mark Reisman ('Frasier,' 'The Exes,' 'Wings'). The multi-camera series is scheduled to premiere in early 2019 on Disney Channel.

Broadway Workshop, the country's top training program for young performers, celebrates their tenth anniversary semester. Since 2007, Broadway Workshop has welcomed thousands of students from around the world to learn from teaching artists comprised of Broadway's biggest names including, Ben Platt, Darren Criss, Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Cynthia Erivo, Christian Borle, Jessie Mueller, Jeremy Jordan, Megan Hilty, Rory O'Malley, Annaleigh Ashford, Javier Muñoz, and many more.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock - The Musical will welcome four new adult cast members to the show this November.

Below, check out exclusive photos of the cast of SCHOOL OF ROCK as they record their track, 'Yule of Rock.'

Hand-picked by producer and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, newcomers Justin Collette and Conner John Gillooly will join the cast of School of Rock - The Musical in the role of failed, wannabe rocker, Dewey Finn.

New York City wasn't exactly the most magical place for a child to grow up in back in 1975. Crime and poverty rates were inhumanely high and when the city begged for federal assistance, the president, at least according to a Daily News headline, replied 'Drop Dead.'

Led by Artistic Director Michael Friedman, the popular Encores! Off-Center series returns for its fifth season of landmark Off-Broadway musicals, continuing with Carole King and Maurice Sendak's family musical Really Rosie, directed by Leigh Silverman (August 2-5).

Encores! Off-Center Artistic Director Michael Friedman continues his first season at the helm of the popular summer musical theater series at New York City Center with REALLY ROSIE, beginning tonight, August 2nd.

Led by Artistic Director Michael Friedman, the popular Encores! Off-Center series returns for its fifth season of landmark Off-Broadway musicals, continuing with Carole King and Maurice Sendak's family musical Really Rosie, directed by Leigh Silverman (August 2-5).

Following the success of Assassins, Encores! Off-Center Artistic Director Michael Friedman today announced casting for the next two productions of his first season at the helm of the popular summer musical theater series at New York City Center.