Kenny Ortega News

Variety is reporting that 'Dancing With the Stars' pro dancer and country singer Julianne Hough will star opposite Chace Crawford on Paramount's upcoming remake of 'Footloose,' contingent on working out scheduling.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

The 2009 Astaire Awards Ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, took place last night, June 1, 7:30pm at The Haft Auditorium at Fashion Institute of Technology (7th Avenue at West 27th Street). Peter Darling (Billy Elliot) took home the award for Best Broadway Choreographer and Longines Fernandes (Slumdog Millionaire) for Best Film Choreographer.

Chace Crawford will undergo gruelling singing and dancing lessons before the cameras role on his remake of movie musical 'Footloose.' Paramount Pictures announced earlier this month that the 'Gossip Girl' star will play the lead role of Ren McCormack in the film 'Footloose,' which will be produced and directed by Kenny Ortega.

Perez Hilton has announced the exclusive news that Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford has been cast in the upcoming remake of Footloose. Pararmount Studio, which is producing the movie, confirmed the much rumored casting choice exclusively to PerezHilton.com

Variety reports NBC has officially passed on David E. Kelley's drama pilot 'Legally Mad'. 'Legally Mad' would have been the first primetime series from Kelley since the tv mastermind sealed a deal with Warner Bros. TV and would have been his first show at the Peacock since 'L.A. Law.' Kenny Ortega directed the pilot, which Kelley wrote, about a father and daughter at a Chicago law practice -- and the characters that surround them.

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

Nominations for the 2009 Astaire Awards were announced last night at Elaine?s Restaurant by Michael Riedel of the New York Post. These selections were made by this year?s Nominating Committee; Sylviane Gold (Theater Columnist for Dance Magazine), Anna Kisselgoff (former Chief Dance Critic of The New York Times), Wendy Perron (Editor in Chief of Dance Magazine), Linda Winer (Chief Theater Critic of Newsday) and Damian Woetzel (Former Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet). The producers of the 2009 Astaire Awards, which recognizes excellence in dance on stage and in film, are Patricia Watt and Ron Glucksman.

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

The Heroes star has auditioned for the role of Ariel Moore - a part for which Dancing with the Stars' Julianne Hough is also reportedly seeking - in the musical remake of Footloose, E! News reports. Lori Singer played the character of Ariel in the original film.

E! Online's Marc Malkin is reporting that Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford's scheduling commitments to the show are causing significant issues with the upcoming big screen remake of Footloose. Negotiations are ongoing and are said to be getting down to the 'nitty-gritty of scheduling.'

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Zac Efron has been cast in the title role of Jonny Quest in the upcoming action film based on the famed comic character.

Young actor Zac Efron revealed to EW.com why he pulled out of the Footloose remake: He didn't want to be type-cast as the musical guy.

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

E! Online's Marc Malkin is exclusively reporting that Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford tested this weekend for the upcoming big screen remake of Footloose.

Variety is reporting that Zac Efron is in negotiations to re-team with 17 Again director Burr Steers on an adaptation of the novel 'The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.' The film will likely be the next for Efron, who just bailed out of Paramount's Footloose remake.

Hollywood news website The Wrap has reported that teen-throb and star of Disney's first three 'High School Musical' films, Zac Efron has dropped out of Paramount's planned remake of 'Footloose,' in what seems an apparent effort to push his career beyond fame as just a cute song-and-dance man.

Variety is reporting that the fourth installment of 'High School Musical' will return the franchise back to where it all started: the Disney Channel.

High School Musical-mania reaches new heights when Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour skates into Bay Area February 25 - March 1, 2009 at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, and March 4 - 8, 2009 at the ORACLE Arena in Oakland. The only production to showcase the story, music and choreography of both hit Disney Channel Original Movies, The Ice Tour will now feature a high-energy High School Musical 3: Senior Year Special Bonus Experience, exclusive to Ice Tour ticketholders. The video and live-action bonus pre-show experience includes behind-the-scenes footage from the new movie High School Musical 3: Senior Year and a one-of-a-kind sing-a-long dance party. The Ice Tour, produced by Feld Entertainment, Inc. and Kenny Ortega, spotlights popular East High Wildcat story and musical moments, including 11 Billboard Hot 100 hit songs from the Emmy? Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movies. In this modern day Romeo and Juliet fable, world and national skating champions portray the characters with a combination of the movies' dance moves and ice skating choreography that includes spins, jumps and pairs skating. The Ice Tour is the only way for Wildcat fans to experience the pep, pop, drama and dazzle of the first two 'High School Musical' movies live, plus an exclusive High School Musical 3: Senior Year pre-show feature that will rock the arena. The complimentary Special Bonus Experience includes High School Musical 3: Senior Year behind-the-scenes footage, music videos and cast member interviews. Kenny Ortega introduces this exciting feature via video screen, and families are treated to a one-of-a-kind experience as movie and Ice Tour choreographer Chucky Klapow joins Kenny on screen to provide a High School Musical 3: Senior Year dance lesson. Fans will be rocking in the aisles to the new movie's anthem song as skaters demonstrate the hot new steps on ice.

High School Musical-mania reaches new heights when Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour skates into Bay Area February 25 - March 1, 2009 at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, and March 4 - 8, 2009 at the ORACLE Arena in Oakland. The only production to showcase the story, music and choreography of both hit Disney Channel Original Movies, The Ice Tour will now feature a high-energy High School Musical 3: Senior Year Special Bonus Experience, exclusive to Ice Tour ticketholders. The video and live-action bonus pre-show experience includes behind-the-scenes footage from the new movie High School Musical 3: Senior Year and a one-of-a-kind sing-a-long dance party. The Ice Tour, produced by Feld Entertainment, Inc. and Kenny Ortega, spotlights popular East High Wildcat story and musical moments, including 11 Billboard Hot 100 hit songs from the Emmy? Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movies. In this modern day Romeo and Juliet fable, world and national skating champions portray the characters with a combination of the movies' dance moves and ice skating choreography that includes spins, jumps and pairs skating. The Ice Tour is the only way for Wildcat fans to experience the pep, pop, drama and dazzle of the first two 'High School Musical' movies live, plus an exclusive High School Musical 3: Senior Year pre-show feature that will rock the arena. The complimentary Special Bonus Experience includes High School Musical 3: Senior Year behind-the-scenes footage, music videos and cast member interviews. Kenny Ortega introduces this exciting feature via video screen, and families are treated to a one-of-a-kind experience as movie and Ice Tour choreographer Chucky Klapow joins Kenny on screen to provide a High School Musical 3: Senior Year dance lesson. Fans will be rocking in the aisles to the new movie's anthem song as skaters demonstrate the hot new steps on ice.