Walt Disney News

Sunday's Backstage at the Geffen, star-studded fundraiser at the Geffen Playhouse and the pre-show host committee dinner grossed over $1.4 million for the Geffen Playhouse's education, outreach and artistic initiatives.  Norman Lear presented the Distinction in Service Award to social entrepreneur Jeff Skoll.  Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman.

Jaunt, the leading producer and publisher of fully-immersive cinematic virtual reality experiences, and legendary singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, today released the first two episodes of PURE McCartney VR, a six-part series of virtual reality (VR) documentary shorts.

Jaunt, the leading producer and publisher of fully-immersive cinematic virtual reality experiences, and legendary singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, today released the first two episodes of PURE McCartney VR

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht announced the hire of Pamela Wolfe as Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Working out of the company's Beverly Hills headquarters, she will assume responsibilities for all human resources functions for the approximate 800 employees across the Starz businesses.

Walt Disney Studios shared an all-new trailer for FINDING DORY. Disney•Pixar's feature animated film swims into theaters June 17, 2016. Get a first look below!

Hollywood Boulevard shut down on Monday, May 23 for the stars of Disney's “Alice Through the Looking Glass” attending the film's premiere at the El Capitan Theatre, which included Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Sacha Baron Cohen

Encore! Cast Performing Arts announces their latest show, RAGTIME - The Musical: In Concert. Presented July 9 and 10, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the Walt Disney Theater, this production will benefit USO Central Florida. Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 27, 2016 at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $28.75 and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases include handling fees.

Phoenix Theatre premiering WHEN YOU WISH: THE STORY OF WALT DISNEY, a highly idealized and superficial portrait of the mogul of animated filmdom that leaves too many stones of character and relationship development unturned.

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, May 22, 2016 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!

Two-time Oscar®-winner Cate Blanchett ('Blue Jasmine,' 'Carol, 'Cinderella') joins Marvel Studios' 'Thor: Ragnarok' as the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela, along with Jeff Goldblum (the upcoming 'Independence Day: Resurgence,' 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' 'Jurassic Park') who joins the cast as the eccentric Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson ('Creed,' 'Selma') who will bring the classic hero Valkyrie to life on the big screen, and Karl Urban ('Star Trek' trilogy, 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King') who will add his might to the fray as Skurge.

Dance Parade New York is pleased to announce that contemporary dance choreographer Garth Fagan, KS 360 aka 'Kwikstep' street dance veteran and global DJ, and B-Girl Rokafella, pioneer female hip-hop and break dancer, are headlining as Grand Marshals at the 10th Annual Dance Parade and Festival.

Singer-songwriter Sia is on board Disney•Pixar's FINDING DORY, performing the film's end-credit song, “Unforgettable.”

Coinciding with Disney Channel's upcoming premiere of 'Adventures in Babysitting,' its 100th Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), Walt Disney Records will release a digital album of songs from chart-topping and certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum DCOM soundtracks

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Below, check out his latest illustration of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in A Musical Tony nominees: Jessie Mueller (Waitress), Laura Benanti (She Loves Me), Phillipa Soo (Hamilton), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), and Carmen Cusack (Bright Star).

Oakland, March 23, 2016 – The Oakland Symphony, Music Director and Conductor Michael Morgan, the Oakland Symphony Chorus and guest artists Tracy Silverman, electric violin, and soprano Nicole Joseph will conclude the Symphony's 2015-2016 season with a concert of music by John Adams, Stravinsky, Barber and RavelToday, May 20, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre. Mr. Silverman will perform John Adams' The Dharma at Big Sur for orchestra and electric violin and Ms. Joseph, who was the winner of the 2015 Toland Vocal Arts Competition, will sing Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Completing the evening will be Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Lynne Morrow, Director; and Ravel's La Valse. Pre-concert drinks, lobby entertainment and a talk begin at 7 pm and the concert is sponsored by Bell Investment Advisors.Tickets are priced $20-$75 and may be purchased at www.oaklandsymphony.org .

Tumble down the rabbit hole with STAGES St. Louis this summer for its Theatre for Young Audiences production, Disney's Alice in Wonderland, June 15th - July 3rd, at The Playhouse at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. This whimsical journey to a land beyond imagination is a fantastic adventure the whole family can enjoy!

Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents its fourth annual spring production, MARY POPPINS, from June 3, 2016 to June 5, 2016.

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham is thrilled to announce the sixth and final show in the Laguna Playhouse 2015-2016 season, Emerson Collins starring in BUYER AND CELLAR, written by Jonathan Tolins and directed by Larry Raben.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) showcases the interplay of music and film with 'LACO @ the Movies: An Evening of Disney Silly Symphonies,' a program of dazzling and delightful Academy Award-winning animation created by Walt Disney Studios between 1929 and 1939, with orchestral scores performed live by Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra led by six-time Emmy award-winning composer Mark Watters, on Saturday, June 4, 2016, 7 pm, at the historic Orpheum Theatre movie palace in downtown Los Angeles. Based on timeless fairy tales and fantastical scenarios, the seven classic animated Silly Symphony shorts include five Academy Award-winners, the first Silly Symphony short produced and directed by Walt Disney, the first commercial color short and the first to utilize a multiplane camera to create depth of field. With animation by a number of Disney legends, these films are set against a backdrop of lively music. From symphonic to jazz, and featuring the Orpheum's 1927 Wurlitzer, one of only three remaining original theatre organ installations in theatres in Southern California, the music by such luminaries as Leigh Harline and Carl Stalling is arranged for live orchestra by Watters and Alex Rannie. The magical event for adults and children six and older benefits education and concert programs of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, considered one of the world's premier chamber orchestras as well as a pacesetter in presenting wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissions. Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman serves as Honorary Chair. Film tickets and exclusive sponsorship packages, including a post-film cocktail party, are available.

What a lovely surprise! I know that Bruce Kimmel is quite the clever gentleman and would not expect anything less than superlative work from his camp, but stepping down to the college campus level to review is not something that I particularly savor. These actors, with the exception of Robert Yacko and April Audia, are students, not yet professional performers as such. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed, not by the singing, but at least by the acting and overall drive and energy of the performers who delivered a mightily informative, nostalgic and fun show. It's called L.A. Now and Then, and it's a revue with songs and monologues that take a glance back at Los Angeles through the years and compare past with present cultural values. Kimmel as director maintains a great pace throughout: no lags; the show moves!