Walt Disney News

The New York Philharmonic will present Pixar in Concert, a program illustrating Pixar's mastery of film scoring to underscore its celebrated storytelling. Clips from all 14 Pixar films released to date - the Toy Story trilogy; A Bug's Life; Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars and Cars 2; Ratatouille; Wall·E; UP; and Brave - will be screened as the Orchestra performs the music live, led by film composer and conductor David Newman. The concerts take place tonight, May 1, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 p.m.

Lionsgate has named renowned games and digital media entrepreneur Peter Levin to be President of Interactive Ventures and Games

Cheyenne Jackson won the hearts of a sold-out crowd by completely opening his own in his debut performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday night. The self-professed goal of the tall, dark and handsome singer was simply 'to blanket the audience with love,' which he did repeatedly in a program that paid tribute to the '50s and '60s with his Music of the Mad Men Era

Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm may have announced the majority of its STAR WARS: EPISODE VII cast earlier today, but sources have confirmed that a final key role has yet to be filled.

On July 9, 2014 Westchester Broadway Theatre will celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The Theatre has a history of 184 main-stage productions and nearly a thousand Monday/Tuesday special events and concerts. WBT's objective with this world-class venue is to always provide its audiences, which come from far and wide, with the highest production values and most memorable entertainment and dining experiences.

The Actors Fund's annual gala yesterday raised a record-breaking $1.6 million, as a sold-out audience at the New Amsterdam Theatre witnessed stars of 20 years of Disney on Broadway in highlights from the producing powerhouse's history of award-winning shows. The evening honored the creative collaborators and staff members of Disney Theatrical Productions as they celebrate 20 years on Broadway. Formed in 1994 and operating under the direction of president and producer Thomas Schumacher, Disney received the Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the 132-year old non-profit human services organization. In addition, Fund CEO Joseph P. Benincasa received The Fund's honor for 25 years of service to the creative community.

The Hollywood Arts Council presented their 28th Annual Charlie Awards Luncheon in theBlossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, home of the first Academy Awards ceremony, at a Sold Out event on Friday, April 25, 2014. Shauna McClure, Executive Director of the Hollywood Arts Council said: "This was the record breaking year of all time in the Hollywood Arts Council's 36-year history. We raised $110,000 at this year's luncheon. Our Online Auction is still open atwww.biddingforgood.com/hollywoodartscouncil. The auction items include one-of-a-kind items, tickets to shows, art and the like. Bidding will close at 12-Midnight on Wednesday, April 30, 2014."

Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm have announced the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII! Included in the cast is Tony nominee Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter) as well as off-Broadway vets Oscar Issac and Adam Driver

Santa Monica Playhouse and director Chris DeCarlo team up once again with Playwright, Lisa Phillips Visca, to present the World Premiere of Turning Thirty -an irresistible comedy about love, family, and a trust fund opening May 3rd.

The Music Center celebrated 12 teen performing artists and four teen visual artists at The Music Center's 26th Annual Spotlight Awards during a finale performance on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Hosted by Oscar-nominated actor, musician and author, John Lithgow, the awards show culminated The Music Center's year-long free recognition and scholarship program for Southern California high school performing and visual artists. A first place and runner-up were named in each of eight categories, including ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental, jazz instrumental, two-dimensional art (works of art with height and weight, but no depth, using drawing, painting, computer generated or mixed media) and photography (black/white, color and digital). This year's top performing and visual artists were awarded more than $100,000 in cash scholarships with $5,000 for students selected as first place finalists and $4,000 for runners-up in each category; five honorable mentions in each category received $250.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO)'s 45th season concludes with a veritable piano 'festival' as Jeremy Denk, 'a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs' (The New York Times), returns for a command performance on Saturday, May 17, 2014, 8 pm, at Glendale's Alex Theatre, and Sunday, May 18, 2014, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Denk, artistic director of the 2014 Ojai Music Festival, is featured on selections from Ligeti's Etudes for Piano, Book I & II, as well as Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major. From the keyboard, LACO Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, an acclaimed pianist, conducts Bach's Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Keyboards, and Mozart's Concerto No. 10 in E-flat major for Two Pianos. He is joined by 12-year-old prodigy Ray Ushikubo for the Bach and LA Phil Keyboardist Joanne Pearce Martin for the Mozart.

Idina Menzel and Oscar winning composers Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez hosted a special FROZEN Singalong Benefit in support of Menzel' A Broaderway Foundation.

Check out the beloved characters Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Hans from the Oscar winning film dancing to the Michael Jackson classic 'Thriller'.

This summer, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), featuring 120 outstanding young musicians from across the country, will come together for a second annual year of extraordinary music-making.

There's something beautifully poetic in juxtaposing two current offerings by small theater companies in Boston. Bad Habit Productions celebrates ambitious women in Caryl Churchill's TOP GIRLS at the Boston Center for the Arts, while Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans are light years removed from Walt Disney in SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 BOTTOMS at Machine Nightclub in the shadow of Fenway Park.

The Hollywood Arts Council will present the 28th Annual Charlie Awards Luncheon today, April 25, 2015 starting at 11:30 a.m. in The Blossom Room (the site for the first Academy Awards ceremony) at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; 7000 Hollywood Boulevard (at Orange Street); Hollywood, CA 90028.

32 works of art have been donated by California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) alumni, faculty and friends, including works by John Baldessari, Walead Beshty, Mike Kelley, Robert Longo, Cathy Opie, Ed Ruscha, Tony Oursler and Jennifer Steinkamp.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong'o are in talks to join the cast of Jon Favreau's upcoming live-action/VFX remake of Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK.