Walt Disney News

Disney's The Lion King, celebrating nearly 15 years since its 1997 world premiere in Minneapolis, opens tonight, Friday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012.

Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre is set to present "Beauty and the Beast" 3D along with Disney's all-new animated short, "Tangled Ever After," from January 13 through February 2 2012, it was announced today by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

As his 13-week "Song of America" radio series fans out successfully across the American airwaves, Thomas Hampson returns to the US for a series of high-profile concerts, recitals and a company role debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera, all featuring signature repertoire.

The heart-tugging original feel-good series 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' concludes its 9th and final season on ABC with two episodes in January 2012, including its biggest-ever build -- the 200th episode, in which the team builds 7 homes in 7 days for tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri. The final two regularly scheduled episodes, 'Gibbs Family' and 'Joplin, Missouri,' will air January 6 and January 13, respectively (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' will continue on ABC with specials after this season.

A new Marvel original anime series sinks its teeth into the G4 network with the premiere of Blade on Friday, January 13th at 11pm ET/PT.

The Hub Television network, a destination for kids and their families, has acquired the hit animated series THE SUPER HERO SQUAD SHOW from Marvel Animation. The popular half-hour series, which features the world's best-known Super Heroes including Iron Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America will join The Hub's Monday through Friday lineup beginning Monday, January 30, at 4 p.m. ET

Just added to the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2011/12 season is "Keith Jarrett: An Evening of Solo Improvisations," at Walt Disney Concert Hall, March 27, 2012.

The second LA Phil Green Umbrella 2011/12 season concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall focuses on the music of one of America's greatest living composers, Steve Reich, Tuesday, January 17, at 8 pm.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) and NCM Fathom have announced the third and final performance of the LA Phil LIVE second season featuring world-renowned Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil with Jazz legend Herbie Hancock for a celebration of quintessential American composer George Gershwin on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. local time.

For the second week in a row, the North American tour of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS broke the Canadian record for highest single-week gross for a theatrical production

Festival Stage of Winston-Salem continues its second season with a revival of the Off-Broadway hit musical "Oil City Symphony," playing Jan. 27-Feb. 19 at the Hanesbrands Theatre in downtown Winston-Salem.

Rapunzel, the enchanting story of the girl with the longest hair in the world, will be Winnetka Theatre's popular "Especially for Kids" production this season. The funny, witty one-­hour musical for children ages 3-­10 will be presented on Saturdays and Sundays from January 21-­Feb 5th, 2012 at the Winnetka Community House, with performances 11 am and 2pm each day.

Continuing its commitment to create and distribute content for digital and traditional media platforms alike, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading diversified global entertainment company, announced today that it has sold season one of Thunderbird Films' crime drama Endgame to Hulu. The show will premiere in the U.S. on Hulu and the Hulu Plus subscription service on January 9.

On Sunday January 8 at 7:00 pm, the El Capitan Theatre presents a very special concert -- A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD M. SHERMAN, with international concert and recording artist Rob Richards, the theatre's own house organist, performing on the world famous El Capitan Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ.

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater continues as America's oldest ongoing marionette theatre as it celebrates the launch of its 52nd season with "Fiesta" opening January 7, 2012.

On January 6, 2012, PBS's Great Performances airs Herbie Hancock, Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil Celebrate Gershwin, a live recording of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Opening Night Gala and Concert with Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and Creative Chair for Jazz Herbie Hancock.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic have revealed the complete creative team and full cast for Don Giovanni , the first installment of an ambitious three-year Mozart/Da Ponte opera project presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Two familiar faces, conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, return to Walt Disney Concert Hall to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic in four performances, Thursday, January 5, at 8 pm; Friday, January 6, at 11 am; Saturday, January 7, at 8 pm; and Sunday, January 8, at 2 pm.

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced a long-term, comprehensive distribution agreement that will deliver Disney's top quality sports, news and entertainment content to Comcast's Xfinity TV customers into the next decade on television, online, on tablets and handheld devices.

Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America's greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date.