News

'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' stars Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen have joined a new musical parody.The two actors - who played Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee respectively alongside Gene Wilder in the original 1971 movie - will take part in a live stage reading of 'Willy's Candy Spectacular', which is inspired by the disastrous 'Willy's Chocolate Experience' event in Glasgow earlier this year.The upcoming musical parody will perform live stage readings at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with the former child stars each stepping in as narrators.Cole will be part of the cast from August 9 to 18, with Themmen then stepping into the role from August 19 to 26.The musical is inspired by the real life 'Wonka' event which was originally advertised as an "immersive experience" as organisers promised a "magical realm" for visitors.Although the promotional material was full of promise thanks to AI-generated images,...

Because memes never truly die, the disastrous Willy Wonka exhibit that spawned such viral images as the sad Oompa Loompa and ‘The Unknown’ now has a fully produced musical parody on the way titled Willy’s Candy Spectacular. Because that alone isn’t absurd enough, original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory actors Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen have officially joined the cast.

Cole and Themmen, who respectively portrayed Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee in the 1971 classic, will serve as narrators in live stage readings of Willy’s Candy Spectacular, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The readings are set to go down at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with Cole leading the production from August 9th to August 18th and Themmen taking over from August 19th to August 26th.

Notably, Kirsty Paterson, the memed sad Oompa Loompa, is also set to appear. Other names involved include Shelly Regner (Pitch Perfect series), Eric Petersen,...

After more than 50 years, two actors are diving back into the world of Willy Wonka (sort of). Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen, two of the child stars of 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, will participate in a live stage reading of Willy’s Candy Spectacular, an upcoming musical parody inspired by a disastrous Wonka event that made international headlines earlier this year.

Cole played the insatiable Veruca Salt in the classic movie starring Gene Wilder as chocolatier Willy Wonka, while Themmen played the cowboy hat wearing Mike Teavee. Both will participate in a live reading at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, serving as narrators. Cole will lead the cast from Aug. 9 to 18, with Themmen stepping in from Aug. 19-26.

Willy’s Candy Spectacular was inspired by a real-life Wonka event in Scotland, which organizers advertised as “immersive experience” that would transport Willy Wonka fans to a “magical realm.

Earlier this year, a number of actors were questioning their life choices after answering an add to work at a Willy Wonka experience in Scotland. Organizers advertised it as an “immersive experience” that would transport Willy Wonka fans to a “magical realm.” They used lush, AI-generated art helped lure patrons to the event, which turned out to be anything but magical. The experience was housed at a shabby warehouse that was so depressing it earned comparisons to a meth lab, and it ultimately made international headlines for just how bad it was.

Now, songwriter Riki Lindhome is questioning the life choices of one of the actors involved in a new track for Willy’s Candy Spectacular, an upcoming parody of that disastrous, Fyre Fest-style Willy Wonka event. In the song (below), Lindhome channels the experience of Kirsty Paterson, who played the sad Oompah Loompa in the real viral experience and...

Actor and musician John Stamos is known for lending his talents to bands like The Beach Boys, but now he’s going in a very different direction. Stamos has recorded a song for Willy’s Candy Spectacular, an upcoming live musical that takes inspiration from a disastrous Willy Wonka-inspired event in Scotland earlier this year. He sings on a new track the production released Monday.

The event that inspired the musical made headlines after it used lush, artificial intelligence-generated photos to attract customers to what it billed as an “immersive experience” that would transport Willy Wonka fans to a “magical realm.” In reality, this “immersive experience” was held at a shabby warehouse in Glasgow, Scotland, that was so depressing attendees compared it to a meth lab.

This viral news story inspired The Little Mermaid Live producer Richard Kraft, and his Kraft-Engel Productions, to turn that event into a musical parody.

Something shifted when Timothée Chalamet put on the coat and top hat that transformed him into a budding chocolatier in Paul King’s Wonka. That simple act has moved us collectively into a chaos-ridden timeline in which families can get ripped off at a knockoff Willy Wonka-themed family event in Glasgow — and in which John Stamos can record the opening number demo for Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Parody Musical, a production entirely about that event.

The first introduction to the forthcoming production from Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner — set...

Exclusive: When John Stamos warns of a chocolaty apocalypse, pay attention.

He does just than in a sneak listen of what could be a pretty delicious musical parody inspired by that hilariously misguided (and unlicensed) Willy Wonka experience event in Glasgow a few months back.

The Stamos track is one of three demos released to Deadline today by the producers of Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody. With a line-up of songwriters including Riki Lindhome, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell, and Daniel Mertzlufft, and performances by TikTok’s The Sharpe Family Singers and the real fest’s actual sad, gone-viral Oompa Loompa actress Kirsty Paterson, the demos will debut today on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and at willyscandyspectacular.com.

Sample lyric, as delivered by Stamos with classic rock god moves: “It was the start of the end of the world/It’s significance was easy...

The Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow was described as the biggest event disaster since the Fyre Festival.

However, it appears a separate creative team has been inspired by the recent disaster, and are planning to turn the whole botched experience into a musical.

The BBC reports that producer Richard Kraft has assembled a team for the project, called “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody,” which he hopes to launch later this year. He told the BBC that the writing team was “assembled in less time than it takes for someone to sing the first verse of ‘Oompa Loompa Doompa-Dee-Do’.”

And he said: “I don’t want to fall into putting on the very thing we are satirising, so we are talking to investors now to make sure we have the proper budget to execute this well.”

The names attached to the project include Emmy nominee and comedian Riki Lindhome and Broadway...

A team of top film, television and stage songwriters have joined forces to create a musical satire inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knockoff fiasco in Glasgow, Scotland that became a social media phenomenon.

Produced by Kraft-Engel Productions, WillyFest – A Musical Parody is to premiere in late 2024.

The creative team behind the parody musical is comprised of Emmy-nominated Riki Lindhome Emmy winners Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell Broadway songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner First Date, ABC’s Once Upon a Time) and TikTok songwriter Daniel Mertzlufft.

“From Broadway to street corner pop-ups, audiences have become obsessed with immersive experiences that enable them to be a part of the story,” said a statement from songwriters Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. “But it takes a special...

A new musical is hoping to turn a disastrous Willy Wonka experience into a golden ticket.

Willy Fest: A Musical Parody will take inspiration from a Scottish event that went viral last month for all the wrong reasons. The event was billed as an “immersive experience” that would put Willy Wonka fans into a “magical realm.” Its organizers used lush AI-generated photos to attract customers, who upon arriving, found themselves in a drab wearhouse customers compared to a meth lab.

Willy Fest is planned as a live event for late 2024, and hails from producer Richard Kraft, known for ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live, who will produce via his Kraft-Engel Productions. He has assembled a team of writers and musicians to bring the project to fruition.

“While it is quite common for there to be writers’ rooms in television, taking that approach with theatrical songwriters is fairly unique and likely...

Exclusive: Black Bear International has launched international sales on Fred & Ginger, the musical about the passionate and explosive relationship between Hollywood dance legends, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The project was formerly set up at Amazon but is hitting the open market with Black Bear and financier 30West (The Triangle Of Sadness) now aboard. UTA Independent Film Group and 30West will co-rep U.S. rights.

As was previously known, BAFTA-winner Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) will play Astaire, the technically-driven perfectionist, opposite Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as the naturally gifted Rogers. The film is aiming to start production later this year.

Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F*cking World) will direct from a script by writer Arash Amel (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare).

Hollywood icons Astaire and Rogers starred in ten movies together, starting with Flying Down to Rio in 1933 and ending with The Barkleys of Broadway...

Just as a magical transformation takes place front-and-center in “Beauty and the Beast,” so do the costumes of ABC’s TV special of the classic animated film come to life, in these first exclusive sketches and character depictions that TheWrap can reveal. In the photos, which you can view below, see stars H.E.R. (who plays Belle) and Martin Short (who portrays Lumière) embody their sketched designs, as created by Marina Toybina.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+. In addition to Grammy and Oscar-winning H.E.R. and Short, the special stars Josh Groban (“Beast”), Joshua Henry (“Gaston”), David Alan Grier (“Cogsworth”), Shania Twain (“Mrs. Potts”), Rizwan Manji (“LeFou”), Jon Jon Briones (Belle’s father “Maurice”) and Leo Abelo Perry (Mrs.

ABC announces new ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’ cast

Five-time Grammy Award winner Shania Twain has signed on to play Mrs. Potts in ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, a live-action and animated blended special. The reimagining of the classic story has also just added Only Murders in the Building‘s Martin Short as Lumière and Tony Award winner David Alan Grier (A Soldier’s Play) as Cogsworth.

Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) has joined the cast as Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou. Jon Jon Briones (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) will take on the role of Maurice, Belle’s father. Leo Abelo Perry (The Big Leap) is set to play Mrs. Potts’ son, Chip.

The just-announced cast join previously announced stars Oscar winner H.E.R. (“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah) as Belle, Grammy nominee Josh Groban as the Beast, and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry as Gaston.

Martin Short and Shania Twain are set to play the world’s most famous candelabra and teapot. The two stars have joined ABC’s upcoming December 15 “Beauty and the Beast” 30th-anniversary special, along with David Alan Grier, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, and Leo Abelo Perry.

Short, the Emmy and Tony winner who currently stars in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” will portray the flirtatious French candelabra Lumière, voiced in the original 1991 Disney film by Jerry Orbach. Five-time Grammy-winning country singer Twain will play the teapot Mrs. Potts, whose original voice actor, Angela Lansbury, died last week. Perry, who made his film debut this year in the Disney+ remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” will play Potts’ son Chip. Grier, who won a Tony last year for his performance in “A Soldier’s Play,” will portray the majordomo clock Cogsworth, while Jon Jon Briones will play village inventor Maurice,...

ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” has found its Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts in Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”), David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) and country music star Shania Twain, respectively.

Rounding out the ensemble cast are Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”) as Gaston’s loyal sidekick, LeFou; Jon Jon Briones (“Ratched”) as Belle’s loving father, Maurice; and Leo Abelo Perry (2022’s “Cheaper by the Dozen”), playing Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+.

Also Read:

‘Grey’s Anatomy': Harry Shum Jr. Teases How Blue Will Use Some Secret ‘Intel’ to Be Assigned More Surgeries in Episode 2

As previously announced,...

Click here to read the full article.

ABC is rounding out the cast of its live Beauty and the Beast special.

The Dec. 15 special, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film’s best picture nomination — the first animated feature to earn that honor — has added Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones and Leo Abelo Perry to its cast. They join an ensemble led by Grammy winner H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast; Joshua Henry also stars, and Rita Moreno will narrate the special.

Only Murders in the Building star Short will play Lumiere. Tony winner Grier (A Solider’s Play, The Patient) will play Cogsworth, while Grammy winner and country music star Twain will play Mrs. Potts and Perry her son, Chip. Manji (Schitt’s Creek) plays Gaston’s (Henry) sidekick, LeFou, and Briones (Ratched) will play Belle’s father, Maurice.

The special,...

Martin Short, Shania Twain and David Alan Grier are confirmed for ABC’s upcoming special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary, playing Lumière, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth, respectively. Rounding out the cast of the two-hour hybrid animated/live-action special are Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones and Leo Abelo Perry.

They join previously announced H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as the Beast, Joshua Henry as Gaston, and Rita Moreno as narrator.

Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, Leo Abelo Perry

Manji will play Gaston’s loyal sidekick Le Fou, Briones portrays Belle’s loving father, Maurice; and Perry is Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

The special will include live never-before-seen musical performances, along with new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story. Each performance is created to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers. Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

David Alan Grier is joining the cast of ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.”

The Tony winner will play Cogsworth in the star-studded production, according to sources. Previously announced cast members include Oscar winner H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as Beast and Joshua Henry as Gaston. Rita Moreno will serve as the show’s narrator in the live-action/animated hybrid production.

The special, to be directed by Hamish Hamilton, will be recorded live and feature never-before-seen musical performances. Jamal Sims is serving as executive producer and choreographer. Set design is by Julio Himede with costumes by Marina Toybina (“The Masked Singer”).

Jon M. Chu will executive produce the special. “When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend,” Chu said when the project was announced in April. “It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve,...

Josh Gorban is set as the co-lead opposite H.E.R. in ABC’s animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. The announcement was made during today’s panel at D23 Expo 2022.

Groban, who previously recorded a song for the 2017 Beauty and the Beast live-action movie, will play Beast alongside previously announced H.E.R. as Belle. Joshua Henry has been tapped to play antagonist Gaston, while Egot winner Rita Moreno will serve as the night’s narrator.

Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of Beauty and the Beast will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Dec. 15 on ABC and on Disney+ the next day.

Jon M. Chu is set to executive produce the special and Hamish Hamilton set to direct. Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration is produced by...

Josh Groban, Rita Moreno and Broadway star Joshua Henry are joining the cast of the “Beauty and the Beast” 30th anniversary special, Disney revealed Friday at the D23 Expo.

Groban will star as the Beast, Moreno will narrate, and Henry will play the villainous Gaston. They join previously announced singer/songwriter H.E.R. as Belle.

Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour special will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, Dec. 15 from 8-10 p.m. Et on ABC and stream on Disney+ the next day.

Also Read:

Jude Law Plays a Mean Captain Hook in First Look at Disney’s ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’

Jon M. Chu will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton is set to direct. Additional talent will be announced at a later date.

The Grammy-winning Groban made his Broadway debut in 2016 with a Tony-nominated starring role in “Natasha,...

Josh Groban, Joshua Henry and Rita Moreno will star in ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Special,” Variety can exclusively reveal.

Groban, who recorded the original song “Evermore” for the 2017 “Beauty and the Beast” film, will play Beast. Henry, who recently starred on Broadway’s “Into the Woods,” will play Gaston. Moreno will serve as the show’s narrator, guiding viewers along the classically enchanting tale. As previously announced, Grammy winner H.E.R. will play Belle in the live-action/animated hybrid.

The casting news was announced Friday at the D23 Expo’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” panel, moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay.

The special will be recorded live and feature never-before-seen musical performances. Jamal Sims is doing double duty as executive producer and choreographer. Sets will be designed by Julio Himede, and “The Masked Singer” costume designer Marina Toybina will recreate Belle’s famous yellow gown,...

Click here to read the full article.

The Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special at ABC has found its Belle.

Grammy winner H.E.R. will play the character in the special, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 1991 animated film’s historic Oscar nomination for best picture — the first animated feature to earn such recognition. The movie won two Academy Awards for its original score and title song.

Jon M. Chu (In the Heights) is executive producing the special, which Hamish Hamilton will direct.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!” said H.E.R. in a statement. “I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful.

H.E.R. is set to play Belle in ABC’s upcoming hybrid special in celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Beauty and the Beast.”

The special was originally announced at the beginning of July. Alongside a screening of the film, it will include live never-before-seen musical performances and features brand-new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story. Each performance is created to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers at home.

Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios, though the special will not be shot live. The special will air on ABC on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et and will be available to stream the following day on Disney+. Jon M. Chu is executive producing with Hamish Hamilton onboard to direct.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ legacy,...

Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter H.E.R has been tapped to play beloved Disney Princess Belle in ABC’s upcoming animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, executive produced by Jon M. Chu and directed by Hamish Hamilton.

The R&b star will lead audiences through the world of Belle with never-before-seen live musical performances paying homage to the timeless tale as well as new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story.

H.E.R.’s casting marks the first time an Afro Filipina woman will play the role of Belle on screen.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!” said H.E.R. “I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite,...

ABC is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Disney classic film Beauty and the Beast with a two-hour hybrid animated and live-action special. Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration airs Thursday, December 15 at 8 Pm Est on ABC, and will be available the next day on Disney+.

Jon M. Chu (In The Heights) will executive produce with Hamish Hamilton set to direct. The cast, whose performances will be woven throughout the original feature film, will be announced at a later date.

The special will include live never-before-seen musical performances, along with new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story. Each performance is created to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers. Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

“‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M.

“Beauty and the Beast” is getting a two-hour live-action and animated special for its 30th anniversary, which is set to air on ABC on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et. The project, to be executive produced by Jon M. Chu and directed by Hamish Hamilton, will feature a new cast.

The special will pay tribute to the 1991 original film and its legacy by “showcasing the fan-favorite movie, along with new memorable musical performances, taking viewers on a magical adventure through the eyes of Belle.” The Disney fairy tale made history as the first animated feature to garner an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture in 1992, winning Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

“‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran director Hamish Hamilton to bring a modern twist to this beloved classic for...

ABC is celebrating the 30th anniversary of “Beauty and The Beast” with a hybrid broadcast special.

The two-hour special will include live never-before-seen musical performances and features brand-new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story. Each performance is created to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers at home. Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios, though the special will not be shot live.

The special will air on ABC on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et and will be available to stream the following day on Disney+. Jon M. Chu is executive producing with Hamish Hamilton onboard to direct. The cast for the special will be announced at a later date.

“‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran...

Click here to read the full article.

Beauty and the Beast is getting the live treatment at ABC to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved animated classic’s history-making Academy Award nomination.

The Disney-backed broadcast network is making a two-hour, live-action/animated special that will feature a new cast and air Dec. 15 on the broadcast network. Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Wicked) is on board to executive produce the project, which will be directed by Hamish Hamilton. The latter is best known for helming awards shows including the Emmys and Grammys, as well as the Super Bowl halftime show, ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live and a pair of Disney’s quarantine-era sing-alongs. The special will be available to stream Dec. 16 on Disney+.

“Beauty and the Beast is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran director Hamish...

Undoubtedly, composer Marc Shaiman has had a hand in something in pop culture that you love dearly. “The American President,” “Hairspray,” “Smash,” “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut,” “Sister Act,” “The First Wives Club,” “Beaches,” the list goes on and on — and in every medium to boot. He needs one Oscar to go Egot, and is the go-to when you need some tuneful punch-up on awards ceremonies, anniversary shows and late-night mainstays. But even he gets surprised by some of the attention he gets.

Case in point: Shaiman was tapped to write a funny, highly meta credits song for “Soundtrack of Our Lives,” a limited-time-only June 2020 YouTube benefit for MusicCares’ Covid-19 relief fund. It was simply called “The End Titles,” and he not only wrote it, but sang it as well, super-imposed over an insanely starry mega-roll while posing queries such as “What is a best boy? Isn’t there a best girl?...

Members of the music for screens community — composers, songwriters, music editors, music supervisors, studio executives and others working at the intersection of music and visual media — are lending their talents to a benefit event for Covid-19 relief.

“Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Celebration for the Film and TV Music Community” raises money for MusiCares and features appearances by Sting, Catherine O’Hara, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Elisabeth Moss, Anika Noni Rose, William Shatner, Auli’i Cravalho, John Stamos, Patti LuPone, Danny Elfman, Andra Day, Zachary Levi, Reba McEntire, Clive Davis, Hans Zimmer, Alan Menken, Hildur Gudnadóttir, Alex Newell, Arturo Sandoval, Rita Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Holly Hunter, Marc Shaiman and Darren Criss, among others.

The hour-long show streamed on YouTube — via Variety, Rolling Stone and the GRAMMYs’ official channels — also features special performances, including a musical number by Levi, LuPone, Newell, Yankovic, Peter Gallagher and Fierstein, and a song from “The Nightmare Before Christmas...

June 25 at noon Pt, members of the music for screens community — composers, songwriters, music editors, music supervisors, studio executives and others working at the intersection of music and visual media — will lend their talents to a benefit event for Covid-19 relief. “Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Celebration for the Film and TV Music Community” will raise money for MusiCares and feature appearances by Sting, Catherine O’Hara (pictured), “Weird Al” Yankovic, Elisabeth Moss, Anika Noni Rose, William Shatner, Auli’i Cravalho, John Stamos, Patti LuPone, Danny Elfman, Andra Day, Zachary Levi, Reba McEntire, Clive Davis, Hans Zimmer, Alan Menken, Hildur Gudnadóttir, Alex Newell, Arturo Sandoval, Rita Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Holly Hunter, Marc Shaiman and Darren Criss, among others.

The hour-long show will be streamed on YouTube — via Variety, Rolling Stone and the GRAMMYs‘ official channels — and will feature special performances including a musical number by Zachary Levi, Patti LuPone, Alex Newell, Yankovic,...

On November 17, 1989, Disney debuted “The Little Mermaid” to audiences across America, and 30 years later, it’s about to do it again. “The Little Mermaid Live!” is the latest live musical event to hit television, preceding the Mouse’s live-action film adaptation starring Halle Bailey (and slated to start production in 2020) and following in the footsteps of small screen hits like “Grease,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and last year’s “Rent” adaptation. But this is the first entry from ABC, the first attempt to reimagine a beloved Disney classic on TV, and everyone involved aims to make a pretty big splash.

First off, “The Little Mermaid Live!” isn’t reimagining the original film so much as it’s accompanying its melody. Ron Clements and John Musker’s classic movie will be “interwoven” into the live production — in other words, when there’s a song to be sung, it’ll be performed live...

Glee alum Amber Riley has been cast as the emcee in The Little Mermaid Live!, the hybrid musical event that airs on ABC next month.

She joins the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian), Graham Phillips (Prince Eric) and John Stamos (Chef Louis).

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.

Riley played Mercedes Jones for the entire run of Fox’s...

ABC’s upcoming live staging of “The Little Mermaid” has added Amber Riley to its cast.

Riley will appear as the emcee for the show and will present the Daughters of Triton with a special performance for King Triton and his subjects. She joins previously announced cast members Auli’i Cravalho (Ariel), Queen Latifah (Ursula), Shaggy (Sebastian), John Stamos (Chef Louis), and Graham Phillips (Prince Eric).

Riley is best known for her role on the critically-acclaimed Fox musical series “Glee.” She also previously appeared alongside Queen Latifah in NBC’s live staging of “The Wiz.” Her other TV roles include “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and the TV movie “One Christmas Wish.” She also won Season 17 of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2013. She made her West End debut in 2016 in the revival of “Dreamgirls.”

She is repped by CAA, Sb Projects, and Myman Greenspan.

“The Wonderful World of Disney...

ABC shared the first teaser for its “The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live!” musical event on Sunday, featuring cast members Auli’i Cravalho and Queen Latifah.

The special, which is ABC’s take on the live musical genre, is set to air on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Though it won’t be a full production, the broadcast will merge the original Disney movie with live musical performances in what the network is describing as “a special tribute to the original animated classic and its timeless music.”

Also Read: Yes, Disney Is Making 2 'Little Mermaid' Projects - What We Know About Each

“Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho, in full costume, will provide the singing voice of Ariel, with Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian. John Stamos and “The Good Wife” alum Graham Phillips will also perform. The special will include music from both the original...

John Stamos and Graham Phillips have been cast in ABC’s upcoming live musical “The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live!”

Stamos will reprise his role as the eccentric French cook Chef Louis in the one-night only special televised event. He previously portrayed the part during a Hollywood Bowl production of the classic Disney film “The Little Mermaid.” Phillips will take on the role of Prince Eric.

Stamos’ other stage experience includes a Broadway debut in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” as well as being a part of the Tony Award-nominated “The Best Man” and Tony-winning “Nine” and “Cabaret.” Phillips’ past live theater experience includes originating the role of Evan in Broadway’s “13.” Stamos is represented by Danny Sussman at Brillstein Entertainment Partners and ICM. Phillips is represented by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.

These actors join the previously announced cast of Auli’i Cravalho,...

ABC has found its Chef Louis and Prince Eric for its upcoming live production (kind of) of “The Little Mermaid.”

John Stamos and Graham Phillips have been cast in the musical as the eccentric french cook and Princess Ariel’s love interest, respectively. Stamos played Chef Louis in The Hollywood Bowl’s production of the Disney classic.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the original 1989 Disney movie, the production — titled “The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live!” — is set to air live in front of a studio audience on November 5. “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho will play Ariel, actress and R&B artist Queen Latifah will play Ursula, and Grammy-winning musician Shaggy will play Sebastian. Additional cast will be announced at a later date.

The production was originally scheduled to air in...

John Stamos will be reprising his Chef Louis role from the Hollywood Bowl production of The Little Mermaid in ABC’s upcoming The Little Mermaid Live! Joining Stamos and the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho (Ariel), Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian) is The Good Wife alum Graham Phillips, who will return to his live theater roots in the role of Prince Eric. The Little Mermaid Live! airs Tuesday, November 5 at 8 Pm on ABC.

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances by its star-studded cast interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine intricate sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman...

Composer Tom Holkenborg, also known by the moniker Junkie Xl, has signed with Kraft-Engel Management for agent representation of his film and TV composition work. He joins a roster that includes Michael Abels, Jeff Beal, Christophe Beck, Marco Beltrami, Jon Brion, Alexandre Desplat, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman and Pinar Toprak, among others.

Kraft-Engel will work in conjunction with Holkenborg’s longtime manager Michiel Groeneveld.

A Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer and composer, Holkenborg’s credits include “Deadpool,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Black Mass,” “Alita: Battle Angel,” “Divergent” and the forthcoming “Terminator: Dark Fate.” His work with such directors as Robert Rodriguez, George Miller, Tim Miller and James Cameron means an affiliation with over $2 billion in gross box office receipts.

“We could not be more excited about working with Tom,” said Richard Kraft, “he is as exciting and passionate as a person as his scores are for films.

“The Little Mermaid” is swimming back to ABC for a live musical event special, the network announced Monday at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the original 1989 Disney movie, the production is set to air live in front of a studio audience on November 5. “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho will play Ariel, actress and R&b artist Queen Latifah will play Ursula, and Grammy-winning musician Shaggy will play Sebastian. Additional cast will be announced at a later date.

The production was originally scheduled to air in October of 2017, but was postponed by ABC before it announced a cast. The network’s decision to bring it back comes as Disney is preparing to start production on its own live-action remake film starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Also Read: Female-Led Civil Rights Historical Anthology Series Set at ABC From Will Smith and Jay Z...

“The Little Mermaid” will come to ABC as a live musical.

“Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho will play the lead role. Queen Latifah will play the villainous Ursula and Shaggy will play the crab, Sebastian. More castings will be announced at a later date.

The special will feature music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winning Broadway stage version, originally composed by Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s iconic film lyrics will also be showcased, while lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, Glenn Slater, will also contribute. It is slated to air Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. Et.

“The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live!” is produced by Done+Dusted. Executive producers include Done+Dusted’s Hamish Hamilton — who will also direct — Katy Mullan, David Jammy, Raj Kapoor and Ian Stewart. Also executive producing is Richard Kraft, producer and director of the acclaimed Hollywood Bowl productions of “The Little Mermaid...

ABC’s The Little Mermaid live special is back on, and it has set most of its core cast with Moana star Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian. The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!, featuring a mix of live action, animation and puppetry, will air Nov. 5 to mark the classic Disney animated feature’s 30th anniversary.

ABC originally announced in May 2017 that it would stage a live production of the beloved underwater tale under the long-dormant Wonderful World of Disney banner, which was slated for Oct. 3, 2017. In August of that year, the network announced that the live event had been put on hold.

Since joining ABC last December as President of Entertainment, Karey Burke has expressed strong support for live specials. Her commitment was likely reaffirmed in May after the success of Jimmy Kimmel’s live staging of two...

Gary LeMel, a longtime president of music at Warner Bros. Pictures whom the Los Angeles Times once called “the father of the compilation soundtrack album,” died July 6 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80.

Film agent Richard Kraft called him “a true giant in the film music industry.” Songwriters Hall of Fame member Steve Dorff described LeMel as “an amazing music man (and) a true friend who made an indelible contribution to my career.” Tom Sturges, a former top exec at Universal Music and other publishing companies, called him “one of the great music execs in the film business, ever. He treated me with the greatest respect at every meeting, took every call and listened to every song and artist I pitched him. Truly one of a kind.”

LeMel’s wife of almost 47 years, Maddy LeMel, a visual artist, told Variety she was staggered by the amount of testimonials coming in.

Music-rights organization Sesac plans to co-fund a new foundation designed to support minority film and TV composers, officials announced at last night’s annual Film & Television Composer Awards in Santa Monica.

The Key Change Foundation, created by “Frozen” and “Ant-Man” composer Christophe Beck, “will provide grants to support scores by emerging film composers from underrepresented groups,” said Sesac VP of film and TV Erin Collins.

It’s a long-planned follow-up to Sesac Scores: The Beck Diversity Project, a mentorship program launched last year and designed to “make a meaningful impact on the historically low number of women and people of color hired in the film composer community.”

Over the past year, Sesac Scores held six events, involving more than 350 participants and hosted by industry figures including Beck, composer John Swihart (“How I Met Your Mother”), agent Richard Kraft and others.

Beck was among dozens of composers honored Thursday night for their work in film,...

It was November 17, 1989 when “The Little Mermaid” splashed into theaters. Its arrival loosed a Disney animation tsunami through the 1990s, resulting in a series of beloved films that are now experiencing a lucrative second life with live-action remakes like “Beauty and the Beast” and this month’s “Aladdin.”

“Mermaid” started it all, a lush underwater fantasia that harkened back to Walt Disney’s animated glory days, but — crucially — armed with a catchy, romantic Broadway score by two musicians with the Midas touch: lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. They gave us instant classics like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” and the music won two Oscars.

The film, and Ashman and Menken’s score, will have a special 30th birthday party this weekend at the Hollywood Bowl, in a lavish projection-production with a live orchestra and songs performed by a cast that includes Lea Michele as Ariel,...

In December 1954, Jonas Mekas and his brother Adolfas published the first issue of Film Culture magazine. Initially hostile to American avant-garde filmmaking, the magazine eventually evolved into the avant-garde’s greatest champion in print.

Sources vary on the publication date of the first issue, with some placing it in 1955, and others in 1954. While the cover carries a publication date of January 1955, in an interview with Amy Taubin, Jonas clearly states that the first issue was published in December 1954. You can watch the interview with Jonas where he states this below.

The cover also lists many of the articles that appeared in this first issue. These are:

Erich von Stroheim: “Queen Kelly: Walking Down Broadway”

Orson Welles: “For a Universal Cinema”

Hans Richter: “Film as an Original Art Form”

Edouard L. De Laurot: “Towards a Theory of Dynamic Realism”

Herman G. Weinberg: “The New Films”

George N.

Varèse Sarabande, renowned as Hollywood’s preeminent soundtrack label, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, going into its fifth decade under new ownership — Concord Music acquired the label in February — while renewing its goal of presenting the best of movie and TV music, both current and past.

According to label VP and veteran producer Robert Townson, Varèse’s mandate hasn’t changed. It’s all about “focusing on the big picture, maintaining a role in the community and standing by the next generation of composers,” Townson says. “The entire history of Varèse is about taking calculated gambles, maintaining an artistic integrity and releasing scores even when we knew we were going to lose money.”

Townson should know. He has produced more than 1,400 soundtracks since his association with the label began 32 years ago. As an ambitious 19-year-old in Whitby, Ontario, he launched his Masters Film Music label to provide a home...

Update: Pinar Toprak has announced that she will be composing the musical score for Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson (above) as the titular character. Toprak thus becomes the first woman to score a major superhero movie. Her recent credits include TV's Krypton and the extremely popular video game Fortnite. See her announcement below. I’m so thrilled to finally announce that I will be scoring the upcoming Captain Marvel! It’s an incredible honor to be a part of the Marvel Universe. So many thoughts racing through my head. And the main one is gratitude. I have so many people to thank for helping me on this journey but first and foremost, my incredible agents Laura Engel and Richard Kraft for believing in me from day one and Dave...

The 25th anniversary of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” will be celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl with two performances led by Danny Elfman and featuring cast members and guest artists.

Scheduled for October 26 and 27, the live-to-picture screening and concert is produced by Laura Engel and Richard Kraft, Tim Fox and Alison Ahart Williams, and Live Nation/Andrew Hewitt & Bill Silva Presents, in association with Disney Concerts. The orchestra will be led by conductor John Mauceri, founding Director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Elfman will reprise his role of Jack Skellington with Catherine O’Hara (Sally) and Ken Page (Oogie Boogie) set to take part in a presentation that includes living scenery projected onto the facade of the Bowl in what Kraft and Engel term a “fully immersive digital” visual.

The 1993 movie directed by Henry Selick (“James and the Giant Peach”) and based on a story and characters by Tim Burton.

Over the last month, Disneyland buffs have found the true Happiest Place on Earth, which happens to be an abandoned Sports Authority in Sherman Oaks. There, two- to three-hour lines stretch down the block as hopefuls try to get into “That’s From Disneyland!,” a free, 20,000-square-foot exhibit devoted to artifacts collected over the past 25 years by agent-to-the-film-composer-stars Richard Kraft, who’ll have auctioned off every last piece by the time the pop-up comes to a close Sunday night.

It does resemble that other happy place down in Anaheim in that celebrities do generally get to skip the queue. Anyone who believes celebrities are all going to hell can find photographic confirmation in the photos posted online of Rachel Bloom and Rebel Wilson posing in a car from the now-defunct Orlando version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Magic men Darren Criss and Neil Patrick Harris have taken advantage of...