Disney+ to Release Fourth & Final Season of Frankie Rodriguez’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” in August

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s curtain call Frankie Rodriguez…

The upcoming fourth season of Disney+’s original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, starring the 23-year-old Mexican American actor/singer, will be its last, with all eight episodes being released on August 9.

The show’s conclusion was announced on social media by creator and executive producer Tim Federle.

“After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. This will be our final, endgame season,” he wrote. “This show brought the most extraordinary cast – and crew, and collaborators – to my life. To the fans, who embraced our super-meta series: we ‘don’t not love you.’ We can’t wait to share this epic 4th act with you all.”

Along with The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series helped launch Disney+, premiering in November 2019. It’s the longest running and most successful Disney Branded Television series for the streamer to date.

Inspired by the hugely popular High School Musical movies, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has launched notable careers such as Grammy Award-winning artist Olivia Rodrigo; Tony Award-nominated Julia Lester; singer-songwriter Joshua Bassett, who recently completed a world tour; and Dara Reneé, who made her songwriting debut on the series and stars in the upcoming Disney+ Original movie Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Season four of the GLAAD Media and Kids Choice Award-winning series will see the Wildcats returning to East High, where they prepare a stage production of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” But, in a meta twist signature to the series, plans are disrupted when Disney announces the long-awaited “High School Musical 4: The Reunion” movie will shoot on location at their beloved high school.

Franchise alum Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed and Kaycee Stroh play themselves, reprising their High School Musical roles, and the Wildcats will play featured extras in the movie.

Season 4 stars Bassett, Sofia Wylie, Reneé, Lester, Rodriguez, Kate Reinders and Liamani Segura.

Camila Cabello Hints at New Bilingual Track on Social Media

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Is Camila Cabello preparing to release new music?

The 24-year-old Cuban/Mexican singer has fans on alert after she posted a cryptic message on social media.

In the short teaser, Cabello recorded herself in a car lip-synching to what appears to be a new bilingual song’s lyrics, “Asi es la vida si, and that’s just life, baby.”

Cabello didn’t add any details or caption to her post, but if released, it would follow “Don’t Go Yet” and “Oh Na Na,” the lead singles released ahead of her upcoming third solo studio album titled Familia.

Additionally, the chart-topping artist — who hasn’t announced release date for her new album — teased the set posting on Instagram stories about her album’s thank yous.

“This album to me means community, I guess the opposite of you on your own,” she previously told Billboard about the album. “It’s more you with other people land sharing in that joy and success, whatever that means. Interdependence realizing how important everybody is in your life. A lot of it is inspired by my relationships. My relationships to my family, my relationship to my friends, my relationship to my partner…it’s all about connections with other people, hence, Familia.”

While the teaser is a short eight seconds, the tropical-tinged pop track is in tune with Cabello’s Latin influences, which she’s incorporated in her music.

“Growing up, my family listened to a lot of Latin music, so a lot of salsa, Celia Cruz’s ‘La Vida Es Un Carnaval,’ a lot of Latin songs,” Cabello said in an earlier interview with Billboard. “My first memories of dancing were watching High School Musical and The Cheetah Girls and group ensemble moments trying to learn the dance. I remember trying to learn the Soulja Boy and the Dougie, and it’s such a bonding thing for people to be able to dance together. It’s so connecting.”

pic.twitter.com/HLC0VQoQSs

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) February 6, 2022

Camila Cabello’s “Don’t Go Yet” Featured on ‘Just Dance 2022’

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is getting people to just dance…

The 24-year-old Cuban Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member’s single “Don’t Go Yet” – the lead single from her highly anticipated third solo studio album Familia – is now featured on Just Dance 2022, the wildly popular interactive dance game.

“I knew obviously when my collaborators and I wrote the song that it was such a party, good-time song but I didn’t realize until I played the game that I was like, ‘Oh, it’s so perfect for dancing with your friends,’ and made me want to play Just Dance,” she said.

Speaking about her inspirations for “Don’t Go Yet,” Cabello shared that she listened to a lot of Latin music in her youth and got some of her earliest dance lessons from watching television.

“Growing up, my family listened to a lot of Latin music, so a lot of salsa, Celia Cruz‘s ‘La vida es un carnaval,’ a lot of Latin songs,” Cabello explained. “My first memories of dancing were watching High School Musical and The Cheetah Girls and group ensemble moments trying to learn the dance. I remember trying to learn the Soulja Boy and the Dougie and it’s such a bonding thing for people to be able to dance together. It’s so connecting.”

Though Cabello has yet to provide fans with a release date for Familia, the singer did share what the album means to her: “This album to me means community, I guess the opposite of you on your own. It’s more you with other people land sharing in that joy and success, whatever that means. Interdependence realizing how important everybody is in your life. A lot of it is inspired by my relationships: My relationships to my family, my relationship to my friends, my relationship to my partner…it’s all about connections with other people, hence, Familia.”

Disney+ Unveils Trailer for Frankie Rodriguez’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2”

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Frankie Rodriguez is heading back to school next month…

Disney+ has unveiled the trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 2, starring the Mexican American actor.

The new season will premiere on Friday, May 14.

Created and executive produced by Tim Federle, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series follows the students from the school where the High School Musical films were shot, as they staged a musical production based on the popular franchise.

In Season 2, the East High Wildcats prepare to perform Beauty and the Beast as their spring musical, also facing off against rival school North High to win a prestigious and cutthroat student theater competition. Wigs are snatched, loyalties are tested, and ballads are belted. The season also features brand-new solos written by stars Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett.

In addition to Rodriguez, who portrays Carlos Rodriguez, the series also stars includes Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders.

Season 2’s guest stars include Derek Hough, Olivia Rose Keegan, Roman Banks, Andrew Barth Feldman and Asher Angel.

Disney+ to Release Frankie Rodriguez’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special” on December 11

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Frankie Rodriguez is hopin’ to spread a little holiday magic this year…

Disney+ is set to release High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, starring the 21-year-old Mexican American actor, on December 11.

Cast members Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Rodriguez, who portrays Carlos Rodriguez on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders will perform their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s songs and recall their favorite holiday memories during the 45-minute special.

Bassett, who portrays Ricky Bowen, will debut an acoustic version of his original song for a sneak peek performance from the series’ highly anticipated second season.

“The holidays remind us of the universal importance of family and loved ones,” said Tim Federle, executive producer and director of High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, in a press release. “The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is its own kind of family, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share their favorite holiday music and traditions with our viewers.”

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack will highlight the holiday songs from the special. It’ll be available on November 20 on all digital and streaming platforms.

Kenny Ortega Signs with A3 Artists Agency

Posted on August 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kenny Ortega has new representation…

The 70-year-old Spanish American prolific director, choreographer and producer has signed with A3 Artists Agency.

Ortega earned a Primetime Emmy for choreography and a DGA Award for his work on the Disney Channel’s High School Musical.

High School Musical 2 drew over 17 million viewers when it premiered on Disney Channel, making it the most watched program in cable telecast history. He’s also the executive producer for the film’s soundtracks.

Disney’s High School Musical 3, which made the leap from television to the big screen, opened to $42M at the domestic B.O., marking the biggest theatrical box office opening for a musical in history. The film earned more than $252M globally off an $11M budget.

Ortega directed and choreographed the Descendants trilogy, Newsies, and Hocus Pocus, and choreographed classic films like Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Pretty in Pink, among others.

Other recent work includes A Change of Heart, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again for Fox and The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Special for Freeform.

On September 10, Netflix will release Ortega’s next directorial project Julie and the Phantoms, a family musical comedy based on a Brazilian television series.

It’s the first title under Ortega’s new multi-year deal with Netflix. He’s also set to direct and produce a feature musical adaptation of Elise Primavera’s book series Auntie Claus, under the pact.

In addition to his Emmy for High School Musical, Ortega earned two others for choreography and variety/music/comedy program direction for the XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Last year he received the prestigious Disney Legends Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His other honors include The Fred & Adele Astaire Lifetime Achievement Award, Bob Fosse Award, American Choreography Lifetime Achievement Award, MTV Video Music Award, American Music Award, among many others.

Netflix Releases Music Video Teaser for Madison Reyes’ “Julie and the Phantoms”

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Madison Reyes is livin’ on the Edge…

Netflix has released a music video teaser from Kenny Ortega’s new musical-dramedy Julie and the Phantoms, starring the young Latina actress.

The acoustic performance features Reyes and the rest of the main cast singing “Edge of Great,” an original song from the show’s soundtrack.

Created by Ortega, who directed Disney’s High School Musical and Descendants, the series will start streaming on Netflix on September 10.

Reyes stars as Julie, a high schooler who lost her passion for music after her mom died last year. But when the ghosts of three dreamy musicians (played by Charlie Gillespie, Jeremy Shada and Owen Patrick Joyner) from 1995 suddenly appear in her mom’s old music studio, Julie feels her own inner spirit begin to reawaken and is inspired to start singing and writing songs again. As their friendship with Julie grows, the boys convince her to create a new band together: Julie and the Phantoms.

Though the show is based on Julie e os Fantasmas, a Brazilian television series for children produced by Rede Bandeirantes in partnership with Nickelodeon Brazil, EP and choreographer Ortega said the Netflix original will not follow the original too closely. Ortega said “we were given complete license to explore through the boundaries of what it was and to begin anew. That’s what excited me. This was really a completely new exploration of the idea.”

Playing the titular role, Reyes disclosed that providing visible role models that reflected her identity is what drove and inspired her to play the character of Julie.

“I definitely push myself to follow my dream more for my family and also for my little sister. I wanted her to have someone she could look up to that looked like her and that she could have a connection with whether it be my ethnicity or curly hair. It was about making sure that my sister had somebody that she could look up to. I wanted to be that role model for her. That was what motivated me to follow my dreams,” said Reyes.

Booboo Stewart, Cheyenne Jackson, Carlos Ponce, Sonny Bustamante, Jadah Marie, Sacha Carlson and Savannah Lee May round out the cast.

Some episodes of the single-camera series are directed Ortega. The series hails from Ortega’s one-year deal with Netflix, which he inked last year.

Netflix to Release Madison Reyes’ “Julie and the Phantoms,” From Kenny Ortega, in September

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Madison Reyes is ready to rock…

Netflix has released new details on its upcoming musical series from Kenny Ortega, Julie and the Phantoms, starring the Latina actress.

Reyes has been cast as the lead of the live-action series, which will premiere on September 10. She plays Julie, a high school student who lost her passion for music after her mom’s death a year earlier.

But when the ghosts of three dreamy musicians (Charlie Gillespie, Jeremy Shada, Owen Patrick Joyner) from 1995 suddenly appear in her mom’s old music studio, Julie feels her own inner spirit begin to reawaken, and she’s inspired to start singing and writing songs again. As their friendship with Julie grows, the boys convince her to create a new band together: Julie and the Phantoms.

Booboo Stewart, Cheyenne Jackson, Carlos Ponce, Sonny Bustamante, Jadah Marie, Sacha Carlson and Savannah Lee May round out the cast.

Ortega, who helmed Disney’s High School Musical and Descendants films and Michael Jackson’s This Is It, will direct some of the episodes of the single-camera series.

The series is part of a multi-year Netflix deal Ortega signed in 2019.

Ortega to Executive Produce Fox’s Dance Drama “The Edge”

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Kenny Ortega is livin’ on The Edge…

The 66-year-old choreographer and director-producer, best known for his work on the High School Musical franchise, has joined forces with Flashdance star Jennifer Beals and James Larosa, creator of VH1’s cheerleading drama series Hit the Floor, for Fox’s dance drama The Edge.

Written and executive produced by Larosa, The Edge is set in the Los Angeles dance world, where it’s survival of the fittest. And no one is more fit than this ensemble of ambitious, sometimes ruthless women and men who have trained their whole lives to be the best and won’t let anything—or anyone—get in their way.

Ortega, Beals and Larosa will executive produce. Sony Pictures Television is the studio.

Ortega is director and choreographer of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring Victoria Justice, Fox’s television remake of the cult classic set to premiere on October 20.

Ortega to Direct the Disney Channel’s Live-Action Original Movie “Descendants”

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Kenny Ortega will be bringing some evil descendants to life…

The 63-year-old Latino producer, director and choreographer, best known for directing the High School Musical trilogy, will be returning to the Disney Channel to helm the network’s Descendants.

The network’s first live-action original movie tapping into Disney’s vault of classic fairytale characters, the contemporary adventure-comedy centers on the offspring of some of Disney’s most evil villains, introducing a modern generation of teenagers who question the evil that’s always been in their hearts.

“We mined Disney’s treasure trove of stories and developed a new, comedic approach to the fabled characters everyone knows and loves,” said Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Channels Worldwide. “The result is a modern and unexpected re-interpretation of classic heritage characters utilizing contemporary, relatable settings and themes.”

Written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott, Descendants is set in a present-dayidyllic kingdom, where the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and Jafar who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the other villains, sidekicks, evil step-mothers and step-sisters. These villainous descendants (Carlos, Mal, Evvie and Jay, respectively) are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes including Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan. However, the evil teens face a dilemma: Should they follow in their nefarious parents’ footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?

Casting is currently underway, overseen by High School Musical casting directors Natalie Hart and Jason La Padura, with production slated to begin in the spring for a 2015 premiere on Disney Channel.

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