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Kenny Ortega

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Kenny Ortega
Ortega in 2019
Born
Kenneth John Ortega

(1950-04-18) April 18, 1950 (age 74)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • choreographer
  • dancer
  • actor
  • touring manager
Years active1970–present
Notable workNewsies
Hocus Pocus
High School Musical
Michael Jackson's This Is It
Descendants
Julie and the Phantoms
AwardsHollywood Walk of Fame (2019)
Disney Legends (2019)
Grammys (2021)

Kenneth John Ortega (born April 18, 1950) is an American filmmaker, touring manager, and choreographer. He is known for directing the films Newsies, Hocus Pocus, The Cheetah Girls 2, High School Musical, Michael Jackson's This Is It, Descendants, and Julie and the Phantoms.[1] He also choreographed the films St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Dirty Dancing; and directed multiple concert tours for Cher, Gloria Estefan, Miley Cyrus, and Michael Jackson. For his work, Ortega was honored with both a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Disney Legend Award in 2019.

Early life

Ortega was born in Palo Alto, California, the son of Madeline, a waitress, and Octavio "Tibby" Ortega, a factory worker. He also has a sister, Debra Ortega. Both of his parents were also born in Palo Alto,[2] though his paternal grandparents were Spanish immigrants.[3] He attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California, where he was a cheerleader and in the drama group.

Career

Ortega began his career as an actor, appearing in a touring production of Oliver! and Hair before venturing into choreography and directing. Ortega choreographed The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo in the mid to late 1970s. Ortega was offered the leading role in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but turned the offer down to become a choreographer for the San Francisco-based band The Tubes after being spotted on the dance floor in a club by members of the band. Ortega toured with the band for ten years, before being contracted by Cher to choreograph a TV special and tour and by KISS on their Dynasty Tour.[4][5]

In 1980, Ortega was hired as one of the choreographers on the film Xanadu, working with Gene Kelly who mentored him into choreographing for film. During this time period, Ortega also served as choreographer for several of John Hughes's films, including Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, as well as the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.

Ortega would also choreograph several music videos, including "Material Girl" by Madonna, "She's a Beauty" by The Tubes, Physical by Olivia Newton-John and "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. He also produced and choreographed the embarrassing "Rock Me Tonite" by Billy Squier which turned into a career-ending disaster for the artist.[6]

He made his directorial debut in 1992 with the Disney musical Newsies, which was followed up by Hocus Pocus in 1993. Both films underperformed at the box-office but have since gone on to attract considerable cult followings. Ortega also served as choreographer for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar in 1995.

Alongside Michael Jackson, he created and designed Jackson's Dangerous World Tour (1992–1993), HIStory World Tour (1996–1997) and Michael Jackson & Friends (1999). He has also choreographed events ranging from Super Bowl XXX, the 72nd Academy Awards, the 1996 Summer Olympics (Atlanta) and the 2002 Winter Olympics (Salt Lake City).[7]

In 2006, Ortega directed and choreographed two Disney Channel Original Movies, High School Musical and The Cheetah Girls 2. Ortega would return as director and choreographer for High School Musical 2 in 2007 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year in 2008.

In May 2009, Ortega began work directing and choreographing the scheduled 50-date Michael Jackson This Is It concert residency at The O2 Arena, billed as Jackson's final concerts in London. The engagement was subsequently cancelled due to Jackson's sudden death in June 2009.[8] Ortega would serve as the director of the Michael Jackson Public Memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which was broadcast live on several networks on July 7, 2009, reaching a television audience of 31 million in America and more than one billion worldwide.

At the end of the service, he introduced a rendition of Jackson's 1985 charity single "We Are the World" created for the This Is It concerts, featuring Jackson's backing singers on lead vocals with his dancers performing around them. Ortega directed the concert film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which was put together from rehearsal footage recorded at the Los Angeles Forum and the Staples Center. The film was released on October 28 of the same year.[9][10]

He was set to direct the 2011 Footloose remake, but dropped out in October 2009 due to differences with Paramount over the budget and tone of the film.[11]

Ortega was also hired to direct a film adaptation of the Broadway musical In the Heights for Universal, but the studio dropped the project in 2011 due to budgetary and casting issues.[12] On August 9, 2011, it was announced that Ortega would direct a remake of Dirty Dancing, a project that was later postponed. The 2017 TV remake was filmed without Ortega's involvement.[13]

On May 12, 2014, Ortega guest-judged on the 18th season of Dancing with the Stars during the semifinals.

In 2015, Ortega directed and choreographed Descendants for the Disney Channel, a film based on the children of legendary Disney Villains. He would return in the same capacity for its two sequels, Descendants 2 in 2017 and Descendants 3 in 2019.[14]

In 2019, Ortega was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named a Disney Legend at the 2019 D23 Expo.[15][16]

That fall, he directed and served as executive producer of the Netflix Original series Julie and the Phantoms, which premiered on Netflix on September 10, 2020.

Personal life

Ortega is gay, and in a 2014 interview with anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution, he said that "as a gay man having grown up in the 50s and 60s, I have to say, I'm very proud of the industry that I work in," referring to the acceptance of people with different sexual orientations in show business.[17]

During the trial People v. Murray regarding the death of Michael Jackson, Ortega was the trial's first witness.

In 2020, Ortega recalled being falsely arrested at the age of 21 after a chief of police planted narcotics in his hotel room, allegedly upset by his performance in a touring production of Hair. The charges were dropped after investigations were made, and Ortega recalled the arrest report identifying him as George Berger, the name of the character he played in the show.[4]

Filmography and concerts

Film

Year Title Choreographer Director Producer Rotten Tomatoes Budget Box office
1980 Xanadu Yes No No 39% $20 million US$22.7 million
1982 One from the Heart Yes No No 48% $26 million $0.6 million
1985 St. Elmo's Fire Yes No No 47% $10 million $37.8 million
1986 Pretty in Pink Yes No No 81% $9 million $40.4 million
1986 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Yes No No 79% $6 million $70.1 million
1987 Dirty Dancing Yes No No 72% $5 million $213.9 million
1988 Salsa Yes No No 50% $6 million $8.8 million
1989 Shag Yes No No 64% $5 million $6.9 million
1992 Newsies Yes Yes No 30% $15 million $2.8 million
1993 Hocus Pocus Yes Yes No 32% $28 million $39.5 million
1995 To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar Yes No No 42% — $47.7 million
1998 Quest for Camelot[citation needed] Yes No No 36% $40 million $22.5 million
2008 High School Musical 3: Senior Year Yes Yes Executive 65% $11 million $252.9 million
2009 Michael Jackson's This Is It Yes Yes Yes 81% $60 million $261.1 million
2017 A Change of Heart No Yes No — — —
TBA Auntie Claus No Yes No — — —

Television

Year Title Choreographer Director Producer Notes
1988 Dirty Dancing No Yes No 2 episodes
1990 Hull High Yes Yes Executive 2 episodes
1996 Second Noah No Yes No 1 episode
1998–1999 Chicago Hope No Yes No 2 episodes
2000 Resurrection Blvd. No Yes No 1 episode
2001 Grounded for Life No Yes No 1 episode
2001–2002 Ally McBeal No Yes No 3 episodes
2002–2006 Gilmore Girls No Yes No 11 episodes
2006 High School Musical Yes Yes No Television movie
2006 The Cheetah Girls 2 Yes Yes No Television movie
2007 High School Musical 2 Yes Yes Yes Television movie
2011 Phineas and Ferb No No No 1 Episode
Cameo as Himself
2012 Bunheads No Yes No 1 episode
2015 Descendants Yes Yes Executive Television movie
2016 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend No Yes No 1 episode
2016 The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again Yes Yes No Television movie
2017 Descendants 2 Yes Yes Executive Television movie
2018 Andi Mack No Yes No 1 episode
2019 Descendants 3 Yes Yes Executive Television movie
2020 Julie and the Phantoms Yes Yes Executive Netflix series

Concerts

Year Title Choreographer Director Producer Notes
1989–1990 Cher's Heart of Stone Tour No Yes No
1991–1992 Gloria Estefan's Into The Light World Tour Yes No No
1992–1993 Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour No Yes No
1996–1997 Gloria Estefan's Evolution World Tour Yes No No
1996–1997 Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour No Yes No
2003 Gloria Estefan's Live & Unwrapped Yes Yes No
2004 Gloria Estefan's Live & Re-Wrapped Tour Yes No No
2006 The Boy from Oz Yes Yes No Australian arena tour[18]
2006–2007 High School Musical: The Concert No Yes Yes
2007–2008 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Tour Yes Yes No
2009–2010 (cancelled) Michael Jackson's This Is It Yes Yes No

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work / nominee Result Ref.
2001 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Choreography Grounded for Life Nominated [19]
2002 Outstanding Choreography (shared with Doug Jack and Sarah Kawahara) Opening Ceremony Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Won [20]
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series (shared with Bucky Gunts and Ron de Moraes) Won [21]
2006 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Children's Programs High School Musical Won [22]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Choreography (shared with Charles Klapow and Bonnie Story) High School Musical Won [23]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special High School Musical Nominated [24]
2007 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Children's Programs High School Musical 2 Nominated [25]
Helpmann Awards Best Choreography in a Musical (shared with Kelley Abbey) The Boy from Oz Won [26]
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Director of a Made-for-TV Movie High School Musical 2 Won [27]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Choreography (shared with Charles Klapow and Bonnie Story) High School Musical 2 Nominated [28]
2009 National Association of Latino Independent Producers Outstanding Achievement Award Kenny Ortega Won [29]
Young Artist Award Jackie Coogan Award – Contribution to Youth High School Musical Won [30]
2015 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Children's Programs Descendants Won [31]

References

  1. ^ "Kenny Ortega Interview, Michael Jacksons This Is It". moviesonline.ca. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009.
  2. ^ Hartlaub, Peter (October 19, 2008). "Ortega directs 'High School Musical 3'". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  3. ^ Hernández, Lee (October 23, 2008). "Kenny Ortega: The man behind every step of 'High School Musical 3'". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Setoodeh, Ramin (June 30, 2020). "Director Kenny Ortega on the Queer Aesthetic of His Movies From 'Hocus Pocus' to 'High School Musical'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 3, 2008). "Kenny Ortega: From dancer to director". Variety. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History". rollingstone.com. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Kenny Ortega: Biography" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
  8. ^ "Michael Jackson Gets Ready For Tour". Sky News. May 12, 2009. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  9. ^ Hinckley, David; Huff, Richard (July 8, 2009). "Michael Jackson's memorial 2nd most-watched funeral ever, after Princess Di, say Nielsen ratings". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "This Is It - Cast | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Fleming, Michael (October 25, 2009). "Ortega exits Paramount's 'Footloose'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 28, 2011). "Universal Dropping Musical 'In The Heights'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  13. ^ Chaney, Jen (August 8, 2011). "'Dirty Dancing' the remake: Should it be pursued or put in a corner forever?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "Disney Channel announces 'Descendants,' movie about the villains' kids". Hypable. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Meet the 2019 Disney Legends to Be Honored at D23 Expo". D23. May 16, 2019. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  16. ^ Friedlander, Whitney (July 24, 2019). "'Descendants' Director Kenny Ortega Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Variety. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "Kenny Ortega - As a Gay Man". IMDb. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. ^ Rooney, David (August 6, 2006). "The Boy from Oz". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  19. ^ "53rd Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  20. ^ "54th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  21. ^ Tomlinson, Alan (January 1, 2005). "Picturing the winter Olympics: The Opening ceremonies of Nagano (Japan) 1998 and Salt Lake City (USA) 2002" (PDF). Tourism, Culture & Communication. 5 (2): 83–92. doi:10.3727/109830405774791465. S2CID 59142832. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "59th annual DGA awards". Directors Guild of America. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "58th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "58th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  25. ^ "60th annual DGA awards". Directors Guild of America. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  26. ^ "Past nominees and winners, 2007". Helpmann Awards. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  27. ^ "ALMA Awards 2012". Alma Awards. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
  28. ^ "60th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  29. ^ Crystal A. Johnson (April 24, 2009). "LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With High School Musical Director Kenny Ortega". Look to the Stars. Archived from the original on November 27, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  30. ^ "30th Annual Young Artist Awards". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  31. ^ "68th annual DGA awards". Directors Guild of America. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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