Kenny Ortega Returns to Paradigm (Exclusive)

Kenny Ortega, the director of Disney Channel franchises High School Musical and Descendants, has returned to Paradigm for representation.

Previously at A3 Artists Agency, Ortega found his way back to the Hollywood talent agency by way of Paradigm partner and head of the New York office Jack Tantleff, and Paradigm managing partner Andrew Ruf.

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Ortega’s film and TV directing and choreography work in the family and kids musical space includes 1992’s Newsies, the original Dirty Dancing, Hocus Pocus, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Xanadu and the High School Musical franchise, for which he earned an Emmy for choreography.

He has directed and choreographed music videos, live TV and live concert performances for the likes of Miley Cyrus, Cher, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Dianna Ross, Mick Jagger, Gloria Estefan, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, KISS and The Jonas Brothers.

In 2019, Netflix plucked Ortega away from the Disney Channel to sign a multiple-year overall deal with the streaming giant, and with Auntie Claus and the tween musical Julie and the Phantoms among his first projects. That overall deal with Netflix is no longer in place.

Ortega signed with A3 Artists Agency in mid-2020 after first being represented by Paradigm. He continues to be represented by attorney Barry Littman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox, L.L.P.

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