Kenny Ortega Biography

Kenneth John Ortega (born April 18, 1950) is an American producer, director, and choreographer. He is best known for directing the films Newsies (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), the High School Musical trilogy (2006–2008), Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) and the Descendants trilogy (2015–2019). Ortega has choreographed films including St. Elmo's Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), and Dirty Dancing (1987). He has also directed multiple concert tours, including tours for Cher, Gloria Estefan, and Michael Jackson.