Dara Reneé

Dara Reneé
Reneé in 2022
Born
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present

Dara Reneé is an American actress, model, singer and songwriter whose notable roles include Kourtney Greene in the Disney+ mockumentary series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Uliana in the film Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Early life

Reneé was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Baltimore where her mother, Kimberly Brooks, founded a non-profit performing arts school, Encouraging Youth To Dream, in Pikesville. Brooks is also an actress and Reneé's grandmother was a member of 1960s Baltimore soul group The Royalettes. Reneé attended John Paul Regional Catholic School in Milford Mill. She initially tried auditioning for theater roles in New York before moving back to California to finish high school at Charter High School of the Arts (CHAMPS) in Van Nuys.[1][2][3]

Career

Reneé debuted with the role of Savannah in the 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie Freaky Friday.[4][5]

In 2019, she had a recurring role as Stunts in the fifth season of the ABC Television series Black-ish.[6] She also had a guest role in The Kids Are Alright.[7]

Reneé stars in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as Kourtney, a student a makeup artist and Nini's best friend. The series premiered in November 2019. Reneé had auditioned for the role of Kourtney, Kourtney was originally intended to be a one-off character, but Reneé was invited to become a series regular.[8][9] She created the series' arrangement of "Bop to the Top".[10] Starting in season 2 of the series, her own mother played her character Kourtney's mother, Michelle.

In 2021, it was announced that she would host Disney's Magic Bake-Off with Raven's Home star Issac Ryan Brown.[11]

At the 2022 D23 Expo was announced that she will be part of the film Descendants 4, later officially titled Descendants: The Rise of Red, in the role of Uliana, the sister of Ursula the Sea Witch, which was released in 2024.[12][13]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Freaky Friday Savannah Television film
2019 The Kids Are Alright Melissa Episode: "Show Boat"
Black-ish Stunts
3 episodes
  • "Waltz in A Minor"
  • "Dreamgirls and Boys"
  • "Son of a Pitch"
My Stepfather's Secret Fee Television film
2019–2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Kourtney Greene Main role
2020 Descendants Remix Dance Party Herself Television special[14]
2021 Disney's Magic Bake-Off Host
Grey's Anatomy Janice Episode: "Today was a Fairytale"
2024 Descendants: The Rise of Red Uliana Film
2024 Chibi Tiny Tales Herself Voice role; Episode: "Descendants 1+2+3: As Told By Chibi"[15]

Discography

Albums

Soundtrack albums

Title Album details
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack
  • Released: January 10, 2020
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD
  • RIAA: Gold[16]
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special:
The Soundtrack[17]
  • Released: November 20, 2020
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 2
  • Released: July 30, 2021
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 3[18]
  • Released: September 15, 2022
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: The Final Season[19]
  • Released: July 25, 2023
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Descendants: The Rise of Red[20]
  • Released: July 12, 2024
  • Label: Walt Disney
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Singles

Title Year Album
"Believe" 2020 High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special:
The Soundtrack
"Beauty and the Beast" 2021 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 2[21]
"Here I Come" 2022 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 3[18]
"Let It Go"
"Jump" 2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: The Final Season[19]

Other charted songs

Title Year Album
"Stick to the Status Quo" (Rehearsal) 2020 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack
"Bop to the Top" (Nini & Kourtney Version)
"Stick to the Status Quo" (Performance)
"We're All in This Together" (Cast)
"Something in the Air" High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special:
The Soundtrack[17]
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
"High School Musical 2 Medley" 2021 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 2
"Belle"
"1-2-3"
"Be Our Guest"
"Something There"
"What Time Is It/Start the Party Mashup" 2022 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: Season 3[18]
"I Want It All" 2023 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series:
The Soundtrack: The Final Season[19]
"Perfect Revenge" 2024 Descendants: The Rise of Red[20]

References

  1. ^ "Freaky Friday: Rising Star Dara Renee' Talks Dream Role". The Burton Wire. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Matthews, Nadie (July 11, 2019). "Baltimore's Dara Renee Stars in Disney's Latest 'Freaky Friday' Remake". AFRO. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Kaltenbach, Chris (July 18, 2018). "One-time Baltimore resident Dara Renee to make Disney Channel debut in 'Freaky Friday'". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Brozyna, Emily (August 10, 2018). "Dara Renee and Ricky He Make Disney Debut In Freaky Friday". J-14. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Morales, Wilson (August 9, 2018). "Exclusive: Dara Renee Talks Disney's Freaky Friday, Airing August 10th". BlackFilm. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Petski, Denise (November 29, 2018). "'Black-ish' Casts Dara Reneé; Chad Lindberg Joins 'Sneaky Pete'". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Corinne (September 3, 2013). "It's the Start of Something New! Here's the Cast For the High School Musical TV Show". Popsugar. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Ayers, Mary (November 9, 2019). "Dara Renée discusses High School Musical series". Teenplicity. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Windsor, Rachel (December 11, 2019). "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' star Dara Renee says the show brings 'nostalgia back to the original'". MEAWW. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Jones, Chae' (January 9, 2020). "High School Musical's Dara Renee shares how she created "Bop to the Top"". AfterBuzz TV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Disney Channel Sets Baking Competition Series 'Disney's Magic Bake-Off'; Dara Reneé & Issac Ryan Brown to Host". April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Disney Branded Television Presents Upcoming Slate of Films and Series at D23 Expo 2022" (Press release). Disney Branded Television. September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Hailu, Selome (April 2, 2024). "Descendants: The Rise of Red Teaser Introduces the Queen of Hearts' Rebellious Daughter and Reveals Summer Premiere Date". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Descendants Remix Dance Party: A Disney Channel Music Event (TV)". d23.com. May 13, 2021.
  15. ^ Disney Channel (July 7, 2024). "Descendants 1+2+3: As Told By Chibi 💜 | Chibi Tiny Tales | Featuring Dara Reneé! | @disneychannel". YouTube.
  16. ^ "American certifications – CAST OF HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special (Original Soundtrack)". genius.com. November 20, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Original Soundtrack/Season 3) - Credits". September 16, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Original Soundtrack/The Final Season) by Cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, 2023-08-10, retrieved 2023-08-09
  20. ^ a b "China Anne McClain & Kylie Cantrall Perform "What's My Name (Red Version)" From Descendants: The Rise Of Red Soundtrack In New Music Video". Disney Plus Press. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Dara Reneé - Beauty and the Beast (HSMTMTS | Disney+), retrieved August 11, 2021