Francesca Zambello
O'KEEFFE: KISS THE SKY Preview to be Presented by Cincinnati Opera and CCM (Mar 2, 2026)
BWW Review: PORGY AND BESS at Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts (Mar 2, 2026)
The Dallas Opera Reveals 2026/27 Season - THE ELIXIR OF LOVE, TURANDOT and More (Feb 24, 2026)
BIO
Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognized and award-winning opera and theater director. Her recent theatrical credits include The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theater, Rebecca for the Vienna Raimund Theater, West Side Story for the floating stage in Bergenz, Austria, and Showboat at The Royal Albert Hall. She is the Artistic Advisor of the San Francisco Opera where she is helming a new Ring Cycle and Porgy and Bess this season. She has many notable directing credits at the Metropolitan Opera, including An American Tragedy, Cyrano and Les Troyens, as well as at Teatro alla Scala, Royal Albert Hall, Bolshoi, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Washington Opera, and Chicago Lyric, among others. Her honors include three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, Helpmann Award, Palme d'Or in Germany and the Golden Mask in Russia.
Photos
Productions
Videos
Video: Rob Colletti & Hayley Podschun Sing 'Sue Me' from GUYS AND DOLLS
by Joshua Wright - 2026-01-05 12:14:15
Video: 'Luck Be a Lady' from GUYS AND DOLLS at Shakespeare Theatre Company
by Joshua Wright - 2025-12-22 13:26:42
Video: Julie Benko Sings 'If I Were a Bell' In GUYS AND DOLLS at Shakespeare Theatre Company
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-15 23:40:48
Video: Kyle Taylor Parker Sings 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat' from GUYS AND DOLLS
by Joshua Wright - 2025-12-10 18:33:06
Video: Watch 'Nume custode e vindice' from Verdi's AIDA at Lyric Opera of Chicago
by Joshua Wright - 2024-04-02 16:45:57
Video: Russell Thomas Performs 'Celeste Aida' from Verdi's AIDA at Lyric Opera of Chicago
by Joshua Wright - 2024-03-27 15:07:08
Video: Watch 'Triumphal March' from Verdi's AIDA at Lyric Opera of Chicago
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-03-24 14:30:32
Video: Watch a Trailer for Lyric Opera of Chicago's Production of Verdi's AIDA
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-03-10 13:28:44
VIDEO: Washington National Opera Presents The 11th Season Of American Opera Initiative Featuring Three World Premieres
by Joshua Wright - 2024-01-16 16:22:46
Video: Ryan McCartan Sings 'Something's Coming' From WEST SIDE STORY at Lyric Opera of Chicago
by Alan Henry - 2023-06-13 16:10:46
AN EVENING WITH AUDRA MCDONALD, CHAMPION & More Set for Lyric Opera of Chicago 2023/24 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2023-03-14 14:00:20
First Look: Willemijn Verkaik Returns to the Stage in REBECCA the Musical in Vienna
by Team BWW - 2022-09-26 15:45:25
VIDEO: Works & Process at the Guggenheim On Washington National Opera's WRITTEN IN STONE
by Alan Henry - 2022-02-11 09:49:49
VIDEO: Get a Sneak Peek at Washington National Opera's RETURN VICTORIOUS! Virtual Celebration
by Stephi Wild - 2021-06-11 07:44:47
VIDEO: On This Day, January 10- Broadway Goes Under the Sea With THE LITTLE MERMAID
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-01-10 16:20:00
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 2, 2026
Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music will present an exclusive preview of O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky, a new opera-ballet commissioned by Washington National Opera.
by Andrew Burrill - Mar 2, 2026
Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS is a vocally commanding and spiritually powerful production, led by standout performances from Eric Greene and Michelle Bradley under the legendary direction of Francesca Zambello.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 24, 2026
The Dallas Opera revealed programming for its 2026/2027 Season at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas. The company’s 69th season features four mainstage productions: Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love and more.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 24, 2026
The 2026 Helen Hayes Award nominations have been announced, recognizing outstanding achievement in Washington-area professional theatre. Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, and dozens of regional companies are represented across performance, direction, design, and production categories. The awards highlight the breadth of theatre work presented throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.
by Joshua Wright - Feb 19, 2026
Washington National Opera General Director Timothy O'Leary discusses the company's transition, community support, rebuilding operations, and future plans, including upcoming productions of TREEMONISHA, THE CRUCIBLE, and WEST SIDE STORY.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 16, 2026
Washington National Opera has revealed new venues and dates for its production of Bernstein's West Side Story, which will star Ryan McCartan and Shereen Pimentel.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 4, 2026
Christopher Koelsch, the Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco President and CEO of LA Opera, has announced details for the company's 2026/27 season, which will launch on October 17, 2026.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 4, 2026
San Francisco Opera will present a dynamic 2026-27 season, featuring a mix of classic operas and new productions. Highlights include premieres and revivals at the iconic War Memorial Opera House.
by Joshua Wright - Jan 22, 2026
Washington National Opera’s planned separation from the Kennedy Center is moving into a complex legal stage, with negotiations underway over assets, facilities, and the future of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
by Joshua Wright - Jan 16, 2026
Washington National Opera announces spring 2026 performances at venues across the D.C. area, including Treemonisha, The Crucible, and additional concerts during its 70th anniversary season.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 7, 2026
Concerts from the Library of Congress will launch an exciting, yearlong America 250 celebration this January, presenting a broad panorama of the nation's music in concerts and conversations, lectures, film screenings, educational programs and more.
by - Jan 6, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 6, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Joshua Wright - Jan 5, 2026
Watch Rob Colletti and Hayley Podschun perform Sue Me from Guys and Dolls. Directed By Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, Guys and Dolls plays STC’s Harman Hall through January 8th, 2026.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 2, 2026
Stephen Schwartz, who was previously set to host the Washington National Opera Gala at the Kennedy Center, is dropping out of the event after President Donald Trump's name was added to the building.
by Joshua Wright - Dec 22, 2025
Take your first look at 'Luck Be a Lady' performed by Jacob Dickey and the company of GUYS AND DOLLS at Sakespeare Theatre Company.
by Joshua Wright - Dec 18, 2025
The board overseeing Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Thursday to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to the White House.
by Rosanne DellAversano - Dec 18, 2025
Disney’s The Little Mermaid, loosely based on the fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen, tells the simple story of the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, and her longing to leave her ocean home and live in the world above with humans.
by Elliot Lanes - Dec 17, 2025
Traditionally when you think of what an opera is, visions of four hour long extravaganzas with beautiful singing but with stilted or no acting at all come to mind. The question then becomes how does this entertainment genre attract the youngest of audience members to its productions? Let’s face it, The Ring Cycle is a bit much for an eight year old to sit through.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 16, 2025
Julie Benko is currently appearing as Sarah Brown in GUYS AND DOLLS at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall in Washington, D.C., where the production has been extended and will now run through January 8. A newly released video captures Benko performing “If I Were a Bell” opposite Jacob Dickey as Sky Masterson.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 11, 2025
Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced that Emma Flynn will assume the role of Sarah Brown in GUYS AND DOLLS. Flynn joins the cast following Julie Benko’s final performance on December 28.
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