Nick Francone News

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

This fall, the sexy, soulful new musical comedy DIAL 'N' FOR NEGRESS will have its world premiere engagement for 16 performances only -- Thursday, September 10 through Saturday, September 26, 2009 -- at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd St., NYC). Opening Night is Friday, September 11.

Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, now in its 8th season, will remount their award-winning production of the sci-fi adventure, 'FIGHT GIRL BATTLE WORLD,' created by co-artistic directors Qui Nguyen and Robert Ross Parker, written by Mr. Nguyen, directed by Mr. Parker, with fight choreography by Nguyen, when it begins performances on July 14th at HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring & Broome, enter on Dominick).

Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, now in its 8th season, will remount their award-winning production of the sci-fi adventure, 'FIGHT GIRL BATTLE WORLD,' created by co-artistic directors Qui Nguyen and Robert Ross Parker, written by Mr. Nguyen, directed by Mr. Parker, with fight choreography by Nguyen, when it begins performances on July 14th at HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring & Broome, enter on Dominick).

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center (www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center(www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

Cooler than Kill Bill, hotter than Shaft! The OBIE Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company teams up with the NYIT Award-winning Vampire Cowboys for 'SOUL SAMURAI' the story of Dewdrop and her fight through the mean streets of a post-apocalyptic Brooklyn. After avenging her lover's murder in the heart of Coney Island, Dewdrop now must make it back home to the Lower East Side before the shoguns of Kings County find her. In a play that mixes hip-hop culture, blaxploitation, and the martial arts, this production dials it back old school with this seventies-inspired samurai story. This is one slick slice with a sharp sword and a score to settle! 'SOUL SAMURAI' is being sponsored by the 2009 New York Comic Con.

Cooler than Kill Bill, hotter than Shaft! The OBIE Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company teams up with the NYIT Award-winning Vampire Cowboys for 'SOUL SAMURAI' the story of Dewdrop and her fight through the mean streets of a post-apocalyptic Brooklyn. After avenging her lover's murder in the heart of Coney Island, Dewdrop now must make it back home to the Lower East Side before the shoguns of Kings County find her. In a play that mixes hip-hop culture, blaxploitation, and the martial arts, this production dials it back old school with this seventies-inspired samurai story. This is one slick slice with a sharp sword and a score to settle! 'SOUL SAMURAI' is being sponsored by the 2009 New York Comic Con.

The Roundtable Ensemble (Kelly Ann Moore, Artistic Director and Joshua P. Weiss, Managing Director), now in its 10th season, will present the New York premiere of Linda Escalera Baggs' award-winning play 'SILENT HEROES,' inspired by a true story, and directed by Rosemary Andress. 'SILENT HEROES' will be presented at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th floor (bet. 8th and 9th Aves). Performances will begin on January 8, and the official opening performance was Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 p.m. Performances will run through Saturday, January 24. Set shortly after the end of the Vietnam War, the wives of six Marine Corps aviators have gathered in the night after hearing that one of the base's jet fighters has crashed. The Corps has offered no comfort or information, but the women know that one of their husbands isn't coming home. 'SILENT HEROES' deals with women's rights, race relations, family, war and peace, and the tenuous social structure that enables military wives to cope with the constant fear that their husbands' lives, and their futures, could end suddenly. It won Best Play at FutureFest (Dayton, OH), at the Firehouse Theatre Festival of New American Plays (Richmond, VA), and at the Pittsburgh New Play Festival. TheaterMania's Peter Filichia was one of the judges at FutureFest and wrote this in his column: 'While I was watching Linda Escalera Bagg's Silent Heroes, I thought 'Hmm...this playwright has not only written six fat parts for women but also at least two parts that could very well win Tony Awards for the actresses playing them.' 'SILENT HEROES' was also honored with the Source Literary Prize in Washington, D.C. Linda Escalera Baggs is a Virginia-based playwright whose plays have been produced across the U.S.A. In addition to her award-winning Silent Heroes her full length plays include Harps & Harmonicas and Word War, and her one-acts and short plays include: Parting Words, The August Jinx, Welcome to Florida, Who's Margaret, and Dress Blues. Baggs is the daughter of a Marine colonel.

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center(www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

The Roundtable Ensemble (Kelly Ann Moore, Artistic Director and Joshua P. Weiss, Managing Director), now in its 10th season, will present the New York premiere of Linda Escalera Baggs' award-winning play 'SILENT HEROES,' inspired by a true story, and directed by Rosemary Andress. 'SILENT HEROES' will be presented at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th floor (bet. 8th and 9th Aves). Performances will begin on January 8, and the official opening performance will be Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 p.m. Performances will run through Saturday, January 24.

The Roundtable Ensemble (Kelly Ann Moore, Artistic Director and Joshua P. Weiss, Managing Director), now in its 10th season, will present the New York premiere of Linda Escalera Baggs' award-winning play 'SILENT HEROES,' inspired by a true story, and directed by Rosemary Andress. 'SILENT HEROES' will be presented at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, 12th floor (bet. 8th and 9th Aves). Performances will begin on January 8, and the official opening performance will be Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 p.m. Performances will run through Saturday, January 24.

?Perdita? by Pierre-Marc Diennet, premieres Off Broadway at The Lion Theatre (Theatre Row), 410 West 42nd Street, NYC. Now in previews, the opening is Tuesday, November 18th. The director is Linsay Firman; with set design by Nick Francone, costume design by Blythe Quinlan, lighting design by Les Dickert and the sound designer is Shane Rettig. The new play is produced by Matthew Putman and Marine Putman. (2 hours with one 15 minute intermission) www.perditaoffbroadway.com

NOW IN PREVIEWS PERDITA by Pierre-Marc Diennet PREMIERES Off Broadway at The Lion Theatre (Theatre Row) Opening Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What is it like to be the son of a feminist hero? What is it like to be his mother? 'Perdita' is the compelling story of two generations, two genders, two experiences of the same pioneering life.

'Perdita' by Pierre-Marc Diennet, premieres Off Broadway at The Lion Theatre (Theatre Row), 410 West 42nd Street, NYC with previews beginning November 13th.