Scott Frankel News

The Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska has announced their fourth biennial GROW A SHOW, a development program for new musical theatre. The workshop, although it is ticketed, is free to the public. Tickets are available online at www.liedcenter.org. This is an incredible free event for theatre doers and goers.

On Friday evening, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, in a display of pure bravura, opened their 40th Anniversary Season with the regional premiere of the musical War Paint, a new tuner with a book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie that tells the story of the rise and fall of two of the cosmetics industry's most notable trailblazers, Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden.  The musical opened on Broadway in 2017 to lackluster reviews and played only 269 performances before shuttering, even with two of Broadway's biggest divas, Christine Ebersole and Patti Lupone, at the helm.   There's a reason for this.  War Paint has what I like to call Sleepless-in-Seattle Syndrome when I'm talking to a group of juiced-up creative writing students.  That's a story that, like the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan film, has this problem:  the characters don't share enough time together in scenes to generate the type of tension needed to sustain interest over the course of the story.  The musical places too many limitations on itself by remaining true to the real-life story which includes the fact that Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden didn't actually know each other in real life and ends up painting a stage where the two principal characters are separated by an imaginary wall that can't ever be scaled, not even emotionally, and not even by the most talented actors.  But Atlanta Lyric, with their artistic director, Mary Nye Bennett, an absolute mega-talent in the role of Helena Rubenstein, and gorgeous scenic by Stephanie Polhemus, manage to offer up an excellent evening at the theater under the direction of a capable Susan G. Reid. 

Lincoln Center Theater, under the direction of André Bishop, has announced it will produce a new musical during its 2019-2020 season. FLYING OVER SUNSET, with a book and direction by James Lapine, music by Tom Kitt, and lyrics by Michael Korie, will feature choreography by Michelle Dorrance, and will begin previews March 12, 2020 and open on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton and Tony Yazbeck will head the cast with additional casting to be announced at a later date.

REBEL GENIUS, a new musical about the early life of Albert Einstein, has been awarded a staged reading as part of the ASCAP New Musical Theatre Workshop. With book, music, and lyrics by Peabody Award-winning composer, Matthew Puckett and direction by Becky Boesen, the staged reading will take place on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts' Carson Theatre (301 N 12th Street, Lincoln, NE). Tickets are free to the public and can be reserved online at liedcenter.org. Broadway composer and librettist Scott Frankel and Michael Korie (War Paint, Grey Gardens) will lead a panel discussion immediately following the reading to offer feedback to the creative team.

Ethan Riordan will be performing his original song cycle, Flicker, on August 20th at 7 pm at The Green Room 42 in Yotel Times Square. The song cycle explores themes of connection and disconnection in its various forms--whether it be moving on or standing still. Performing with Ethan will be Kerstin Anderson (My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music), Micaela Diamond (The Cher Show) and Sophia Gennusa (Matilda the Musical, Dr. Zhivago). This show is being produced by John Mara, Jr.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents this regional premiere masterpiece August 16-September 1, 2019.

We're sending well wishes to two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone as she recovers from her second hip replacement surgery. The legendary actress took to Twitter to share a photo of herself during her recovery in the hospital. Check out the post!

Sideshow Theatre Company opens its 2019-20 season with the U.S. premiere of Alistair McDowall's mind-bending sci-fi thriller X, directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green*. X will play September 22 a?" October 27, 2019 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Sideshow Theatre Company announce sits 2019-20 Season, launching this fall with the U.S. premiere of Alistair McDowall's mind-bending sci-fi thriller X, directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green. The season concludes next spring with the world premiere of Brynne Frauenhoffer's brash, incisive comedy PRO-AM, directed by artistic associate Regina Victor.

Richmond Triangle Players announces a two-week extension to the run of the musical Grey Gardens, which opened Friday June 14, 2019. The production will now run through Saturday, July 27, instead of the original closing date of July 13.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2019-2020 Broadway season. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Founding Artistic Director Fred Anzevino today announced a partial lineup of musicals for the company's second year in residence at the Howard Street Theatre, the venue developed by the City of Evanston specifically for the company.

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced Tony-nominee Matthew Sklar as the recipient of the Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition for his score to the Broadway musical, The Prom. 

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature INTO THE WOODS, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, SIX and More!

Due to high ticket demand, Hartford Stage announced today that it is extending the run of the world premiere musical The Flamingo Kid, directed by Darko Tresnjak. The musical will now close on Saturday, June 15.

The Flamingo Kid, inspired by the 1984 Garry Marshall coming-of-age film starring Matt Dillon is now on stage in Hartford! What did the critics think? Read all the reviews!

World premiere musicals don't come around every day, so when given the opportunity to be the first patrons to experience the thrill of a new show, I will always recommend you jump at that chance. Even better when the show is one like Hartford Stage's final production of the season, THE FLAMINGO KID, which also marks the final show for Darko Tresnjak, its award winning artistic director. THE FLAMINGO KID has a lot going for it - the aforementioned direction by Mr. Tresnjak, a score by Tony award winners Robert L. Freedman (Books and Lyrics) and Scott Frankel (Music), a familiar subject matter, a stellar cast, bright and energetic staging, and a story that is simply fun to watch. Suffice to say - THE FLAMINGO KID delivers on all of those in spades and is simply not one to miss.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Happy Friday! Wrap up another week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The Flamingo Kid at Hartford Stage! ! In this new video, watch 'Never Met A Boy Like You' sung by Samantha Massell and Jimmy Brewer.

It's time to head to the El Flamingo because Ben Fankhauser is taking over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story tomorrow, May 26th, at Hartford Stage's production of The Flamingo Kid! Be sure to tune in all throughout the day to get a look behind the scenes of a two-show day of this brand new musical!