Benjamin Franklin News

While live theatre in New Jersey is being paused due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we continue our series of interviews with theatre professionals to learn more about how they are coping and their future plans. Andrew DePrisco, the Artistic Director of Axelrod Performing Arts Center told us about his background and his position.

Feinstein's/54 Below has announced that 10 new shows have been added to #54BelowatHome, a series of streamed performances to provide theater fans everywhere with artistic content from their favorite artists.

Carole Rothman, Artistic Director and President of Second Stage Theater, has been elected to the 2020 class of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Second Stage Theater was founded by Rothman in 1979 and operates three New York City venues, exclusively dedicated to producing living American playwrights.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has named Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center, among its distinguished Class of 2020 inductees.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the cast has been assembled for Diane Paulus' Broadway-Bound 1776, which just began a Zoom workshop. Exact production dates have not been announced, though the A.R.T. has confirmed that the musical will play as a part of its 2020/21 Season, and Roundabout will bring it to the American Airlines Theatre in Spring 2021.

The Broad Stage presents the Red Hen Press Poetry Hour, a new recurring digital program, the first for both organizations, via The Broad Stage's Facebook Live. Red Hen Press Poetry Hour is part of The Broad Stage at Home, a destination offering new, livestreamed content from artistic partners and archival concert footage.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 9,2020 for Meadow Brook Theatre's 13th annual Children's Series, beginning in February 2021.

The Philly POPS announced today the appointment of David Charles Abell as Music Director and Principal Conductor. Abell made his debut with the POPS in 2013 with his unforgettable presentations of A Philly POPS Christmas: Spectacular Sounds of the Season. He was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in 2017 and will enter his eighth season with the POPS for the 2020a?"2021 Bright Lights! Big City! season.

Variety reports that a third 'National Treasure' movie is in the works from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer. Chris Bremner will write the script.

In conjunction with its upcoming revival of 1776 directed by Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus, American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University will host a series of conversations with acclaimed Harvard scholars that consider the Declaration of Independence and topics and themes raised by the musical.

The Spring Lake Theatre Company will present the award-winning and revolutionary 1776 the Musical - with a twist!

Center Theatre Group will continue its free library play reading series with the readings of six plays on select dates from January to June 2020. The plays will be presented at Benjamin Franklin Library on Tuesdays, Malabar Library on Wednesdays and Robert Louis Stevenson Library on Thursdays. All readings will begin at 6 p.m. 

Take a look back on Richard Easton's life and career with a collection of vintage photos from our archives. 

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Broadway veteran the Tony Award winner Richard Easton has died. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Easton was 86.

Plays Selected for Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

The Washington Ballet's beloved production of The Nutcracker returns to THEARC Theater November 23-24 and at the historic Warner Theatre November 30-December 29, 2019. Set to Tchaikovsky's magical score, this celebrated holiday favorite has become the signature Nutcracker in our nation's capital. With 40 performances and special events for families and military personnel, 45,000 patrons will enjoy The Nutcracker this season.

The innovative educational program that debuted at HAMILTON on Broadway will continue in Philadelphia on Thursday, November 7 when over 1,700 students and teachers from 39 high schools attend the matinee performance of the musical at the Forrest Theatre.

The 2020 presidential candidates just got a little more musical! With the presidential campaigns officially underway, Twitter user @absobyrne took to social media to compare the current candidates to some of Broadway's Tony-winning Best Musicals. To help you get a better understanding at the comparisons, we're giving you a look inside each of the shows, from older classics like South Pacific and Hello, Dolly! to more recent shows including Rent and The Producers. Check it all out!

On November 6, 2019, The New York Landmarks Conservancy will host its 26th Living Landmarks Celebration at The Plaza. In addition to Mark Morris, this year's honorees are Carole Bailey French, Ted Mathas, H. Carl McCall, Emily K. Rafferty and Barbara & Donald Tober. The following previous honorees will also be involved: David Patrick Columbia as host, Peter Duchin and his Orchestra will provide entertainment, and Liz & Jeff Peek and Patsy & Jeff Tarr as Honorary Co-Chairs for the evening. More than 500 guests are expected to attend this 26th annual tribute.

The Philly POPS announced today that Latin pop star Luis Figueroa will join its all-star show, A Philly POPS Uptown Christmas at The Met Philadelphia.