Bonnie Franklin News

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with the Central Coast Premiere of a timely drama about a fascinating and enigmatic figure in American history. TRYING, which opens March 13 and runs through April 4th (with low-priced previews March 11 and 12), is a poignant, poetic and powerful story about a relationship between Francis Biddle, Attorney General under Roosevelt and Chief Judge at the Nuremburg trials; and Sarah, a tenacious 25-year-old woman from the Canadian plains, one of a string of secretaries Biddle's wife has hired to help him put his affairs in order at the end of his long an illustrious career. Biddle, 81, is in poor health, proud and cantankerous as he begins to confront his own mortality. Sarah, however, is also headstrong, and from her early life on the prairie has developed a strength and wisdom beyond her years. Despite the difference in ideologies and age, the two forge a friendship. The play is autobiographical in nature and is written by Joanna McClelland Glass, who worked for Biddle in the late 60s.

Asolo Rep announces additional casting for award-winning Managing Maxine, Janece Shaffer's new play that takes a straight forward look at sex, love and life after 70. The cast features Howard Elfman as Louis, the role he originated last season in the world premiere of Managing Maxine at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with the Central Coast Premiere of a timely drama about a fascinating and enigmatic figure in American history. TRYING, which opens March 13 and runs through April 4th (with low-priced previews March 11 and 12), is a poignant, poetic and powerful story about a relationship between Francis Biddle, Attorney General under Roosevelt and Chief Judge at the Nuremburg trials; and Sarah, a tenacious 25-year-old woman from the Canadian plains, one of a string of secretaries Biddle's wife has hired to help him put his affairs in order at the end of his long an illustrious career. Biddle, 81, is in poor health, proud and cantankerous as he begins to confront his own mortality. Sarah, however, is also headstrong, and from her early life on the prairie has developed a strength and wisdom beyond her years. Despite the difference in ideologies and age, the two forge a friendship. The play is autobiographical in nature and is written by Joanna McClelland Glass, who worked for Biddle in the late 60s.

Asolo Rep announces additional casting for award-winning Managing Maxine, Janece Shaffer's new play that takes a straight forward look at sex, love and life after 70. The cast features Howard Elfman as Louis, the role he originated last season in the world premiere of Managing Maxine at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.

In the 1979 revival of Oklahoma!, Christine Ebersole insisted that when it comes to men she 'cain't say no,' and this weekend she's showing City Center audiences that when it comes to performing, the same words apply.  Despite suffering musical theatre's most talked-about flu since Faith Prince played Miss Adelaide in the last revival of Guys and Dolls (Okay, so Miss Adelaide only has a cold, but you get my point.) Ms. Ebersole is nevertheless positively luminous as Margo Channing in the Encores! staged reading of Applause.

Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy will host a special edition of the acclaimed 'MAC/ASAPC Songwriters' Showcase,' an ongoing series exploring the role of Songwriters in America on Saturday, October 31st from 2pm to 4Ppm at the Metropolitan Room. The afternoon program will focus on Songwriters from the West Coast with participants including Melissa Manchester, Mark Winkler, Shelly Markham and Geoffrey Leigh Tozer.

Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy will host a special edition of the acclaimed 'MAC/ASAPC Songwriters' Showcase,' an ongoing series exploring the role of Songwriters in America on Saturday, October 31st from 2pm to 4Ppm at the Metropolitan Room. The afternoon program will focus on Songwriters from the West Coast with participants including Melissa Manchester, Mark Winkler, Shelly Markham and Geoffrey Leigh Tozer.

Counter Productions is proud to present Sirius/XM Radio and Broadway star Seth Rudetsky at the Provincetown Theatre for four nights only! Thursday & Friday September 3-4 and Sunday & Monday September 6-7. All performances begin at 7:30pm.

Counter Productions is proud to present Sirius/XM Radio and Broadway star Seth Rudetsky at the Provincetown Theatre for four nights only! Thursday & Friday September 3-4 and Sunday & Monday September 6-7. All performances begin at 7:30pm.

Counter Productions is proud to present Sirius/XM Radio and Broadway star Seth Rudetsky at the Provincetown Theatre for four nights only! Thursday & Friday September 3-4 and Sunday & Monday September 6-7. All performances begin at 7:30pm.

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre has chosen Ernest A. Figueroa as its new Artistic Director to succeed longtime Artistic Director Lonny Chapman, who was at the helm of The Group Rep company for more than three decades, until his death in 2007.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with the charming and eccentric one-woman play SPIT LIKE A BIG GIRL. The play will begin previews Thursday, May 14, open on Saturday, May 16 and run through Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with Edward Albee's most intoxicated and haunting play, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? The play will begin previews Thursday, January 29, open on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm and run through Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Last night in Beverly Hills, Monday January 26th, The Paley Center for Media saluted the work of award-winning composer Charles Strouse in the third of its concert & conversations series, PaleyAfterDark. The composer of such great Broadway hits including Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause, Annie, and Rags, Strouse with special guests Bonnie Franklin (who nominated for a Tony award for Applause) and cast members of Minsky's shared a rare evening of story and song which celebrated his illustrious career and the Los Angeles debut of his latest musical triumph, Minsky's. The program was illuminated by archival footage of rare Strouse material from the Paley Center's collection and finished with a musical performance by the composer singing an arrangement of favorites from 'Put on a Happy Face' to 'Tomorrow.'Minsky's is based on the Bud Yorkin-Norman Lear production of 'The Night They Raided Minsky's.' Charles Strouse has touched the life of almost every American in the last half century with his musical works. There may be no other living composer from America's popular songbook whose work is as integrated into the popular culture as that of Charles Strouse.His music has attracted top recording artists from the last half-century with covers of his songs recorded by such diverse pop artists as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick, Jr., Bobby Rydell, Jay Z, Vic Damone, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Grace Jones and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.Strouse has written the score to over 30 stage musicals, 14 scores for Broadway, four Hollywood films, two orchestral works and an opera.He has been inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with Edward Albee's most intoxicated and haunting play, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? The play will begin previews Thursday, January 29, open on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm and run through Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Andrea Marcovicci returns to 'Lyrics & Lyricists'™ with an evening of gems from the post-1965 repertoire to refute the notion that rock 'n' roll killed the art of songwriting. At the final 'Lyrics & Lyricists' of the 2009 season - Did the American Songbook Really End in 1965?

Rubicon Theatre Company's 10th Anniversary Season has been cloaked in secrecy, with the company planning a private preview event in May to announce next year's offerings. However, earlier this week company officials named two of the productions, which will be a part of the just-announced Southern California Festival of New American Musicals.

The 2001 S.T.A.G.E. Benefit; Broadway Musicals of 1949, South Pacific and two Sondheim tracks

Kritzerland will release two new CDs--of a benefit concert featuring Strouse, Stephen Schwartz and Arthur Schwartz songs and of a Kevin Spirtas concert--on April 10th; they will be available for pre-order on March 12

Seth Rudetsky will return in Seth Deconstructs: The Good, the Bad and the Headachey on December 5th and 19th