Bridget Carpenter News

La Jolla Playhouse presents Freaky Friday, book by Bridget Carpenter (TV's 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Parenthood'), music and lyrics by the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal, If/Then), based on the novel 'Freaky Friday' by Mary Rodgers and the Walt Disney motion pictures, to be directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, running tonight, January 31 , through March 12, 2017 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

FREAKY FRIDAY, a new musical from Disney, is based on the 1976 original movie and 2003 remake of the same name. It's a simple premise. Career mother and teenage daughter don't get along. (Stop me if you've heard this one.)

Freaky Friday Director Christopher Ashley has won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Come From Away. He earned the prestigious award last night at the American Theatre Wing's 71st Annual Tony Awards.

PCPA plans a 54th season of world-rocking plays and musicals from November 2017 through September 2018.

Freaky Friday has made its way to Houston! See stars Heidi Blickenstaff and Emma Hunton talk about the show with Houston Life Reporter, Stephanie Gonzalez in the video below!

Houston's Alley Theatre will open a new musical comedy, FREAKY FRIDAY, on June 2 to will play through July 2. A co-production by La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, and Alley Theatre, directed by Christopher Ashley, this wild classic has been translated into a contemporary musical comedy based on Mary Rodger's novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and   Brian Yorkey of Next to Normal and If/Then. I spoke with Jennifer Newberry, Houston native and avid performer about her performance past growing up in Houston and the striking similarity she has to her character in FREAKY FRIDAY, Gretchen.

BroadwayWorld has a full list of the Helen Hayes Awards winners updating LIVE below! Named for actor Helen Hayes - a Washington native and legendary First Lady of the American Theatre - the Helen Hayes Awards celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington region and has become a hallmark recognized by theatre makers and theatre lovers far beyond Washington D.C.

The Alley Theatre announces the cast and creative team of its 2016-2017 season finale production - Disney's new musical Freaky Friday.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at the Cleveland Playhouse production of Disney's FREAKY FRIDAY! Check out a preview below! The body-swapping duo in Cleveland Play House's (CPH) musical production of Disney's Freaky Friday are played by Heidi Blickenstaff (Broadway's Something Rotten!) and Emma Hunton (Broadway's Spring Awakening). Blickenstaff and Hunton reprise their roles as Katherine Blake (mother) and Ellie Blake (daughter) from La Jolla Playhouse's production, which launched a three-theatre co-production that will move to Cleveland Play House and conclude with a run at Houston's Alley Theatre. Get a sneak peek at them in action at La Jolla Playhouse before they hit Cleveland!

From screen to stage to screen again! According to a Disney Channel spokesperson, Disney's new FREAKY FRIDAY musical adaptation is in development for TV, 'contingent on casting.'

On Friday, May 26, Theatre Pro Rata will open Up: The Man in the Flying Chair by Bridget Carpenter at Park Square Theatre on the Andy Boss Thrust Stage in St. Paul.

If you go to the theater for enjoyment, Cleveland Play House's "Freaky Friday" is your thing. If you go to the theater to see marvelous talent, in a well-directed, well-conceived show, "Freaky Friday" is your thing. If you don't go to theater but have always wondered what a Broadway show is like, "Freaky Friday" is your thing. Yes, if you don't go see "Freaky Friday" you are going to miss out on a special event!

The body-swapping duo in Cleveland Play House's (CPH) musical production of Disney's Freaky Friday will be played by Heidi Blickenstaff (Broadway's Something Rotten!) and Emma Hunton (Broadway's Spring Awakening). Blickenstaff and Hunton will reprise their roles as Katherine Blake (mother) and Ellie Blake (daughter) from La Jolla Playhouse's production, which launched a three-theatre co-production that will move to Cleveland Play House and conclude with a run at Houston's Alley Theatre. Get a sneak peek at them in action at La Jolla Playhouse before they hit Cleveland!

Cleveland Play House will close out their 2016-17 season with the joyful new musical romp, Freaky Friday. Based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers which spawned two hit Disney films, Freaky Friday tells the story of a mother and daughter who magically swap bodies for 24 chaotic hours. The contemporary update of this American classic includes a hilarious new book by Bridget Carpenter ("Parenthood," "Friday Night Lights"), and a pop?rock score by Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize winners Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal, If/Then). Directed by Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse, it has been hailed as "a polished, peppy, modern fairy tale" by The Washington Post. With high-energy choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Memphis, Jersey Boys), this vivacious production is "delightfully spunky" with "timeless appeal" (Variety).

For this episode, we take a deep dive into the new Disney musical FREAKY FRIDAY , which was developed by Disney Theatrical Productions expressely for licensing to professional and then amateur theatres. Cast member Jason SweetTooth Williams moderates a chat--recorded backstage at La Jolla Playhouse--with the show's two stars, Heidi Blickenstaff and Emma Hunton.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the second show in our 19th Anniversary Season… Middletown. Written by Will Eno and directed by Trevor Biship, Middletown will preview from April 21 through April 28; regular performances will begin April 29 and continue through May 21 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the intimate Fyda-Mar Stage.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will debut four inventive and bold new works during their 2017 New Ground Theatre Festival. This year's New Ground will run from May 11-20.

Physical CDs of the world premiere studio recording of Disney's Freaky Friday, the new musical based on the beloved novel by Mary Rodgers and two hit Disney films, are now available wherever music is sold. Following its digital release on February 10, the studio cast recording continues to be available wherever digital music is sold and streamed.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the 2017 Writers Guild Awards winners for outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation

Due to overwhelming demand, La Jolla Playhouse is adding a seventh week of performances for Disney's Freaky Friday.  The show will extend its run through March 19.