Fran Kirmser News

Primary Stages presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). The production opened last night, Tuesday, October 8, and features Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/ Bird) as Reggie Jackson and Elston Howard,Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful) as Joe DiMaggio,Bill Dawes(Broadway's Lombardi) as Mickey Mantle/Thurman Munson,Christopher Jackson(Broadway's In the Heights, Memphis) asDerek Jeter, Wendy Makkena (Broadway's Side Man) as Carmen Berra, Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi) as Billy Martin, Richard Topol (Broadway'sThe Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) as Yogi Berra, John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons) as Lou Gehrig, and C.J. Wilson (Happy Now? at Primary Stages, Broadway's The Big Knife,Glengarry Glen Ross) as Babe Ruth. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. Check out a look back at the opening night festivities below!

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) have announced casting for the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, conceived by Fran Kirmser, commissioned by Tony Ponturo, and written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Wendy Makkena (Broadway's Side Man) and C.J. Wilson (Happy Now? at Primary Stages, Broadway's The Big Knife, Glengarry Glen Ross) will play Carmen Berra and Babe Ruth respectively in the production featuring previously announced Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/Bird), Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful), Bill Dawes (Broadway's Lombardi), Christopher Jackson (Broadway's In the Heights,Memphis), Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi), Joe Pantoliano (Emmy Award winner from HBO's 'The Sopranos') and John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons). Bronx Bombers runs September 17- October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. Opening night is October 8 at 7pm.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director,) Fran Kirmser, and Tony Ponturo present the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, conceived by Fran Kirmser, written and directed by Eric Simonson(Broadway's Lombardi). The production features Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/ Bird), Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful), Bill Dawes (Broadway's Lombardi), Christopher Jackson (Broadway's In the Heights, Memphis), Keith Nobbs (Broadway'sLombardi), Joe Pantoliano (Emmy Award winner from HBO's 'The Sopranos') and John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons). Bronx Bombers runs September 17- October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival, now in its 16th year, brings the Denver Center Theatre Company, Primary Stages (New York), and South Coast Repertory (California) to develop new pieces of theatre in the Rocky Mountains. Presented under the artistic direction of Andrew Leynse, (Artistic Director, Primary Stages), and with sponsorship from The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, the New Works Festival continues Perry-Mansfield's founding principle of nurturing new talent with new work. The Festival is co-chaired by James Steinberg and Karolynn Lestrud and produced by Emily Tarquin. The companies will showcase three different new works in partnership with Perry-Mansfield:

Primary Stages has announced the fourth production of their upcoming 29th Season: A new production of their 1995 Obie Award-winning THE MODEL APARTMENT by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies.

Playwrights Horizons and Primary Stages begin accepting entries today, Wednesday, March 13, for the LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to their World Premiere co-production of The Call. The new play by Tanya Barfield (Blue Door at Playwrights Horizons/PH) is directed by two-time Obie Award winner Leigh Silverman (Go Back to Where You Are and Blue Door at PH; Hunting and Gathering at Primary Stages/PS; Golden Child, Chinglish, Well, In the Wake).

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) and Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) have announced casting for their World Premiere co-production of THE CALL, a new play by Tanya Barfield (Blue Door at Playwrights Horizons/PH).

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) announces the first three plays of their 29th Season. In launching their season, the award-winning company will present three new premieres.

The worlds of baseball and Broadway will soon collide, as producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo today announced the commission of a theatre project inspired by the New York Yankees, to be completed in collaboration with the storied franchise and Major League Baseball.

Kirmser Ponturo Group announced today the formation of Kirmser Ponturo Fund. The Fund was created to invest and support multiple theatrical productions across seasons. The Fund was conceived by Fran Kirmser and is helmed by Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo and made up of a group of limited partner investors including Quinvita Enterprises LLC.

MAGIC/BIRD, about Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Larry Bird, plays its final performance tonight, Saturday, May 12th, at the Longacre Theatre.

The producers of MAGIC/BIRD announced today that the show will play its final performance on Saturday May 12th.

Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the producers of the new Broadway play MAGIC/BIRD, announced today that the star of "Lombardi," Dan Lauria, will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 8pm performance at the intimate Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street) this Wednesday, April 18. Lauria, who portrayed the legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the hit play last year, will be joined on stage by his longtime friend Peter Scolari, who is playing legendary coaches Red Auerbach and Pat Riley in Magic/Bird.

MAGIC/BIRD opened on Broadway Tuesday night, April 10. BroadwayWorld was there to catch the stars, including Larry Bird, Tug Coker, Kevin Daniels, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and more, in action at the after party and brings you photos below!

Last night, April 11, MAGIC/BIRD opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre, with special appearances by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird themselves. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening night curtain call and brings you photo coverage below!

Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the producers of the new Broadway play MAGIC/BIRD, announced today that Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 2pm matinee performance at the Longacre Theater (220 West 48th Street) on Friday April, 13th.

NBA Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will visit the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Wednesday, April 11 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Their LATE SHOW appearance will take place the same night as the official Broadway premiere of MAGIC/BIRD a play based on their fabled basketball rivalry and their long-standing friendship off the court.

Producers of MAGIC/BIRD have announced that the show will play Broadway's Longacre Theater, with previews beginning March 21 and an opening set for April 11 reports the New York Times.

MAGIC BIRD has found its "Magic". Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo report that the most widely asked question throughout the MAGIC BIRD process has been who is going to play Magic Johnson. On December 9th while the basketball fan learned the details of the newly announced NBA Season, in walked actor Kevin Daniels to the Magic Bird audition room.