Fran Weissler News

Today's top stories: & Juliet announces pre-Broadway run in Toronto, Broadway in Bryant Park returns next month, and more!

Producers Barry and Fran Weissler have just announced casting for the Broadway company of CHICAGO, which resumes performances at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W 49th St, NYC) on Tuesday, September 14th. Leading the company will be Bianca Marroquín making her debut in the role of Velma Kelly, Tony Award-winner Lillias White as Matron “Mama” Morton, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart and Ryan Lowe as Mary Sunshine. Casting for the roles of Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn will officially be announced soon, but according to an Instagram post from casting office Stewart/Whitley, Ana Villafañe will play Roxie.

Producers Barry & Fran Weissler announced today added performances for the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical Chicago, which will return to the Broadway stage on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.; New York, NY).

Sara Bareilles, the Grammy Award-winning composer of Waitress, will star in the lead role of Jenna Hunterson September 2 through October 17. Learn more about the production and how to purchase tickets here!

On top of sharing a clip from the first rehearsal, Bareilles expressed regret that cast member Nick Cordero, who passed away due to COVID early in the pandemic, couldn't be there to join them.

The hit musical Waitress is returning to Broadway this fall for a limited engagement, September 2, 2021 - January 9, 2022, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre!

Barry and Fran Weissler today announced casting for the hit Broadway musical Waitress which returns for a limited engagement, September 2, 2021 - January 9, 2022, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street, NYC). 

David Ian in association with Barry and Fran Weissler have announced that West End and TV star Darren Day will play ‘Billy Flynn’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the international musical sensation CHICAGO opening at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow on Saturday 11 September 2021.

Darren joins the previously announced Faye Brookes as 'Roxie Hart', Sinitta as 'Mama Morton', Divina De Campo as 'Mary Sunshine', Djalenga Scott as 'Velma Kelly' and Joel Montague as 'Amos Hart'.

iHeartDance NYC returned to the rooftop of the Empire Hotel to celebrate 10-sold out performances that has employed over 100 dancers and choreographers, welcomed over 1,500 patrons and supporters back to live theater, and raised over $100,000 for the dancers of New York City!

It has been announced that the hit Broadway musical Waitress will return for a limited engagement, September 2, 2021 - January 9, 2022, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street, NYC).

The cast will also include Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billy Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde. 

WAITRESS premiered yesterday, March 9, 2021, at the the Nissay Theatre in Japan-  the first production of the Broadway musical to open since the global pandemic shut-down. The show's creator, Sara Bareilles, has delivered the 'turn off your phone' message in Japanese!

While some members of the WAITRESS creative team went to Japan and quarantined before rehearsals began. Other designers and technicians had to work remotely from thousands of miles away.

Sydney-siders and critics have embraced the return to theatres with Sydney's unforgettable summer hit musical, the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN receiving huge acclaim by critics and audiences alike. The first large scale musical theatre production to open in Australia since COVID-19 led to theatres closing down in March, PIPPIN plays exclusively at the Sydney Lyric at The Star for a limited season.

Pippin is set to open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre Tonight, November 24! The live production, the first one back in Sydney, will run until January 31, 2021. With a beloved score by Tony Award nominee STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence.

Broadway producers Fran and Barry Weissler are selling their $13.2 million estate in Waccabuc, NY.

On this day in 1996, Broadway welcomed a razzle dazzle Broadway revival of Chicago!

Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones today announced the four young boys who will share the role of Theo in the Broadway musical PIPPIN which opens at the Sydney Lyric at The Star for an exclusive season from 24 November 2020.

Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones today announced their stellar cast for the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN which opens at the Sydney Lyric Theatre at The Star for an exclusive season from 24 November 2020.