Frances News

Max Brooks, son of comedic legend Mel Brooks, posted a video on Twitter with his famous dad, warning about the potential dangers of spreading COVID-19. 

Selladoor Worldwide has announced that Amber Davies will star as 'Campbell' alongside Louis Smith as 'Cameron' in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL which heads to Theatre Royal Brighton from Tuesday 22 a?" Saturday 26 September.

Due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the 2020 spring season of Tom Gold Dance, Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2, at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, has been canceled. The April 2 Tom Gold Dance benefit has also been canceled.

A new video has been released of Lucie Jones performing Hold On from The Secret Garden!

Dr. Frances Ruane, Chair of the Board of the Abbey Theatre, announced today that Máire O'Higgins, Breda O'Keeffe, Michael Owens and Michael West have been appointed to the board. The new appointments were confirmed at a meeting of the Abbey Theatre's Board of Directors on Monday, 9 March 2020.

Internationally acclaimed vocalist CHRISTINA BIANCO returns to her old stomping grounds, The Hippodrome Casino [Lolas Underground], for an evening of unforgettable music, comedy and impressions.

Mrs. Doubtfire is officially in previews on Broadway!

The San Diego Opera's first Detour Series performance this season belonged to the new Bel Canto Trio, starring tenor Joshua Guerrero, soprano Julie Adams, and bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee. All are outstanding young award winners with impressive voices and resumes. Music director and pianist Christopher Allen was their accompanist.

At today's Shaw Festival Annual General Meeting, Board Chair Peter E.S. Jewett welcomed new members - Thomas R. Hyde, senior counsel at Hodgson Russ LLP and Nicole R. Tzetzo, partner at Hodgson Russ LLP - to the Shaw Festival Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is invested with fiduciary oversight to support and further the mission and longevity of the Shaw Festival.

Penobscot Theatre Dramatic Academy has announced its class schedule for Spring 2020.

This spring, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, will offer workshops, art classes, and drop-in sessions for all ages.  Museum Education and Creative Programs celebrate the Center's rich heritage and encourage individuals to contribute positively to the world around them. 

Writer/performer Ashley Griffin (Trial, Twilight: The Musical!) signs three play publishing deal with By/For Publishing for representation of her shows: The Snow Queen (adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen story,) A Little Princess (adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett,) and The Jungle Book (adapted from the novel by Rudyard Kipling.)   

Netflix has released the season three trailer for Ozark. In the third season, it's six months later, the casino is up and running, but Marty and Wendy are fighting for control of the family's destiny. Marty preaches keeping the status quo. Aided by an alliance with Helen and drug cartel leader Omar Navarro, Wendy plots for expansion. But when Wendy's brother Ben comes into town, everyone's lives are thrown into chaos.

Traverse Theatre Company has announced its 2020 season, including Hot Brown Honey (3-6 Jun), presented by Quiet Riot and Traverse Theatre Company, returning to the capital for the first time since sell-outs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016, 2017 and 2018. This exclusive five performance run (four nights, plus matinee) will mark the only Scottish dates on its 2020 tour. Turning up the heat with their firecracker of a show, this posse of phenomenal women smash stereotypes as they celebrate our similarities and differences in an explosion of colour, culture and controversy. Set in a dazzling beehive and with striking lighting, music and costumes, it spins tradition on its head, going above and beyond to challenge boundaries and embrace resilience, taking in dance, poetry, comedy, circus, striptease, and song as it goes.

BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL will play a London season the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall from Wednesday 9 December 2020 to Sunday 10 January 2021, following a UK and Ireland Tour which opens at the Birmingham Hippodrome on 2 June 2020. Full tour dates in the listings below.

Netflix and UN Women today launched “Because She Watched” - a special Netflix collection of series, documentaries, and films to celebrate International Women's Day. The collection, which will be available all year, is curated by female creators from behind and in front of the camera - including Sophia Loren, Janet Mock, Salma Hayek, Yalitza Aparicio, Millie Bobby Brown, Laurie Nunn, Lana Condor, Petra Costa and Ava DuVernay. 

WOW - Women of the World Festival is set to take place this week (Friday 6th a?" Sunday 8th March) at Southbank Centre for the 10th year in a row. The festival celebrating women and girls takes place across the International Women's Day weekend with a line-up of over 25 ticketed events featuring some of the world's most exciting performers, activists and voices. The festival also includes a packed sold out Day Pass programme on Friday and Saturday featuring dozens of panel discussions, workshops and performances.

Today's top stories: & Juliet, Fiddler on the Roof, Dear Evan Hansen, and more have been nominated for 2020 Olivier Awards, and more!

On Monday night, Playwrights Horizons hosted the 42nd Annual Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the largest and oldest international prize honoring women playwrights.

The 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.K. playwright Lucy Prebble for her play A Very Expensive Poison.