Frances News

It was announced last night, during the episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Eddie Murphy, that Adam Driver will host the first episode of 2020 on January 25. The episode will feature Halsey as a musical guest.

UNDERWATER is a film that follows a crew of underwater researchers who must scramble to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. Directed by William Eubank, UNDERWATER stars Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, Vincent Cassel and John Gallagher Jr..

Full casting for Sting's acclaimed musical, THE LAST SHIP, has been announced. 

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) present Aaron Lee Battle in Gentleman of Jazz as part of WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, one night only Friday Night December 20th 9PM Show to Benefit Urban Stages(259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

Tickets are on sale now for the world premiere production of Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) written by Andrea Thome and directed by José Zayas, with original music by Sinuhé Padilla and choreography by Alexandra Beller. Produced by En Garde Arts (Anne Hamburger, Founder and Artistic Director; Heather Cohen, Executive Director), Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) begins performances on Thursday, February 6, with a press opening of Monday, February 10 at 7 pm, at the historic Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa before touring all five boroughs of New York, ending its run on Saturday, March 28 at the Irondale Center in Brooklyn (see below for full tour schedule). Single tickets, which range from $10 - $45 are on sale now. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.engardearts.org. The approximate running time is 90 minutes.

The show will go on for the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre (FMCT) production of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS this weekend with a change of venue to the Frances Frazier Comstock  Theatre on the campus of Concordia College.  The new location is prompted by the discovery of a structural issue with the roof over the FMCT auditorium on December 14th.  Structural Engineers have been brought in to assess the situation for a speedy repair so we may return to our stage. 

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce, Musical Director) and Matsuki Productions will present HOW'S THAT FOR OPENERS? on Thursday, December 19th at 7PM. Starring Sue Matsuki and directed by Lina Koutrakos. HOW'S THAT FOR OPENERS? will perform as part of the award-winning series WINTER RHYTHMS at and Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.). Tickets are $30, for more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.UrbanStages.org or call 866-811-4111.

Lambert Jackson Productions today announce a search to find talented young people to star as Mary Lennox and Colin Craven in their concert performances of The Secret Garden, alongside Lucie Jones, Ramin Karimloo, and Jac Yarrow. The performances will take place at The London Palladium, on Saturday 4 April, 3pm and 7.30pm.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that stage and screen star Danny Aiello passed away yesterday, December 12, from a 'sudden illness.' He was 86 years old.

Gavin Roach presents the Australian premiere of Frances Poet's Adam.

Leading the vanguard of Boston's classical music scene, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and Odyssey Opera present the world premiere of The Chronicle of Nine: The Tragedy of Lady Janeby the late American composer Arnold Rosner (1945-2013). A semi-staged, English-language production led by conductor Gil Rose,The Chronicle of Nineunites Odyssey Opera (one of the nation's most innovative opera companies), BMOP(the nation's premier orchestra dedicated exclusively to commissioning, performing, and recording new orchestral music), andinternationally renowned singers including soprano Megan Pachecanoplaying the lead role of Lady Jane Grey. This marks the third of six productions of Odyssey Opera'sseason-long exploration of operatic works inspired by the great English dynasty of the 16th century:the Tudors.

Casting is set for Studio Theatre's production of Pipeline, playwright Dominique Morisseau's searing drama about the school-to-prison pipeline and a mother desperately trying to keep her son from becoming ensnared in it. The production runs January 15-February 16, 2020 and is directed by Awoye Timpo. Starring are DC theatre favorite Justin Weaks (Studio's Curve of Departure) as high school student Omari and Andrea Harris Smith making her Studio debut as his mother, public school teacher Nya. In its recent People Issue, Washington City Paper's called Weaks a 'standout,' going on to say: 'D.C. theater audiences love Justin Weaks. ...Weaks came to D.C. for a job about four years ago, not expecting to stay. But he kept getting cast in shows, and lucky for local theatergoers, he's still here.'

Frances Quinlan of Hop Along is gearing up to release her official solo debut Likewise next month on Saddle Creek, and today she returns with a video for the record's lead single “Rare Thing.” On its release a few weeks ago, “Rare Thing” was received with widespread acclaim, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for Quinlan, who has made a name for herself as one of the most prominent songwriters with one of the most distinct and inimitable voices in the indie rock space over the past decade. As the lyrics relate a tumultuous dream about her then-infant niece, “Rare Thing” finds Quinlan expressing both joy and sadness in the discovery that a better, and perhaps more generous way to love exists. The entrancing song receives a mesmerizing Derrick Belcham-directed video, with Quinlan blending her talents as both a musician and visual artist as she creates 10+ feet tall paintings throughout the clip. Quinlan's visual art has been a key component of both much of Hop Along's records and apparel and Frances' solo work, with a self-portrait of Quinlan on the cover of the forthcoming Likewise.

Caveat NYC will present Sim Yan Ying's I LOVE WHITE MEN on January 24 - 26, 2020 at Caveat NYC at 21 A Clinton Street. Show times are January 24 at 7pm, January 25 at 1:30pm & 7pm, and January 26 at 7pm. Tickets are available for advance purchase at $20 at caveat.nyc, and $22 at the door.

Guys and Dolls stars Natalie Casey (Miss Adelaide), Darragh Cowley (Lt Brannigan), Dafydd Emyr (Big Jule), Jacob Fisher (Harry the Horse), Adrian Hansel (Benny Southstreet), Dawn Hope (General Cartwright), Kadiff Kirwan (Sky Masterson), TJ Lloyd (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Matthew Malthouse (Rusty Charlie), Martin Marquez (Nathan Detroit), Ross McLaren (Angie the Ox), Garry Robson (Arvide Abernathy), and Alex Young (Sarah Brown) with Shaquille Brush (Havana Boy), Frances Camier (Havana Girl), Charlotte Coggin, Adam Denman, Emily Dunn, Tash Holway, Samantha Hull, Kate Playdon and Anthony Starr.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) hosted its 28th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala presented by Lifetime today, honoring Reese Witherspoon with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award and Ronan Farrow with the Equity in Entertainment Award. This year's honorees were joined by best-selling author, entrepreneur and political activist Stacey Abrams, who delivered the keynote speech. The event – held at MILK Studios in Los Angeles – coincided with the publication of THR's annual Power 100 Women in Entertainment issue, guest edited by Olivia Wilde.

Columbia University School of the Arts MFA Theatre Program presents Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, translated by Paul Schmidt. The production, produced in special arrangement with ICM Partners, will be directed by Colm Summers. The production stars Arthur Aulisi*, Daniel Bindschedler, Michael Brannian, Joseph John Cash, John Gazzale, Katherine O'Sullivan*, Frances McKittrick, Caroline Pitts, Jerilyn Sackler*, and Jim Shankman*. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Classic Stage Company today announces the casts and designers for the thrilling repertory cycle of adaptations of two legendary Gothic nightmares-Kate Hamill's reimagining of Dracula, directed by Sarna Lapine (January 15-March 15, 2020) and Tristan Bernays' adaptation of Frankenstein, directed by Timothy Douglas (January 30-March 15, 2020).

Bravo Media has extended Emmy Award-nominated “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” through 2021. It was announced today by Frances Berwick, President, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. As host and executive producer of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Andy continues to go there – challenging both celebrities and Bravolebrities on the most interactive show in late-night television. The series has been the only live show in late-night television for over ten years and consistently makes headlines with bold interviews viewers don't see anywhere else. Because of this, the Bravo Clubhouse has become a nightly destination for some of the biggest names in pop culture.

BWW Cabaret Editor invites the journalists on the team to an informal discussion about the art form of cabaret, their passion, and what excited them in 2019.