Frances News

Even before previews have begun, the producers of the Kander & Ebb musical CHICAGO, winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, have extended the booking period at the Phoenix Theatre in London until 6 October 2018. Following a successful UK and international tour, and after a 5½-year absence from London, the musical will open on Wednesday 11 April 2018, following previews from 26 March.

A young up and coming artist in New York city has his life and dreams forever altered when the tragic events of 9/11 take the lives of his two best friends and he accepts guardianship of the couple's two young daughters. Now eleven years later, and teaching art at an elementary school, he raises the girls as if they were his own, but the financial grind to live in NYC is too much, so he decides to take the girls away from the only place they've ever called home and move back to Buffalo where he grew up. This 'non-traditional' family now faced with change, new surroundings, and a new journey, must learn how to adjust to this new life, while trying to find themselves along the way.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will close its 34th season with the New York Premiere of Sean Christopher Lewis's DOGS OF RWANDA, directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), opened on Monday, March 12 to raved reviews and has added five performances to accommodate the demand. Tickets for are $35 and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111.

Multi Olivier Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Arlene Phillips CBE is directing A Little Princess and is searching for her 10 amazing new child stars.

On a Japanese beach, teenage sisters Hanako (Kirsty Rider) and Reiko (Kae Alexander) are caught up in a storm. Reiko survives while Hanako is lost to the sea. Their mother (Rosalind Chao), however, can't shake the feeling that her missing daughter is still alive, and soon family tragedy takes on a global political dimension. Set in Japan and North Korea, Francis Turnly's epic new thriller is directed by Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre Indhu Rubasingham in a co-production with the Tricycle Theatre.

Tonight marks the opening of the world premiere of Old Fools by Tristan Bernays, a surprising, touching and often humorous tale about a couple, one of whom is living with Alzheimer's, and their enduring efforts to hold their relationship together through the years.

What good is sitting alone in your room this week? If you don't already have plans to see a Broadway show, come out to see your favorite Broadway stars in a cabaret act instead. Highlights this week include:

Mayfesto is the Tron Theatre's mini-festival of edgy and provocative new work - now very firmly fixed in our annual calendar. This year, the festival will present new drama exploring the brutal complexities of family life - situations where not everything is black and white.

New York City Ballet (NYCB) returns to the Kennedy Center with two vibrant repertory programs for its annual appearance, March 27–April 1. Along with classic George Balanchine works, the engagement includes an all-Robbins program to celebrate the centennial of Jerome Robbins, one of the most influential dance-makers in NYCB's history as well as a nod to the worldwide Leonard Bernstein at 100 celebration of the legendary composer. All performances will be accompanied by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 - Broadway's newest intimate concert venue - has announced the world premiere of 'THE GENIES' JUKEBOX' featuring the stars of Disney's Aladdin on Broadway for two shows only, Sunday, March 25 and Monday, March 26 at 9:30 PM. Major Attaway, the current Genie, joins forces with the Genie Standbys, Juwan Crawley and Deonte L. Warren, in an eclectic trio show in which a Bass, a Mezzo, and a Tenor join together on stage and magic happens. These three talents bring together an eclectic set of Disney classics, theater showstoppers and pop hits by Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross. The show is directed by Daniel Dunlow, and features music direction by Eric Fotre Leach.

Wrong House Presents Sketchy Sketch Night: The Sequel, their second night of all original sketch comedy complete with live music, drinks, and a team of hilarious actors performing all new sketches. Join us for a night of partying and original sketch comedy in the heart of Midtown!

The New Group has announced a second extension for the New York premiere production of David Rabe's Good for Otto, which will now play its final performance on Sunday, April 15.  Due to demand, the company previously announced a one week extension through April 8.

The centrepiece of the Traverse Theatre's Spring/Summer 2018 season, produced in association with the National Theatre of Scotland, Gut is the world premiere production of Frances Poet's debut full-length original play. Set to start rehearsals at the end of March, the Traverse is excited to reveal the four actors who will make up the cast.

According to Variety,  Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have announced that their Pearl Street company will adopt the inclusion rider agreement in all their future production deals.

The Barbican today announces its September to December 2018 Theatre and Dance season. Tickets go on sale to Barbican Members plus on Thursday 15 March, to Barbican Members on Friday 16 March and to the general public on Monday 19 March 2018. Young Barbican tickets for 14-25 year-olds are available for all productions from September to December 2018 (excluding Imagined Touch). There are 50,000 Young Barbican tickets for art, film, music, theatre and dance ranging from £5, £10 or £15.

On Monday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m., Nicola and Beatrice Bulgari and the Carnegie Hall Notables-a membership and ticket program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s-will host the 14th Annual Notable Occasion. This private performance in Zankel Hall for Carnegie Hall Notables and special guests features two American rising star vocalists: soprano Julia Bullock and tenor Paul Appleby offering a combination of arias, lieder, favorites from the American songbook including works by Bernstein, Britten, Lerner and Loewe, Schubert, and Schumann, among other surprises. The two singers will be accompanied by pianist John Arida.

"Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet." - Sadie Delany (1889 -1999). Goodman Theatre revives Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, Emily Mann's "warming theatrical event" (Variety)that celebrates the lives of "two strong, vibrant women dispensing joy and wisdom" (Chicago Tribune). Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith's production features Ella Joyce and Marie Thomas as the Delany centenarians, Bessie (1891 - 1995) and Sadie (1889 -1999), respectively, as they trace their lives in a heartfelt reflection of their family history and triumphs over prejudices in times of social unrest.

Parthenia, New York's premiere viol consort, will be in concert on Sunday, March 25 at 2:00 PM, performing Tomb Sonnets - A Concert with special guest vocalist, tenor and countertenor Ryland Angel, at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City, Queens, NY.

Jennifer Diamond has managed to balance married life in the country and a hectic city schedule, while pursuing that elusive first Broadway Show. Jen has earned her chevrons with productions of LES MISERABLES, EVITA, RUTHLESS!, INTO THE WOODS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, among them, and has cut her cabaret teeth on previous club appearances at Joe's Pub and Feinstein's/54Below. Last night she brought her latest show with fresh material and continued 'Tales of Adventure' to midtown's hottest new room in the heart of Times Square, The Green Room 42.

Joining the previously announced Cuba Gooding Jr, Sarah Soetaert, Josefina Gabrielle and Ruthie Henshall in the multi award-winning CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, will be Paul Rider as Amos Hart. Following a successful UK and international tour, and after a 5½-year absence from London, CHICAGO, the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, will open at the Phoenix Theatre on Wednesday 11 April 2018, following previews from 26 March.