Francois Battiste News

Let's see what the critics had to say...

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. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced full casting for the American premiere of Taking Care of Baby by Dennis Kelly and directed by Erica Schmidt. Joining previously announced cast members Reed Birney (Blasted, Our Leading Lady), Kristen Bush (Kin, The Common Pursuit), Tony nominee Amelia Campbell (A Streetcar Named Desire, Our Country's Good) and Margaret Colin (The Columnist, 'Gossip Girl'), are Francois Battiste (Magic/ Bird), Michael Crane (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson off-Broadway), Ethan Phillips (Golden Age) and Zach Shaffer ('Smash').

Eric Simonson's fantasy/drama about Yankee Pride is heavy on sentiment, but thin on content.

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 presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Opening night is tonight, October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Opening Tuesday, October 8, the production 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) as Derek 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.

Primary Stages presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Opening night is October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Primary Stages has announced that Richard Topol (Broadway's The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) will assume the role of Yogi Berra in their World Premiere production of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Due to artistic differences, Joe Pantoliano, initially announced to play the role of Yogi Berra, will not continue with the production. The production has delayed its first performance to tonight, September 20. Opening night remains scheduled for October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Beginning tomorrow, Friday, September 20, Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson(Broadway's Lombardi). The production 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) as Derek Jeter, Wendy Makkena(Broadway's Side Man) as Carmen Berra, Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi) as Billy Martin,Richard Topol (Broadway's The 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. Opening night is October 8 at 7pm.

Primary Stages has announced that Richard Topol (Broadway's The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) will assume the role of Yogi Berra in their World Premiere production of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Due to artistic differences, Joe Pantoliano, initially announced to play the role of Yogi Berra, will not continue with the production. The production has delayed its first performance to Friday, September 20. Opening night remains scheduled for October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

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.

Lapham's Quarterly (Editor and Publisher Lewis Lapham) announced today their annual gala, the DECADES BALL: The 1950s, was held last night, June 3 at Capitale (130 Bowery at Grand Street). The evening, emceed by Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, included performances and readings by Tom Hanks and Patricia Clarkson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Martha Plimpton, Tony Kushner, Ari Graynor, Steven Pasquale, Francois Battiste, Paul Muldoon, Nellie McKay, and a toast by Editor and Publisher of Lapham's Quarterly, Lewis Lapham. Kevin Philips received the 2013 Janus Prize, presented by benefit co-chair Morley Safer. Check out photos from the event below!

On Monday, April 15, Sharon Washington (The Scottsboro Boys, Wild With Happy), Reg E. Cathey ("The Wire", Love's Labor's Lost), and Crystal Dickinson (Clybourne Park, The Call) will converge at Joe's Pub for a reading of the new play CONVERGENCE.

Following its run at The Public Theater, Detroit '67, the much buzzed-about play by two-time NAACP Image Award recipient, Dominique Morisseau, will open at the National Black Theatre tonight, March 23. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the powerful drama will run through Sunday, April 14, presented by Time Warner. Billed as 'Uptown Meets Downtown,' the production is a collaboration between the Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director), National Black Theatre (Sade Lythcott, CEO; Nabii Faison, General Manager and The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director).

Nearly 40 years ago, producer Norman Lear brought a television program about a black family's life in a Chicago housing project into millions of American homes.  And while the show never ignored the dangers and hardships of living in an underserved, crime-ridden community, Good Times focused on the safe haven provided by family and friends that nurtured artistry and activism while providing the expected abundance of sitcom laughter.

Following its run at The Public Theater, Detroit '67, the much buzzed-about play by two-time NAACP Image Award recipient, Dominique Morisseau, will open at the National Black Theatre on Saturday, March 23. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the powerful drama will run through Sunday, April 14, presented by Time Warner. Billed as 'Uptown Meets Downtown,' the production is a collaboration between the Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director), National Black Theatre (Sade Lythcott, CEO; Nabii Faison, General Manager and The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director).

The Public Theater began previews for the world premiere of DETROIT '67, a Public Lab production by Dominique Morisseau, on Tuesday, February 26. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, DETROIT '67 will run through Sunday, March 17 and opened last night in The Public's Shiva Theater. Additionally, the English language premiere of NEVA, written and directed by Guillermo Calderon, opened last night. BroadwayWorld was there for both openings and you can catch full photo coverage below!