Mary Francis News

"To be or not to be" is the most famous question in all of drama. And it is around this central question that the history of Kronborg--The Hamlet Rock Musical hangs upon.

In the past few weeks, we've watched the nominations roll in. Today the final crop of nominees have been revealed, all leading to next week's ultimate announcement- the 2019 Tony nominations.

 SHOWTIME has ordered the eight-part limited series GOOD LORD BIRD from Blumhouse Television, based on the National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird by bestselling author James McBride. Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Tony® nominee Ethan Hawke will star as 19th-century abolitionist John Brown and is co-writing and executive producing with award-winning author and producer Mark Richard (The Ice at the Bottom of the World and Hell on Wheels). Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway (Underground) will direct and executive produce. GOOD LORD BIRD is told from the point of view of Onion, an enslaved teenager who becomes a member in Brown's motley family during the time of Bleeding Kansas, eventually participating in the famous 1859 raid on the Army depot at Harpers Ferry. Brown's raid failed to initiate the slave revolt he intended, but was the instigating event that started the Civil War.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 14 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 14 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

After selling out its entire run last year, One Thing Leads to Another is making its return to GCTC, to the delight of infants and families throughout Ottawa. The award winning show from Toronto's Young People's Theatre imbues everyday objects with theatrical magic, stimulating and fascinating babies and adults alike.

After selling out its entire run last year, One Thing Leads to Another is making its return to GCTC, to the delight of infants and families throughout Ottawa. The award winning show from Toronto's Young People's Theatre imbues everyday objects with theatrical magic, stimulating and fascinating babies and adults alike.

Cleveland Public Theatre presents a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 14 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 14 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present a reimagining of the celebrated Cleveland-original production, Fire on the Water. Fire on the Water is presented in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River. The production is onstage from February 9 through March 2, 2019, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Due to overwhelming demand, the critically-acclaimed show for babies, One Thing Leads to Another, returns to Young People's Theatre (YPT) in January for the fourth season in a row before going on tour! An innovative work of theatre created specifically for infants, this production transforms everyday objects into fabulous, fanciful, theatrical phenomena as it engages, stimulates and delights babies and adults alike!

Artistic Director Adam Brazier, on behalf of Confederation Centre of the Arts, has announced select casting for The 2019 Charlottetown Festival. Sponsored by CIBC, the Festival includes six productions and runs June 28 to September 28.

Casting is complete for SUMMER SHORTS 2018, produced by Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Producing Artistic Director) at 59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director). SUMMER SHORTS 2018 begins on July 20 and runs through September 1. Two series featuring three one-act plays in each will play in rotating repertory Tuesday - Friday at 7:15 PM; Saturday & Sunday at 2:15 PM and 7:15 PM. Please note, there are no matinee performances on Saturday, July 21, Sunday, July 22, or Saturday, July 28.

The next performance of The Tony Martini Variety Hour is on Thursday, July 26, at 8pm. The show plays on the fourth Thursday of every month.

Recently, BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to interview Dane Laffrey who recently received his first Tony nomination for his work on the Broadway hit ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. Dane's design is an explosive exercise in controlled chaos. Since ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a tale of magical realism set in the Caribbean, Dane channeled the current conditions of regions hit by 2016's Hurricane Matthew. The stage is covered in sand, a crashed semi-truck takes up a corner of the space, a pool of water is held back by a pile of sand bags, and a downed power line has even crushed some of the seats. It's a complex set that has engrossed countless audiences seated in its theatre in the round setting. A seasoned scenic design veteran, Dane has designed sets for productions across Japan, Australia, Norway and the United States. Throughout his twelve years in the New York circuit, he's built sets for Broadway productions such as Spring Awakening and Fool For Love, along with off-Broadway hits such as The Maids and Woody Harrelson's Bullet for Adolf, as well as the upcoming production of Tennessee William's Summer and Smoke.

Producer Steven Espinosa announced today that The Tony Martini Variety Hour is extending its run at Three Clubs Lounge in Hollywood through the end of 2018. The show plays on the fourth Thursday of every month at 8pm. 

Mark Stewart, better known as 'Stew,' is noted for being a member of the band, The Negro Problem. He is also the author of the book and lyrics for 'Passing Strange,' a semi-autobiographical musical, co-written with Heidi Rodewald in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. The script is presently rocking Karamu.

Karamu House, the oldest multicultural performing arts center in the country, closes it's 102nd consecutive season with the Tony Award-winning musical Passing Strange. Karamu House President and CEO, Tony F. Sias notes, 'this is a piece that is important and relevant, and speaks to and engages our millennial and 'genZ' generations.' With book and lyrics written by Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter Stew, and music composed by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the production opened on May 10 and will run through June 3, 2018 in Karamu's Arena Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio.