Rich Frank News

HBO has confirmed the debut dates for HBO Films' GAME CHANGE, the returning series GAME OF THRONES and the new series GIRLS and VEEP.

Academy-award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams has signed on for a guest-starring role in the season opener of the FX acclaimed hit comedy WILFRED, starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann. The season debut will air on June 28th at at 10:00 PM E/P.

The series premiere of FX's acquired comedy ANGER MANAGEMENT, starring Charlie Sheen kicks off June 28 with the first two episodes airing at 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM E/P.

James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas will present Kurt Peterson and Victoria Mallory in When Everything Was Possible, A Concert (with comments), for one night only, Sunday April 29th (7:30pm) at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues), as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They will be joined by a thirteen-piece band (Michael Rafter, Music Director), playing new orchestrations by Tony Award winner Jonathan Tunick. Larry Moss directs, with musical staging by Joshua Bergasse ("Smash"). Carolyn Wong will provide lighting design, with sound design by Leon Rothenberg and projection design by Telegraphicmedia.

THE PIANO LESSON, was August Wilson's second Pulitzer Prize winning work. Directed by Robert D. Nation, THE PIANO LESSON will be presented at Andrews Living Arts, 23 NW 5TH St. Fort Lauderdale, 33301, Feb. 17 & 18 at 8:00 PM and Feb. & 19 at 3 PM. This production will feature some of the finest actors in the South Florida area.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Damon Chua, Executive Director) today announced that Kate Turnbull would join Kathleen Chalfant and Richard Easton for Tina Howe's Painting Churches, the 1983 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Keen Artistic Director Carl Forsman directs.

Garnering a Tony Award Nomination for Best Play when it premiered in 1987, COASTAL DISTURBANCES follows a motley ensemble of vacationers on a private Massachusetts beach -- guided by the charged summer romance between a lifeguard and a young photographer. A slice of Chekhov with a healthy dash of Ionesco's absurdism, Howe's beloved tone shines in this sensuous comedy.

THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director) has announced the casting for Eugene O'Neill's haunting and passionate A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN. Beginning performances on March 6, 2012 at New York City Center Stage II, this masterpiece, written in the twilight of O'Neill's illustrious career, follows a moonlight encounter between two lonely souls. The production will be directed by J.R. Sullivan.

Tampa Repertory Theatre will present Ronald Ribman's Dramatist Guild Award-winning play, Cold Storage, featuring the Rep's artistic director C. David Frankel and noted Tampa actor Jim Wicker. By turns darkly cynical and absurdly comic, Cold Storage engages with health care and end-of-life issues that don't seem to have changed all that much since 1978, making it both an entertaining and relevant play, suited to the mission of The Tampa Repertory Theatre.

THE PIANO LESSON, was August Wilson's second Pulitzer Prize winning work. Directed by Robert D. Nation, THE PIANO LESSON will be presented at Andrews Living Arts, 23 NW 5TH St. Fort Lauderdale, 33301, Feb. 17 & 18 at 8:00 PM and Feb. & 19 at 3 PM. This production will feature some of the finest actors in the South Florida area.

Today we are talking to a star of many notable films and television shows who initially surprised many viewers with his commanding presence as the voice of the Beast in Disney's classic animated film BEAUTY & THE BEAST, now back in theaters for its twentieth anniversary (in 3D) - the one and only Robby Benson. In addition to telling us all about his impressions of and experiences working on BEAUTY & THE BEAST and what he thinks of the new 3D movie experience, he also shares his affection for co-stars Angela Lansbury and Paige O'Hara - both having been previous InDepth InterView participants, as well - and what the storied legacy of the film means to him. Also, Benson discusses his talented family, including his rock star wife, Karla DeVito, and their daughter, a star-on-the-rise in her own right, Lyric (her Benson-produced debut album, LYRIC'S LOVE LIGHT REVOLUTION, is available here) and details the many hats he wears as an actor, director, producer, author, singer and recording artist. Plus, recollections on ICE CASTLES and its haunting Marvin Hamlisch theme, directing FRIENDS and EVENING SHADE, his vivid memories of performing in OLIVER!, THE ROTHSCHILDS, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE on Broadway and a discussion of his own semi-auto-biographical musical, OPEN HEART, and, of course, what it was like being suggested by Francis Ford Coppola to George Lucas for a role in STAR WARS - and much, much more!

USA Network today announces the January premiere dates for the new original series COMMON LAW on Thursday, January 26 at 10/9c and returning original favorites WHITE COLLAR on Tuesday, January 17 at 10/9c and ROYAL PAINS on Wednesday, January 18 at 10/9c.

Roundabout Theatre Company recently announced the theatre organization's permanent archives, which document the company's illustrious 46-year production history. The archives are a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audiences, students and researchers. The digital archives showcase selections from Roundabout's general collection, featuring items that chronicle and celebrate the company's impact on the American theatre movement, and BroadwayWorld is excited to share featured pieces from the archives. Featured today:

The critically-acclaimed Ebony Repertory Theatre production of Lorraine Hansberry's American classic "A Raisin in the Sun," opens at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre this Sunday, January 22. Performances continue through February 19, 2012.

The critically-acclaimed Ebony Repertory Theatre production of Lorraine Hansberry's American classic "A Raisin in the Sun," opens at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre this Sunday, January 22. Performances continue through February 19, 2012.

Today we are honoring the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which went on to win in the categories of Best Song and Best Score for Broadway's own Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Disney's tale as old as time; the much-beloved and cherished BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Based on the French fairytale of its namesake, BEAUTY & THE BEAST was a landmark achievement in animated film and proved that Disney's previous animation renaissance mega-hit THE LITTLE MERMAID - also penned by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - was much more than merely a fluke. A new age of animated film treated totally seriously by critics and audiences alike allowed for Disney to continue on with even more success in the following years with even bigger family-friendly hits like ALADDIN and THE LION KING. Yet, BEAUTY & THE BEAST is the most elegant and enrapturing of all Disney animated films from the last century and just may be the very finest of all their animated features that came to pass during that era of renewed interest in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Featuring the vocal talents of legendary stage and screen star Angela Lansbury - check out our extensive InDepth InterView for a few recollections about that experience here - as well as Broadway's own Paige O'Hara and TV/film notable Robby Benson - both of whom will be featured in extensive InDepth InterViews right here on BroadwayWorld next week. Beginning with a prologue and opening song sequence - "Belle" - to rank among the very best not only in film, but stage musicals, as well, BEAUTY & THE BEAST is a rich French country meal topped off by a dizzying array of aural, visual, emotional, comedic and dramatic treats. 'Belle' is merely the starter bread - or, should I say, pain. So, today, we pay tribute to BEAUTY & THE BEAST as it roars back to movie theaters nationwide, now in a diligently-recreated and astonishingly imagined brand new 3D realization. Before you go see all the stunning sights and sounds of the film itself, whether sampling the 3D version in your home 3D studio or out at the Cineplex, here we have some of the finest musical moments to delight in from the storied history of the immensely successful Disney classic in all three of its versions - original animated film, Broadway stage musical and 3D movie experience.

Tampa Repertory Theatre will present Ronald Ribman's Dramatist Guild Award-winning play, Cold Storage, featuring the Rep's artistic director C. David Frankel and noted Tampa actor Jim Wicker. By turns darkly cynical and absurdly comic, Cold Storage engages with health care and end-of-life issues that don't seem to have changed all that much since 1978, making it both an entertaining and relevant play, suited to the mission of The Tampa Repertory Theatre.

USA Network's ROYAL PAINS returns on Wednesday, January 18th with an episode entitled 'A Farewell to Barnes'. The show airs Wednesdays on USA 9-10 p.m. ET.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Damon Chua, Executive Director) today announced that John Cunningham would join Kathleen Chalfant and Kate Turnbull for Tina Howe's Painting Churches, the 1983 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Keen Artistic Director Carl Forsman directs. Mr. Cunningham replaces the previously announced Richard Easton, who had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict. Performances will begin February 14, with Opening Night set for March 6.