Rich Frank News

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.

A complete recap of all of the HBO/Cinemax 2012 programming highlights for the coming year has been released by the networks.

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 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.

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.

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

Mesa Community College's Act I Musical Productions to open its 12th season with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, opening on October 20th in Mesa, AZ.

Bright, sunny, clarion-voiced leading lady Liz Callaway is not only known for her roles in the Broadway productions of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, BABY, CATS, MISS SAIGON and THE LOOK OF LOVE, but also for her string of highly-successful studio albums - among them, the sensational 60s ode THE BEAT GOES ON and the musical theatre-centric THE STORY GOES ON, in addition to last year's superlative PASSAGE OF TIME - and, she is also well-loved for stunning live stage double-bills with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway - represented on record by SIBLING RIVALRY and, now, the new live album and show all about baby boomers and their sensational music, titled BOOM! In this all-encompassing conversation, Callaway and I parse her predilection for certain composers - Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Stephen Sondheim and many more included - as well as her memories of working with some of the most important musical theatre creators of the twentieth century over the course of her thirty-year career, such as legendary director Hal Prince and Sondheim himself on projects diverse as MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, A STEPHEN SONDHEIM EVENING and FOLLIES: IN CONCERT. Plus, we also talk about Callaway's various musical influences, her childhood, her first Broadway show and first Broadway onstage experience, revisiting MERRILY twenty years later with the entire original cast, live versus studio performing, as well as what's coming up next for her in the coming months and new year - including the Christmas stage spectacular, YULETIDE - and more!

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced that Frank Rich, a prolific and influential writer who's subject matter ranges from theatre to politics, will be speaking at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Sunday, October 9 at 2pm.

Mesa Community College's Act I Musical Productions to open its 12th season with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, opening on October 20th in Mesa, AZ.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company's Lemon Sky opens tonight starring Keith Nobbs, Kellie Overbey and Kevin Kilner. .

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced that Frank Rich, a prolific and influential writer who's subject matter ranges from theatre to politics, will be speaking at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Sunday, October 9 at 2pm.

Lyric Stage will present GYPSY featuring a 39-piece orchestra. For tickets visit here or call the box office @ 972-252-2787

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Damon Chua, Executive Director) today announced that their Keith Nobbs, Kellie Overbey and Kevin Kilner would lead the cast of Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky, the 1970 drama by the Pulitzer-winning writer of Talley's Folly, Burn This, and Fifth Of July.