PROJECTS
producing plays, creating events and consulting since 2009
A24/New York Theatre Workshop Collaboration:
Staged Reading & Conversation
Feb 3, 2025 New York Theatre Workshop, East Village
PRODUCER
written and directed by Brent Buell
featuring the cast of SING SING
Annual Canada Day Party in NYC
July 1
PHD at Dream Downtown Hotel
For 12 years, nevermind COVID, Canadians and Canadian enthousiasts have gathered at PHD Rooftop to crack a beer, bring some cheer and toast Canada! Everyone is welcome. This year we encourage you to wear any sports gear to make your hometown proud. Any Oilers fans out there?!!!
Complimentary poutine passed for the first hour, Canadian beer, the Great Canadian Cesear, all Canadian content DJ set by RHETT and a special guest appearance.
AN ALBUM OF REMIX CAMP SONGS
Created by the Camp Collective
Available on itunes & where music streams soon
Childhood friends. Camp friends. Old friends tapping into a deep northern Ontario vibe. Revisiting classic camp songs and having fun with new lyrics and beats. Sharing insights on growing up and getting the most out of summer camp.
We are inspired by the lakes and the trees and the warm summer breeze. Also by Bluey, the Beastie Boys, Neil Young, The Beach Boys and our buddies.
frances black presentsfor the honey, you gotta say when
June 2023
New York Theatre WorkshopConceived and Directed by Christopher Bayes
Written by Christopher Bayes and The Company
Music by Michael Joseph McQuilken
Hosted by New York Theatre WorkshopCompany:
Nome SiDone, Abigail Onwunali, Sam DeMuria, Maggie McCaffery, Tavia Hunt, yao, Anthony Grace and Shimali De SilvaABOUT:
Fresh out of graduating from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, 8 fierce actors come out to play with an original commedia dell'arte inspired creation called for the honey, you gotta say when. Conceived and directed by the funniest theatre maker we know and head of Physical Acting at Yale, Christopher Bayes. This show is filled with vibrant original live music by Michael Joseph McQuilken. These artists will use traditional Italian masks to perform a hilarious and often poignent investigation of the current precarious state of the world. Prepare to be flumoxed, bedazzled and delighted by the audacity and artistry of these young performers as they step out into a world full of possibility and danger. You may feel your heart grow a little,the strings of it gently tugged by the outrageous commedia inspired shenanigans. You may even be provoked into astonishing giddiness and wonder when you stumble back out onto the streets of the East Village. Prepare for the ruckus!
Cooking with Kathryn
October 2021
ASYLUM NYCASSOCIATE PRODUCER
created by Kate Owens
written by Kate Owens and Zack Fine
directed by Zack FineCOOKING WITH KATHRYN is Kate Owens’ critically acclaimed comedy show. Follow Kathryn, a down-home southern belle with more wine in her veins than Jesus, as she invites us into the basement of her church for an irreverent, absurd, and spicy cooking show. Things get messy when some unexpected guests arrive, forcing Kathryn to reckon with more than just her egg bake casserole.
US Manager of Aitor Basauri, Master Clown and Teacher of Spymonkey Theatre Company (UK)
2015-2018
Commedia dell'Artichoke
December, February & April 2015/2016, Artichoke Basille's Pizza, Chelsea, PRODUCER
January/February 2016, Gene Frankel Theatre, Noho, PRODUCER
Conceived by Frances Black, Carter Gill & Tommy Russell
Directed by Devin Brain
Created and performed by Carter Gill*, Alexandra Henrikson*, Tommy Russell* & Shannon Marie Sullivan*
Music by Robert Cowie
Commedia Consultant Christopher Bayes
Choreography by Frank Ventura
Playwriting Consultant Matt Moses
Set Design by Katherine Akiko Day
Costume Design by Lisa Loen
Lighting Design by Marie Yokoyama
- Associate Produced by Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21)
The Most Beautiful Thing in the World
Spring 2015, Cloud City, Williamsburg, PRODUCER
written and performed by Gabriel Levey
directed by Carter Gill
designed by Paul Lieber
co-created with Kate Tarker
- originally produced at Yale Cabaret
- subsidized rehearsal space provided by the A.R.T./New York Creative Space Grant, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Manifest Destiny
Winter 2015, IRT Theater, West Village, PRODUCER
created by Aitor Basauri (Spy Monkey), Lucas Caleb Rooney & Zack Fine
performed by Lucas Caleb Rooney* and Zack Fine*
directed by Aitor Basauri
choreography by Caroline Fermin
puppets by Annie Worden
lighting design by Melissa Mizell
stage manager Natalie King
production coordinator Christopher Tramantana
- produced in part by Kori Rushton and the IRT 3B Development Series (www.irttheater.org)
- subsidized rehearsal space provided by the A.R.T./New York Creative Space Grant, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Standards under the Stars
Fall 2014, aboard the Mariner III, Hudson River
PRODUCER
Megan Loughran, vocalist
Zak Sandler, music direction & piano
James Polsky, drums
Joe Cohn, guitar
Todd Grunder, bass
3 with 1 Productions, lighting and sound
- Co-produced with Manhattan by Sail & Captain Sean Kennedy, Mariner III
Becoming Liv Ullmann
Spring 2013, Artichoke Basille's Pizza, Chelsea
PRODUCER
written and performed by Crystal Finn
directed by Danny Mefford
featuring Zack Fine
Walled In
Fall 2011, IRT Theatre, West Village
PRODUCER
written and performed by Zack Fine
directed by Diana Buirski
created in collaboration with Christopher Tramantana
set design by Katherine Akiko Day
costume design by Luke Aaron Brown
original music & sound design by Daniel Kluger
lighting design by Melissa Mizell
stage managed by Patricia Lynn
production manager/technical director Justin Elie
- developed with generous support from SPACE at Ryder Farm
- produced with support from Kori Rushton and the IRT 3B Development Series
A Life in the Theatre
Fall 2010, Broadway
CO-PRODUCER
by David Mamet
directed by Neil Pepeset design by Santo Laquasto
costume design by Laura Bauer
ighting design by Ken Posner
Even Maybe Tammy (Or, A Cockamamie Bucket of Ruckus)
Spring 2009, The Flea Theater, Tribeca
PRODUCER
conceived and directed by Christopher Bayes
written by Christopher Bayes and The Company
music by Alex Knox with Barret O'Brien
lyrics by Christopher Bayes and The CompanyThe Company: Eric Bryant, Laura Esposito, Carter Gill, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Alex Knox, Teresa Avia Lim, Christopher McFarland, Barret O'Brien, Luke Robertson, Erica Sullivan, Alex Teicheira
MISSION & CORE VALUES
Mission
The reason we exist and for whom
Frances Black Projects exists to create fun and unconventional theatrical experiences produced with a personal touch. We primarily encourage, nurture and produce theatrical artists who are playing in the world of comedy, clown and commedia dell'arte and who are committed to bringing audiences and communities together through laughter and fun at the theatre. We also produce theatrical events that bring people together to celebrate shared interests. We believe love, laughter and offline human connection can heal the world, one heart and one experience at a time.
Core Values
Our fundamental beliefs that guide all business operations
FUN
A small word with big impact. Accessing joy and vulnerability in audiences is core to Frances Black Projects mission, therefore we believe that if the artistic and planning process is fun, the end result will exude feelings of joy and sounds of laughter. Everything we create at Frances Black Projects puts fun central in the audiences experience.
ACTIVITY
Frances Black Projects values making work by putting to use what we have available to us and being resourceful. We celebrate what we do have, seek partnerships and get on with making things happen.
INCLUSION
There is room for everyone who wants to have fun and make a difference at Frances Black Projects. We aim to keep ticket prices as low as economically possible and value highly accessible spaces. We include our audience and artists needs in our planning and ambitions. The content of the work on stage is silly, sweet and universal and not meant to exclude people but rather bring people together in a shared experience.
BEAUTY
At Frances Black Projects we believe one of the great values of leaving your home and going out to the theatre or an event is to appreciate beauty in the world in all its forms. We work to produce plays and events that uplift people and encourage a sense of wonder and renewed appreciation for the many beautiful things in the world.
SOCIALIZING
The theatre is a place that brings people together. It brings a company of artists together on stage, it brings friends together to see a show, it brings strangers together in a shared experience and all of it is worth celebrating. We aim to elevate the social experience of going to the theatre by keeping the shows to around an hour with time on either end to enjoy the company, food and drink.
ABOUT FRANCES
Frances Anne Black
Founder & Producer
Frances has a passion for bringing people together in person to share in memorable experiences. Frances as been the lead producer of nine original plays off-off broadway, co-produced one show on Broadway and thrown a massive Canada Day party in NYC for over a decade. A Toronto native, Frances attended University of Kings College in Halifax (Hons. B.A) and Yale School of Drama (M.F.A Theatre Management). Frances has consulted in fundraising for the Theatre Development Fund, served as the Director of Programs at A.R.T./New York from 2009-2014 and managed US operations for Spymonkey. She currently sits on the board of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Ice Theatre of New York and is a member of the Parent Association at Marymount School. Previously Frances was the Associate Managing Director of Yale Repertory Theatre and Yale Cabaret. She loves to figure skate, play tennis, travel, throw parties and watch funny shows and movies. Frances resides in New York City and Sullivan County with her husband Matt and daughter's Bridget and Edie.
