Fran Thomas - Page 3

Fran Thomas

Fran Thomas co-authored a play when she was in fourth grade primarily so she could have the leading role. She has loved theater ever since. She appeared in several community theater productiions in Pittsburgh including South Pacific, Pajama Game, and Li'l Abner. With two insurance company co-workers, she created and performed "Around the World in Broadway" on the Three Rivers Arts Festival Fringe Stage.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Fran now makes her home in Southwest Florida.






BWW Interview: Mark Sanders of SHE LOVES ME at Barbara B. Mann PAH
BWW Interview: Mark Sanders of SHE LOVES ME at Barbara B. Mann PAH
March 25, 2021

Mark Sanders took time from helping his parents celebrate their 59th anniversary to talk with me about his role of Sipos in the production of She Loves Me opening March 26 at Barbara B. Mann Hall. Sanders is performing with the Gulf Coast Symphony under the direction of Maestro Andrew Kurtz.

The Show Must Go On-For Now: Southwest Florida Theatre Performances On As Scheduled
The Show Must Go On-For Now: Southwest Florida Theatre Performances On As Scheduled
March 12, 2020

With relatively few local cases of COVID-19 in Southwest Florida so far, local venues and performing arts organization are taking the attitude the show must go on. They are, however, urging anyone who doesn't feel well or has concerns to stay home and offering to exchange tickets for future dates.

BWW Review: GRUMPY OLD MEN at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: GRUMPY OLD MEN at Broadway Palm
January 4, 2020

Going to see Broadway Palm's latest production, Grumpy Old Men, did this baby boomer's heart good. This show demonstrates that senior citizens can still fall in love and are still-gasp!-interested in sex. The seasoned performers belt out the songs and deliver the somewhat bawdy lines and gestures with impressive vigor.

BWW Review: POE at Pine Island Playhouse
BWW Review: POE at Pine Island Playhouse
October 14, 2019

If you want to get in the mood for Halloween, take a trip to the Pine Island Playhouse for its production of Poe. Founder Nichole Pichon has taken several of Poe's poems and short stories and dramatized them. Death and madness abound.

BWW Review: ONCE at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: ONCE at Broadway Palm
August 24, 2019

Once upon a time, a Guy and a Girl meet. So begins every romance and so begins Once. The generic names underscore the universality of the travails of love.

BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Broadway Palm
May 18, 2019

Broadway Palm has brought what it is calling a sci-fi musical to its stage. And I suppose that is one of many classifications that could apply to Little Shop of Horrors.

BWW Review: HARMONY AND PEACE THROUGH MUSIC at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church
BWW Review: HARMONY AND PEACE THROUGH MUSIC at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church
May 10, 2019

Ever hear someone's voice referred to as ethereal? The dictionary definition is celestial or heavenly, but ethereal can also mean having to do with the ether or air. Both of these definitions are equally true of the singing of Seraphic Fire. That these professional voices produce heavenly music is certain. And when singing a cappella as they did last night at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, they seem to find pitches magically out of thin air.

BWW Review: FAITH CONCERTS at Faith Presbyterian Church
BWW Review: FAITH CONCERTS at Faith Presbyterian Church
February 26, 2019

Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral presented a choral extravaganza on February 24 as part of its annual concert series. Participating choirs were from Cape Coral High School, the City of Palms Youth Choir, and FGCU's University Choir.

BWW Review: WELLESLEY GIRL at Black Box Theatre
BWW Review: WELLESLEY GIRL at Black Box Theatre
November 11, 2018

FSW College Theatre has chosen an eerily prescient play by Brendan Pelsue for its fall semester offering. Wellesley Girl premiered in 2016 at Actors Theatre of Louisville, yet it reflects much of what is happening in Florida today.

BWW Review: LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES at Broadway Palm
September 1, 2018

Broadway Palm kicks off its 26th season with Let's Go to the Movies, a revue created, written, directed, and choreographed by Victor Legarreta. The show is loosely organized (with 'loosely' being the operative word) into three sections: Classic Hollywood, Imagination, and Movie Musicals.

BWW Review: PATRIOTIC POPS at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
BWW Review: PATRIOTIC POPS at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
July 15, 2018

Performing arts organizations traditionally close up shop in these parts during the summer. Not so this year. Andrew Kurtz conducted a successful experiment as well as his Gulf Coast Symphony on July 14, 2018, at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

BWW Review: HUSH UP, SWEET CHARLOTTE at The Laboratory Theater Of Florida is campy fun
BWW Review: HUSH UP, SWEET CHARLOTTE at The Laboratory Theater Of Florida is campy fun
June 9, 2018

The set is a decaying plantation. But instead of a delicate Southern belle, the leading 'lady' is a burly man in a towering platinum wig, dressed in pastel pink. Yes, you have entered the tilted world of 'Hush Up, Sweet Charlotte' at The Laboratory Theater.

BWW Review: RING OF FIRE at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: RING OF FIRE at Broadway Palm
May 26, 2018

I must admit I wasn't expecting to like Ring of Fire, Broadway Palm's current production. I've never been much of a Johnny Cash fan, but I thought at least my husband would enjoy the show. I was pleasantly surprised.

BWW Review: MY FAIR LADY at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: MY FAIR LADY at Broadway Palm
April 14, 2018

Men! Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em. That age-old story unfolds in Broadway Palm's latest production, My Fair Lady.

BWW Review: THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Pine Island Playhouse
BWW Review: MAMMA MIA at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: MAMMA MIA at Broadway Palm
February 17, 2018

In a world filled with #MeToo, it is wonderful to see a show that celebrates female power and friendships. Mamma Mia has two sets of gal pals of different generations who have each others' backs. To reinforce the message, the Prather organization chose Pace Center for Girls as the recipient of its charitable donation of the month.

BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Pine Island Playhouse
BWW Review: PIPPIN at Broadway Palm
BWW Review: PIPPIN at Broadway Palm
October 14, 2017

Quadruple threat cast brings magic to Broadway Palm

BWW Review: SUMMER SING at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
BWW Review: SUMMER SING at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
August 30, 2017

Annual Summer Sing draws large turnout to SDBAC.



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