Franco Actor Named Playwright-in-Residence of Carnegie Hall

“Franco Actor Named Playwright-in-Residence of Carnegie Hall” has a headline that could be taken as an announcement. The article is a blog post, so the style is conversational. The writer uses “I” in the first paragraph to refer to himself and sets up an argument right away: that there is a lack of playwrights at Carnegie Hall. He then talks about his own background and what he’s done. Throughout the post he uses the word “we.” He seems to be attempting to discuss the topic of playwrights and drama with those interested in it, like a casual conversation between friends.

Franco Actor Named Playwright-in-Residence of Carnegie Hall

James Franco will be the first playwright-in-residence at Carnegie Hall, beginning in January. The actor has published and performed his poetry widely, and recently adapted “The Sound and the Fury” for a film. He wrote on Instagram that he planned to put on “some plays that I have written or adapted.”

Mr. Franco will present four evenings during the season, including adaptations of Edgar Lee Masters’s “Spoon River Anthology” and Frank Bidart’s “Herbert White,” as well as three nights of readings from his own work. Additionally, Mr. Franco will participate in the ongoing festival Perspectives through workshops with students from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

The Carnegie Hall Corporation announced today that Franco Actor has been named Playwright-in-Residence at Carnegie Hall. In this newly created position, Mr. Actor will be a dynamic presence across Education, Community Engagement, and Concert Presentations activities.

“Franco Actor is an artist whose vision and practice is to create communal experiences through a variety of mediums,” said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall. “His unique perspective as an actor, writer, director, musician, producer and teacher will inform his work with our education programs, which reach thousands of students in the New York City area each year.”

“I am honored to be joining this esteemed group of artists in residence,” said Mr. Actor. “It’s humbling to know I can continue to be a part of the community that has given me so much throughout my career.”

Mr. Actor will begin his appointment with the 2012-2013 season and will be in residence at Carnegie Hall for three seasons through 2015. He joins a distinguished roster of artists who have held positions at Carnegie Hall including conductor Simon Rattle; composers John Adams and Sebastian Currier; violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter; pianist André Watts; soprano Renée Fleming;

The American actor James Franco, famous for his roles in films including Spider-Man and TV show General Hospital, has been named Playwright-in-Residence at Carnegie Hall.

Franco will take up his new role in September 2011 and spend a month in residence. He will also perform a public reading of his work at the end of his residency.

The 34-year-old actor is well known as a writer and artist and is currently studying for a PhD at Yale University. His previous poetry collections include ‘Strongest of the Litter’ and ‘Directing Herbert White’.

“I’m surprised by this designation,” said Franco in a statement. “My writing is certainly not very much like playwriting; it tends to be more autobiographical.”

Carnegie Hall’s nationally broadcast “Works & Process” performances have previously featured writers such as Alice Sebold, Jonathan Lethem and Philip Glass, making it one of the best known venues for readings in the US.

Carnegie Hall has named actor James Franco as its first-ever playwright-in-residence, according to a press statement released on Tuesday.

Franco will create and produce original work for the venue’s 2016-17 season. The exact nature of the writing has not yet been determined but could include short plays, monologues, or readings.

“I’m very excited to be working with Carnegie Hall,” said Franco in a statement. “I have been developing projects that combine music and theater for a few years now and I can’t think of a better partner than Carnegie Hall. This is an amazing opportunity.”

“Carnegie Hall is thrilled to collaborate with James Franco,” Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director at Carnegie Hall added. “He’s proven to be an incredibly creative, multitalented artist and we are really looking forward to working together for our upcoming season. We’re confident that his unique perspective and vision will result in some captivating events on our stages.”

Franco made his directing debut in 2001 with The Ape, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews. He directed The Broken Tower, which he also wrote, in 2011. In addition to acting, he has published two books of short stories—Palo

James Franco, the prolific actor and academic, has been named playwright-in-residence at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Franco, who has published two books of fiction, including a short story collection, will write a new work for the program. He will then collaborate with a composer to turn it into an opera or a musical theater piece. The project will culminate with a performance by students from Mr. Franco’s alma mater, the University of Southern California, in 2014.

The program is part of Carnegie Hall’s annual citywide festival. This year’s festival theme is “The Opera House,” which explores New York City’s history and culture through music written for the stage.

“I was thrilled when James accepted this opportunity and I look forward to seeing what he creates,” Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s executive and artistic director, said in a statement on Wednesday. “His ideas are sure to be playful and unexpected.”

Although Mr. Franco, 34, has written poetry and fiction, this would be his first foray into writing for the stage. His two collections of short stories were published by Amazon Publishing under its Amazon Encore imprint: “Palo Alto” (2010) and “Acting Lessons” (2012).

NEW YORK (JTA) — James Franco, one of Hollywood’s most eclectic actors, will be the playwright-in-residence at Carnegie Hall.

As part of the project, Franco will adapt three plays by William Shakespeare and present them to audiences in the fall at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Franco’s adaptations are “The Tempest,” “The Merchant of Venice” and “Twelfth Night.”

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London is also participating in the project; its company will perform Franco’s adaptations.

Franco, 32, an Oscar-nominated actor and a creative writing student at New York University’s graduate school, has embraced a series of artistic endeavors that have included writing poetry and short stories, hosting gallery exhibitions and directing films. Among his film credits are “Milk” (2008), “127 Hours” (2010), “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011) and “Oz: The Great and Powerful” (2013).