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Francesca Zambello Headshot

Francesca Zambello

Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognized and award-winning opera and theater director. Her recent theatrical credits include The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theater, Rebecca for the Vienna Raimund Theater, West Side Story for the floating stage in Bergenz, Austria, and Showboat at The Royal Albert Hall.

BIO

Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognized and award-winning opera and theater director. Her recent theatrical credits include The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theater, Rebecca for the Vienna Raimund Theater, West Side Story for the floating stage in Bergenz, Austria, and Showboat at The Royal Albert Hall. She is the Artistic Advisor of the San Francisco Opera where she is helming a new Ring Cycle and Porgy and Bess this season. She has many notable directing credits at the Metropolitan Opera, including An American Tragedy, Cyrano and Les Troyens, as well as at Teatro alla Scala, Royal Albert Hall, Bolshoi, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Washington Opera, and Chicago Lyric, among others. Her honors include three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, Helpmann Award, Palme d'Or in Germany and the Golden Mask in Russia.

Photos

Productions

 
[Washington, DC (Regional), 2018]
Director
 
[Broadway, 2013]
Associate Producer
 
[Broadway, 2013]
Producer
 
[Broadway, 2008]
Director
 
[US Tour, 2008]
Director
 
[West End, 2006]
Director
 
[West End, 1997]
Director

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Videos

News

Review: THE OUTSIDERS at Hollywood Pantages Theatre
by Andrew Child - Oct 2, 2026

A musical about disenfranchised teenage boys in warring gangs in the middle of the twentieth century has an impossibly high standard to measure up against in the department of subject matter.
Additional Casting Revealed For THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG at San Francisco Opera
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2026

San Francisco Opera announced additional casting for its 2028 production of Wagner's four-opera Ring cycle, led by Music Director Eun Sun Kim and director Francesca Zambello, with an international ensemble of leading Wagnerians.
Huang Ruo Named Seattle Opera's First Composer-in-Residence
by Rachel Stone - Oct 1, 2026

Composer Huang Ruo will serve as Seattle Opera's first Composer-in-Residence, beginning with the Seattle premiere of M. BUTTERFLY and culminating in the world premiere of THE WEDDING BANQUET.
Jenn Colella, Ali Ewoldt, Christine Ebersole and More Set for October at 54 Below
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026

54 Below will present performers from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and entertainment, including artists in October, including Jenn Colella, Ali Ewoldt, Christine Ebersole and more.
Washington National Opera O'KEEFFE: KISS THE SKY to be Presented at Works & Process
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2026

Works & Process will present excerpts from Washington National Opera's opera-ballet about Georgia O'Keeffe, featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and tenor William Burden, with a post-performance conversation with the creative team.
O'KEEFFE: KISS THE SKY to Make Debut at Works & Process
by Rachel Stone - Sep 17, 2026

Works & Process will present excerpts from Washington National Opera's new opera-ballet O'KEEFFE: KISS THE SKY, featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and tenor William Burden, with a conversation with creators Christopher Tin, Kelley Rourke, and Jessica Lang.
TURANDOT to Open Opéra de Montréal's 2026-2027 Season
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2026

Opéra de Montréal will present Puccini's TURANDOT at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, featuring a new ending by Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton in a co-production with Washington National Opera and The Dallas Opera.
Steve Reich, John Adams Anniversaries to Headline 2026-27 Boosey & Hawkes Season
by Stephi Wild - Aug 26, 2026

New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic and orchestras across the Americas will present premieres and anniversary tributes, including works by Osvaldo Golijov, Sofia Gubaidulina and Gabriela Ortiz.
Video: WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Previews 2026/27 Season in New Series
by Rachel Stone - Aug 24, 2026

Washington National Opera launches a new video series previewing its 2026/27 season, featuring General Director Timothy O'Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello discussing eight productions across five venues.
Jessica Lang Named Artistic Advisor at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 18, 2026

Choreographer Jessica Lang will succeed founder Kevin McKenzie as Artistic Advisor at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, advising leadership on artist residencies and programming at the site.
San Francisco Opera Unveils 2026-27 Season Featuring SIMON BOCCANEGRA, MANON, DAS RHEINGOLD & More
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 20, 2026

San Francisco Opera has announced its 2026-27 season, featuring productions of Simon Boccanegra, Mary, Queen of Scots, Manon, The Marriage of Figaro, Das Rheingold, and Tosca, along with concerts, Opera Ball, and Opera in the Park.
Photos/Video: OKLAHOMA! At Glimmerglass Festival Starring Shereen Pimentel, Michael Adams and More
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 14, 2026

Broadway star Shereen Pimentel takes center stage as Laurey in Francesca Zambello's new production of Oklahoma! at The Glimmerglass Festival. Check out new production photos.
Spotlight: Oklahoma! at The Glimmerglass Festival
by BWW Special Offer - Jul 9, 2026

Don't miss Oklahoma! at The Glimmerglass Festival! You heard it here first – it’s a cowboy summer! Broadway’s Shereen Pimentel (West Side Story, The Lion King) stars as the spirited farm girl Laurey in this shining new production of an American classic. Join us at The Glimmerglass Festival inCooperstown, New Yorkfor your favorite catchy showtunes, big dance numbers, and a slow burn romance that audiences have been rooting for since 1943. (And yes – there will be lassoes!)
Interview: Shereen Pimentel on OKLAHOMA! at Glimmerglass
by Joshua Wright - Jul 7, 2026

Shereen Pimentel has moved fluidly between opera houses and Broadway stages since making her Broadway debut at nine as Young Nala in The Lion King, going on to star as Maria in the 2020 revival of West Side Story and, most recently, as Jellylorum in Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
Single Tickets to Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2026/27 Season on Sale This Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 6, 2026

Single tickets go on sale for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2026/27 Season — seven operas spanning centuries and continents, four unique concerts, two Academy Award–winning films performed live, plus more.
Washington National Opera to Launch National Friends Group With Virtual Forum
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 29, 2026

Washington National Opera announced the formation of the National Friends of Washington National Opera, a new initiative to connect supporters worldwide. An inaugural live virtual forum, hosted by incoming board member Marc A. Scorca, will kick off the effort.
Washington National Opera Marks 25 Seasons of Cafritz Young Artists Program, Reveals 2026-2027 Roster
by Stephi Wild - Jun 24, 2026

Washington National Opera announced its 2026–2027 Cafritz Young Artists roster as the program marks its 25th season. The 12 singers and pianists were selected from over 800 applicants and will perform in five WNO productions.
Single Tickets On Sale For Houston Grand Opera’s 2026-27 Season
by Stephi Wild - Jun 17, 2026

Houston Grand Opera has put single tickets on sale for its upcoming season, featuring 38 performances across six productions, including SUSANNAH, SHOW BOAT, and a new staging of AIDA.
Speight Jenkins, Former Seattle Opera General Director, Dies at 89
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026

Speight Jenkins, who led Seattle Opera for 31 years and transformed it into one of the most respected opera companies in the US, has died at 89, the company announced.
Review: TURANDOT Returns for Another Go-Around at the Met in Classic Zeffirelli Production
by Richard Sasanow - May 24, 2026

I’d say that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is not a maxim that has ever been used for Puccini’s Chinese-inspired fairytale, TURANDOT, which returned for another go-around at the Met the other day with two alternating casts. (I saw it with Liudmyla Monastyrska, Roberto Alagna and Juliana Grigoryan in the main roles.)

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