Fran Kirmser News

MAGIC/BIRD, about Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird, plays its final performance tonight, Saturday, May 12th, at the Longacre Theatre. (more...)

The producers of MAGIC/BIRD announced today that the show will play its final performance on Saturday May 12th. (more...)

Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the producers of the new Broadway play MAGIC/BIRD, announced today that the star of “Lombardi,” Dan Lauria, will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 8pm performance at the intimate Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street) this Wednesday, April 18. Lauria, who portrayed the legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the hit play last year, will be joined on stage by his longtime friend Peter Scolari, who is playing legendary coaches Red Auerbach and Pat Riley in Magic/Bird. (more...)

MAGIC/BIRD opened on Broadway Tuesday night, April 10. BroadwayWorld was there to catch the stars, including Larry Bird, Tug Coker, Kevin Daniels, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and more, in action at the after party and brings you photos below! (more...)

Last night, April 11, MAGIC/BIRD opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre, with special appearances by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird themselves. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening night curtain call and brings you photo coverage below! (more...)

Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, the producers of the new Broadway play MAGIC/BIRD, announced today that Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson will hold a talkback for ticketholders following the 2pm matinee performance at the Longacre Theater (220 West 48th Street) on Friday April, 13th. (more...)

NBA Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will visit the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Wednesday, April 11 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Their LATE SHOW appearance will take place the same night as the official Broadway premiere of MAGIC/BIRD a play based on their fabled basketball rivalry and their long-standing friendship off the court. (more...)

Producers of MAGIC/BIRD have announced that the show will play Broadway's Longacre Theater, with previews beginning March 21 and an opening set for April 11 reports the New York Times. (more...)

MAGIC BIRD has found its “Magic”. Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo report that the most widely asked question throughout the MAGIC BIRD process has been who is going to play Magic Johnson. On December 9th while the basketball fan learned the details of the newly announced NBA Season, in walked actor Kevin Daniels to the Magic Bird audition room. (more...)

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) will next present MAGIC/BIRD on Broadway, reuniting with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) and Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson. The new play chronicles the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic' Johnson. According to an audition notice out today, the production will go into rehearsal on January 23, 2012 and begin previews on February 27. An opening date and theater have yet to be announced. Check out interviews with Kail, Ponturo, and Kirmser below! (more...)

Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, announced today the title role of Hall of Fame Basketball Player and Celtics Legend Larry Bird will be played by Tug Coker. Tug Coker will be making his Broadway debut with the role of Larry Bird. (more...)

The Off-Broadway musical revue THE GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLLIES will go on a winter hiatus following the 7:00pm performance on Sunday, November 20 at Manhattan Theatre Source (177 MacDougal Street), performances will commence again in Spring 2012. (more...)

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) will next present MAGIC/BIRD on Broadway, reuniting with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) and Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson. The new play chronicles the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic' Johnson. According to an audition notice out today, the production will go into rehearsal on January 23, 2012 and begin previews on February 27. An opening date and theater have yet to be announced. (more...)

The Off-Broadway musical revue THE GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLLIES will go on a winter hiatus following the 7:00pm performance on Sunday, November 20 at Manhattan Theatre Source (177 MacDougal Street), performances will commence again in Spring 2012. (more...)

On Twitter Watch, Magic Johnson wrote "So excited for the Magic/Bird Broadway play! Have some really amazing people involved and it's going to be great. Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) announced today members of their creative team. Tony nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new play chronicling the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic' Johnson. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazewell (Costumes) and Nevin Steinberg (Sound) and Wendell K. Harrington (Projections), who will weave historic NBA film footage throughout the play. " (more...)

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo (Lombardi) announced today members of their creative team. Tony nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights) will reunite with Lombardi playwright and Oscar winner and Emmy Nominee Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new play chronicling the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic' Johnson. (more...)

Lombardi: A Reading by the Broadway Cast was held in the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin on July 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and will be priced at $45.00. The cast then move to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center for readings on July 28 at 7:30 p.m. and July 29-30 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets at Fox Cities start at $30. Lombardi: A Reading by the Broadway Cast will go on sale Wednesday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more for Fox Cities can order now by calling (920) 730-3786. Tickets are subject to availability, and additional fees may apply. Tickets for the Lambeau Field dates can also be purchased at the Packers Ticker Office, while the Fox Cities P.A.C. engagement can also be purchased in person at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's ticket office and online at foxcitiespac.com. (more...)

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo today announced that they will bring the hit show Lombardi home to Wisconsin for a special series of dramatic readings in July. Direct from their successful Broadway run, members of the original cast of Lombardi will bring the spirit of a legendary coach to life in the Lambeau Field Atrium and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton. Led by veteran actor Dan Lauria (who originated the role on Broadway), the play by Academy Award winner and Wisconsin native Eric Simonson soars in a staged dramatic reading. Without the costumes and make-up, without the pigskin props and muddy cleats, the legend of Lombardi has the spotlight. (more...)

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo today announced that they will bring the hit show Lombardi home to Wisconsin for a special series of dramatic readings in July. (more...)

For the first time in its 11 year history, Manhattan Theatre Source - called "one of the top Off-Off Broadway theatres in New York" by New York Magazine - presents an open-end run of a work developed through the company's development process - the musical revue THE GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLLIES, which opened officially on June 28th, 2011. (more...)