Projects

Bonnie & Clyde is a new musical with lyrics by Don Black and a book by Ivan Menchell. The show tells the story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, ill-fated lovers and outlaws whose tale has captured the imagination ever since it took place during the Great Depression. The world premiere took place at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California, USA in November and December 2009. Learn more in the Bonnie & Clyde section.

Frank has written a musical with Nan Knighton about the life of French sculptress Camille Claudel. The world-premiere production took place at Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Connecticut, USA, 14 August - 7 September 2003. Learn more in the Camille Claudel page.

Frank has developed a modern adaptation of Carmen with lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Norman Allen. The show premiered on 2 and 3 October 2008 in Prague, Czech Republic. Learn more on the Carmen page.

The Civil War is a moving song cycle, based on the turbulent and tragic period in United States history, written in collaboration with Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. The show premiered in Houston, Texas, USA in 1998, was presented at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in 1999 and then toured nationally. Learn more in the Civil War section.

Frank and Jack Murphy have written a musical version of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, père. The show had its world premiere on 14 March 2009 at Theatre St. Gallen in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Learn more on the Count of Monte Cristo page

Cyrano is Frank's next collaboration with Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde), based on the classic work by Edmond Rostand. The show premiered on 5 May 2009 at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo, Japan. Learn more on the Cryano de Bergerac page.

Dracula is a gothic musical, based on the novel by Bram Stoker. The show was developed with Des McAnuff, Christopher Hampton and Don Black. It played on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre, from 30 July 2004 through 2 January 2005. The show has also played in St. Gallen, Switzerland and Graz, Austria. Learn more in the Dracula page

Havana is a project Frank has been developing with Pulitzer Prize winning writer Nilo Cruz (book) and Jack Murphy (lyrics). The show is currently undergoing changes, so check back soon for updates or read more in the Upcoming Projects section

Jekyll & Hyde is a gothic musical based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. The show had its world premiere in Houston, Texas, USA in 1990, and played at the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway from 1997 into 2001. The show has played numerous productions and tours, throughout the U.S. and abroad. Learn more in the Jekyll & Hyde section

Frank is currently developing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy. The show is expected to be a romantic mystery, and will largely examine the inspiration and creative process that led to Mary Shelley's famous novel. Learn more on the Upcoming Projects page.

Frank is writing a new musical with Shuichiro Koike (book and director) and Jack Murphy (lyrics), titled Mitsuko. The show focuses on Mitsuko Aoyama (1874-1941), who was the first Japanese woman to marry a westerner. Material from the show was premiered at the "Mitsuko Musical Concert" in Vienna on Friday, 9 December 2005. Learn more on the Mitsuko page.

Frank wrote the music for a new production by Takarazuka Revue, the famous all-female Japanese theatre company. The show, titled Never Say Goodbye (The Footsteps of Lovers), is set during the Spanish Civil War and was premiered by the Takarazuka Cosmos (Sora) Troupe in 2006. The script is by Shuichiro Koike, who also directed. Learn more on the Never Say Goodbye page

Frank wrote Rudolf with Jack Murphy (book and lyrics), Nan Knighton (additional lyrics) and Phoebe Hwang (book). The show was previously referred to under the working title of Vienna, and now bears the subtitles The Last Kiss or Affaire Mayerling (The Mayerling Affair). It tells the tragic story of Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera, who were found dead in a hunting lodge in Mayerling, near Vienna. Learn more on the Rudolf page.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a swashbuckling adventure based on the novels by Baroness Orczy, with book and lyrics by Nan Knighton. The show had three incarnations on Broadway - at the Minskoff and Neil Simon Theatres - beginning in 1997. It has continued to delight audiences around the world since then. Learn more in the Scarlet Pimpernel section.

Svengali is a gothic musical, based on the novel Trilby by George du Maurier, with book and lyrics by Gregory Boyd. The show premiered in 1991 at the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas, USA and then played at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, USA. Learn more on the Svengali page.

Tears From Heaven is a new musical with a book by Phoebe Hwang and lyrics by Robin Lerner. The show is being produced by Creative Production and Seol & Company, and is expected to debut in Seoul in 2010. To learn more, check out the Upcoming Projects section.

Victor/Victoria is a lively comedy, adapted for the stage from the 1982 film of the same name. The show has music by Henry Mancini, a book by Blake Edwards, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Frank wrote additional material for the Broadway opening in 1995. Learn more in the Victor/Victoria section.

Frank is developing Waiting For The Moon (also referred to as Scott & Zelda, or simply Zelda) with Jack Murphy (book and lyrics). The show explores the tragic but romantic lives of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. It had its world premiere at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center in Marlton, New Jersey, USA in July 2005. Learn more on the Waiting For The Moon page.

Frank is working with Jack Murphy (book and lyrics) and Gregory Boyd (book and direction) on Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventures, a contemporary spin on Lewis Carroll's tale of Alice in Wonderland. The show had its premiere run at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida, USA from November 2009 into January 2010, followed by a production at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, USA in January and February 2010. Learn more on the Wonderland page.

In addition to composing, Frank has made other contributions to various projects. He has served as a producer and artistic director for many albums and other ventures, he is a lyricist, and he has made appearances as a performer. The highlights of these credits include the following:

Frank was one of the executive producers, and also the artistic director, for a concert recorded for television titled "Broadway's Best on Bravo." The event featured top stars from today's pop charts, stage and screen, performing some of the greatest theater songs ever written. It originally aired on Bravo in March of 2002, and is repeated on that network from time to time.

Frank was one of the co-producers for Harlem Song, a historical revue, which premiered at the world-famous Apollo Theater in 2002. The show was written and directed by George C. Wolfe, drawing on jazz standards, rap and R&B hits that bring the music and history of Harlem to life.

Frank has also taken the stage several times, accompanying various singers.