Frank Benge News

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature the top 10 stories in Long Island, Austin, Louisville, and more. Check out featured list, which includes WILD PARTY in Long Island, TITANIC in Austin, and PASSION in France, just to name a few.

Traveling back to 1942, with the world at war and every man and woman yearning to get into the fray, INGA BINGA highlights the J Edgar Hoover era of espionage. Frank Benge reliably directs this devious comedy in its regional debut, showcasing the original play by Julian Wiles. Taking place in an art-deco hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, we find Ensign Jack Kennedy (played by Justin West), planning a romantic and secretive weekend with the rumored Nazi supporter, Inga Arvad (played by Courtney Abud). In true Hoover fashion, the file on this affair is opened with Special Agent-in-Charge (played by Gene Storie) and Skip (played by Michael Rodriguez) an overzealous 'virgin agent' trying to make a name for himself at the Bureau. After bugging the entire room, and then hiding behind a swinging wall, complete with one-way mirror, the G Men set the historical stage for romance, intrigue, and full-frontal farce.

Sam Bass Theatre presents the regional premiere of INGA BINGA, a farcical romp that explores the amazing true story of John F. Kennedy's real-life affair with former Miss Denmark and suspected Nazi agent, Inga Arvad. Unaware that his gal may be a so-called spy-but trying to avoid the watchful eye of Papa Joe-Jack arranges for the two to have a secret liaison in Charleston, S.C. Unfortunately for them, the FBI and press are one step ahead, bugging their room and listening in on the pair's steamy tryst.

Sam Bass Theatre presents the regional premiere of INGA BINGA, a farcical romp that explores the amazing true story of John F. Kennedy's real-life affair with former Miss Denmark and suspected Nazi agent, Inga Arvad. Unaware that his gal may be a so-called spy-but trying to avoid the watchful eye of Papa Joe-Jack arranges for the two to have a secret liaison in Charleston, S.C. Unfortunately for them, the FBI and press are one step ahead, bugging their room and listening in on the pair's steamy tryst.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in New Jersey, Wichita, Miami, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include a 'must-see' THE PIANO LESSON in New Jersey, PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE in Wichita, and THE NETHER in Miami, just to name a few.

We're starting 2016 off with a bang!  This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Chicago, Los Angeles, Rhode Island, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include the Broadway-bound GOTTA DANCE! in Chicago, top 2015 picks in L.A., and the new National Tour of ANNIE in Rhode Island, just to name a few.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington DC, Boston, Sydney, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include BRIGHT STAR and WEST SIDE STORY in DC, NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET in Boston, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Sydney, just to name a few.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature holiday features in Chicago, Austin, San Diego, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Mercury Theatre's CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, SDMT's WHITE CHRISTMAS, and SANTALAND DIARIES in Austin, just to name a few.

Happy Halloween!  This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories on ghosts, goblins, illusionists and all things Halloween in Washington, DC, Milwaukee, Spain, and more. Check out our top 10 spooky stories around our Broadway World below, which include Signature's HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, DRACULA in Milwaukee, and the 40th Anniversary of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in Spain, just to name a few.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Spain and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Arena Stage's DESTINY OF DESIRE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC National Tour in LA, and BLOOD BROTHERS in Chicago, just to name a few.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Cleveland, Birmingham, Denver and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Ken Ludwig's A COMEDY OF TENORS at the Tony Award-Winning Cleveland Play House, BIG FISH in Birmingham, and the Regional Premiere of ROCK OF AGES in Denver, just to name a few.

The production has several aces up its sleeve, the first being John Logan's script. Logan-the scribe behind the plays Red and I'll Eat You Last, films Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Hugo, and Skyfall, and the T.V. show Penny Dreadful-is easily one of the greatest contemporary writers in any medium. His gift for creating edge-of-your-seat pacing, engrossing and flawed characters, and witty dialogue shows through in Never the Sinner, Logan's 1985 work and first play.

Chicago, May 21,1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Richard Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehend­ed when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Rhode Island, Milwaukee, Italy, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include BIG FISH at First Stage in Milwaukee, KISS ME KATE in Memphis, and THE WHO'S TOMMY in LA, just to name a few.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Maine, Austin, Portland, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Mad Horse's OTHER DESERT CITIES, classic comedy GREATER TUNA in Austin, and GROUNDED in Portland, just to name a few.

Chicago, May 21,1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Richard Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehend­ed when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse.

There isn't much to say about the idea of the American Family that hasn't already been said, but as Table Settings proves, it's not what you say but how you say that matters. The joyous comedy, written by James Lapine and directed by Frank Benge, ops for episodes and sketches rather than a linear plot to give us a glimpse into the lives of a surnameless Jewish family, and each slice of life placed on the table is more delicious than the last.

'Table Settings' by James Lapine opens tonight, February 13th at Sam Bass Community Theatre. Directed by Frank Benge.

'Table Settings' by James Lapine opens February 13th at Sam Bass Community Theatre. Directed by Frank Benge.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!