English
中文 (中国)
January – The animated cartoon series, “Wool Wool Town” premieres as a family musical in Beijing with Don consulting on the production.
February – Don joins faculty of Peking University for theater management and musical production.
March – Don travels to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as consultant for the Kingdom’s evolving theater production initiatives.
July – The 29 th record-breaking season of the Amazing Maize Maze kicks off in Lancaster PA, followed by fields in Rochester, New York, Queens/NYC, New York, and Charlotte, North Carolina surpassing all previous attendance.
August – Don return to Riyadh and Jeddah for development meetings with the Ministry of Culture on a new musical.
October – “The Island”, a new musical for China Broadway Entertainment is workshopped in Beijing with John Rando directing; Don as international General Manager.
November – Don speaks at 2 nd Annual young producers’ forum at the Shenzhen Bay Opera Theater.
June – Don directs the third science-themed production for family audiences. “That Gas Show” opens in Beijing prior to a national China tour.
July – the 28th season of the Amazing Maize Maze kicks off in Lancaster PA, followed by fields in Macedon and Queens, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina.
October – Don attends a forum in Erjina, Alashan, Inner Mongolia to celebrate the 10th anniversary performances of “Golden Huyang.”
July – the 27th season of the Amazing Maize Maze kicks off in Lancaster PA, followed by fields in Macedon and Queens, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina.
November 2019 – “Spirit of Life” the Jonathan Lee Musical, produced by China Broadway Entertainment, directed by John Rando opens at the Culture Square Theater in Shanghai.
October 2019 – Don speaks at the 10th anniversary production of Golden Huyang in Ejina, Alashan hosted by Inner Mongolia’s provincial governor, Bu Xiaolin.
July 2019 – The 25th season of the Amazing Maize Maze kicks off. All AMM pathways into the corn and self-discovery have proudly entered a second generation of management operations.
June 2019 – TSP licenses off-Broadway’s “That Chemistry Show” to Beijing’s A Show Entertainment which commences bookings throughout China.
June 2019 – Don joins Robert Nederlander Jr’s team at Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment as Executive Producer.
May 2019 – Shaanxi Tourism Group welcomes Don, Gabriel Barre, Marc Acito and Peter Kam at the presentation of the “Songs of the Silk Road” musical concept.
March 2019 – TSP is engaged by Sundo Media Group in Beijing as Producer of “Sea Magic”, a nighttime water parade for Hai Chang theme park in Shanghai.
January 2019 – Don and Town Square Production sign on as GM of a new musical written by Rupert Holmes based on Yan Geling’s novel FLOWERS OF WAR.
December 2018 – Don is engaged as Executive Producer for Nederlander Worldwide and successfully presents creative concepts for an original musical produced for Shaanxi Tourism Group in Xi’an, PRC.
October 2018 – OCEAN OF DREAMS, a spectacle with 9 of the leading magicians in the world opens at the Mercedes Benz Shanghai Arena, directed by Don Frantz.
September 2018 – Don moderates the 2nd Plenary Session of Inner Mongolia’s Arxan Forum with Oscar, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners in attendance discussing “A Community of Shared Future for Mankind.”
August 2018 – The Inner Mongolian Arts Festival commissions a theatrical version of “Golden Huyang.” With a revised script Don directs the production in Alashan and then at the Grand Theater in Hohhut, Inner Mongolia.
July 2018 – The Amazing Maize Maze season kicks off in Lancaster PA followed by farms near Rochester, Albany, New York and Charlotte.
May 2018 – The 20th China Grassland Culture Forum in Hohnut features Don as guest speaker on the theater’s role of sharing Mongolian culture with the world.
April 2018 – Off Broadway’s “That Physics Show” adapted and directed by Don in mandarin as 物理秀 opens in Beijing. Winner of Shanghai’s Best Children’s Show and featured on Beijing TV and CCTV as a ‘great new reason’ to bring children to the theater.
February 2018 – Shanghai Theater Academy engages Don for an 8-session course on Theater Production and Management.
September 2017 – Jonathan Lee, Taiwan producer/songwriter/performer attends New York workshop and press event at Sardi’s concerning the development of a new musical produced by China Broadway Entertainment and general managed by TSP
August 2017 – The first Amazing Maize Maze opens in China. The image of a Mongolian Horse was carved in a city park corn field in Hohhut, Inner Mongolia.
July 2017 – The 23rd season of the Amazing Maize Maze opens.
July 2017 – “XANADU“, an original Mandarin musical based on the life of Kublai Khan, opens in Xinlinhot, next to the legendary home of the Mongolian empire, Xanadu. TSP serves as Chief Director.
March 2017 – Don is engaged as Consulting Artistic Director for Beijing based China Broadway Entertainment.
January 2017 – Don is founding board member of Center at West Park, a cultural non-profit in Manhattan.
August 2016 – “Miracle Arxan” an outdoor musical spectacle opens in Arxan, Inner Mongolia
July 2016 – The 22nd Amazing Maize Maze season opens in Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina
May 2016 – TSP repeats as general manager for the annual JAPAN DAY in Central Park
May 2016 – DISENCHANTED! North American tour opens in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse Theater.
April 2016 – TSP begins management of West Park Presbyterian Church facility for theatrical rentals.
MARCH 2016 – Don Frantz is engaged as lecturer on Royal Caribeean Cruises’ “Anthem of the Seas”.
FEBRUARY 2016 – TSP is engaged Theater Management Consultant by Eastern Shanghai for the Smoky Mountain Palace theater near Pigeon Forge, TN.
JANUARY 2016 – TSP consults with Grassland Culture Foundation on the Kublai Khan and Genghis Khan projects.
NOVEMBER 2015 – “Christmas of Light” a musical celebration of the art of Thomas Kinkade reopens the Smoky Mountain Palace in Sevierville, TN.
OCTOBER 2015 – Stephen Schwartz’s “Magic To Do” opens on the Crown Princess ship, followed by the Ruby Princess in November an the Emerald Princess in December.
SEPTEMBER 2015 – TSP is engaged by China Broadway Entertainment to serve as Executive Producer on the Jonathan Lee Musical Project.
JULY 2015 – 22nd season of the Amazing Maize Maze opens at Cherry Crest Farm in Lancaster County, PA.
JUNE 2015 – DISENCHANTED! opens in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in a Spanish production with Teatro Theamus.
APRIL 2015 – Town Square Productions departs the Times Square offices and begins residency at West Park Presbyterian Church on West 86th Street to support the renovation of the landmarked church to accommodate dance, music and theater studios and performances.
MARCH 2015 – DISENCHANTED! opens at the West Side Theater Off-Broadway.
MARCH 2015 – Princess Cruises announces Magic To Do, written by Stephen Schwartz and directed by Gabriel Barre. Don Frantz serves as Creative Producer.
JANUARY 2015 – DISENCHANTED! announces its re-opening of an open-ended run at the beautiful Westside Theatre.
DECEMBER 2014 – DISENCHANTED! opens Off-Broadway to rave reviews, standing ovations and sold out crowds!
NOVEMBER 2014 – INTO THE WOOD opens in China, and runs for 100 performances through Feb 1, 2015. Tony Winner, James Lapine, attended the opening and called it, ‘Jaw-Dropping!’
SEPTEMBER 2014 – Three years in the making, DISENCHANTED! announces its limited Off-Broadway engagement at the Theatre at St. Clement’s. First performance slated for November 26, 2014.
AUGUST 2014 – KUNLUN MYTH has another run in China!
JULY 2014 – ALL THAT GLITTERS , a musical about the life of Liberace holds a 6-week summer music/choreography work session at the Barishnikov Arts Center. TSP is General Manager
JULY 2014 – The 21st Season of the AMAZING MAIZE MAZE kicks off at Cherry Crest Farm in Lancaster PA – Mazes in Rochester, Albany, Charlotte, and New York City will follow.
JUNE 2014 – WALKIN’BROADWAY receives TripAdvisor’s Award of Excellence and moves operations to the Actors’ Chapel.
MAY 2014 – Don speaks at 3rd International Forum on the Chinese Musical at Shanghia’s Culture Square Theater.
MAY 2014 – TSP’s Laurie Brown serves as General and Site Manager on the 8th Annual Japan Day at Central Park.
APRIL 2014 – TSP creates four Passenger Enrichment Programs in mandarin in Beijing for the inaugural voyage by PRINCESS CRUISES from Shanghai in May.
FEBRUARY 2014 – Don attends a creative charette for Princess Cruises in California. Creative development continues afterward for a Magic Show for the cruise line.
JANUARY – APRIL 2014 – DISENCHANTED! performs to over 20,000 people in an 11-week run at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.
DEC 2013 – Don is co-producer of the mandarin adaptation of INTO THE WOODS at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.
DEC 2013 – A concert version of YES, VIRGINIA is performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
NOV 2013 – ROAD TO FAME , Wu Hao’s documentary film about the 2008 productions of FAME at in Beijing premieres in New York as part of the DOC NYC film festival
. Don served as co-executive producer.
SEPT – NOV 2013 – DISENCHANTED! performs for 7 week run at the Abbey Theater in Orlando Florida.
SEPT 2013 – TSP 4th Annual autumn festival in Alashan, Inner Mongolia features Don’s outdoor musical HUYANG TRESS to record attendance.
AUGUST – OCTOBER 2013 – TSP produces a 7-week tour of LITTLE PEOPLE for Fisher Price to zoos and theme parks across America.
JULY 2013 – The 20th Season of the AMAZING MAIZE MAZE begins with mazes in Lancaster, Rochester, Albany, Charlotte and New York City.
MAY 2013 – TSP’s Laurie Brown serves as production manager on the 7th Annual Japan Day in Central Park.
JAN 2013 – TSP presents a showcase of Disenchanted! at NYC’s Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference.
DEC 2012 – DISENCHANTED! is presented in concert at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood.
NOV 2012 – The workshop production of DISENCHANTED! Don co-writes and directs the original Chinese musical in Mandarin, KULUN MYTH which premieres at Tian Qiao Theater in Beijing.
SEPT 2012 – The workshop production of DISENCHANTED! is performed at Stephens College, in Columbia, MO with the New York creative team including creator-Dennis Giacino, director-Fiely Matias, choreographer-Matt West, scenic designer-Gentry Akens and lighting designer-Graham Kindred.
AUGUST 2012 – TSP’s “WALKIN’BROADWAY” becomes the official walking tour of the Times Square Alliance and takes up home at the Time Square Visitor’s Center.
MAY 2012 – Japan Day TSP’s Laurie Brown serves as production manager on the 6th Annual Japan Day in Central Park.
MAY 2012 – Bitches of the Kingdom, a cabaret featuring the writing/directing team of DISENCHANTED!, performs at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City to sold out crowds. The ‘making of’ show includes several women singing songs from the Off-Broadway bound musical, and creator Dennis Giacino at the keys, narrating how the hilarious comedy came to be.
APRIL 2012 – Central Academy of Drama in Beijing performs CRAZY FOR YOU in Mandarin and the response is unanimous – another hit!
MARCH 2012 – DISENCHANTED! performs 3 staged readings in NYC, and adds Robert Meffe to its creative team as Musical Director and Arranger.
FEB 2012 – Don & Laurie, along with creator Dennis Giacino and director Fiely Matias, have the first investment pitch for the Off-Broadway bound musical DISENCHANTED! in Orlando, FL.
JAN 2012 – Don returns to Beijing to teach his first class on Theatre Management and Production at the Central Academy of Drama.
DEC 2011 – Don serves as Stage Manager for the ELITE MODEL LOOK competition in Shanghai, with guest performers Kylie Minogue and an appearance by Nikki Reed fro Twilight. The competition included 63 models from around the world.
NOVEMBER 2011 – Broadway veteran, Kirby Ward, travels to Central Academy of Drama in Beijing to start rehearsals for the first mandarin production of CRAZY FOR YOU.
OCTOBER 2011 – Don produces and directs Huyang Trees in Inner Mongolia and Beijing, with assistance from former TSP intern Joe Li, and newcomer Jiang Yu.
AUGUST 2011 – TSP & Camp Broadway share resources and have the entire floor at 226 W47th Street renovated, with a new conference room!
MAY 2011 – TSP serves as General Manager for Japan Day @ Central Park, the 5th Anniversary of the event.
MAY 2011 – The National Theatre of China and TSP produce a staged reading of THE FINAL STRUGGLE in English at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater.
MARCH 2011 – TSP begins its work as General Manager to Camp Broadway. MARCH 2011 – Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China, signs the license agreement to produce 40 performances of George & Ira Gershwin’s CRAZY FOR YOU, in Mandarin!
MAY 2010 – The Shanghai World Expo opens to the general public, with the Inner Mongolian Pavilion produced & created by Don Frantz.
MAY 2010 – The Promise debuted as the first musical produced in Inner Mongolia and was presented in China’s Inner Mongolia Week at the 2010 Shanghai Expo. It was directed and produced by TSP’s Don Frantz.
MAY 2010 – The Parade of the “Spirit of the Grassland” was created by Don Frantz with 183 singers, dancers, wrestlers, horse head fiddle players and acrobats from Inner Mongolia. Music by Ankor and choreographed by Hudele.
JUNE 2010 – TSP managed the fourth annual Japan Day @ Central Park, which drew its largest crowd of over 50,000 people.
SEPTEMBER 2010 – KaTonga, the 2004 Big E award winner for Best Show will close after playing at Busch Gardens for over 6 1/2 years, with over 1000 performers bringing the 10,000 performances to life.
OCTOBER 2010 – The Amazing Maize Maze appears on NBC’s Today Show for a fourth time as correspondent Jenna Wolfe gets lost for the first time at Queens County Farm Museum.
OCTOBER 2010 – The Gold Trees opens in Alashan, Inner Mongolia that is produced, created and directed by Don Frantz.
JANUARY 2009 – SOUL OF SHAOLIN opens on Broadway, and makes history with the first show from the People’s Republic of China performing on the Great White Way. SOUL OF SHAOLIN later receives Drama Desk Nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience and a Tony Nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event.
MAY 2009 – TSP manages the expanded annual event – JAPAN DAY @ CENTRAL PARK and attracts a record number of participants, over 50,000, in its single day event!
FEBRUARY 2008 – DREAM OF RED CHAMBER performs at Jazz at Lincoln Center for two complimentary performances as a gift to the City of New York from the People’s Republic of China.
MAY 2008 – Don Frantz continues his work as CEO with Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment with the tour of AIDA in China.
SEPTEMBER 2008 – A TALE OF TWO CITIES opens on Broadway, and receives 3 Drama Desk Nominations.
DECEMBER 2008 – A full Chinese cast performs FAME in Mandarin at China’s Central Academy of Drama in Beijing and receives International recognition.
MARCH 2007 – BELIEVE wins the internationally acclaimed THEA Award’s Outstanding Achievement for a Live Show from the Themed Entertainment Association, honoring outstanding achievement in the creation of compelling experiences.
AUGUST 2007 – Don Frantz manages the first extensive American Tour of a Broadway musical in China with the production of 42ND STREET performing in 9 cities to over 100,000 people.
OCTOBER 2007 – A TALE OF TWO CITIES opens at the Asolo Repertory Theatre; the first time in history the theatre hosts a pre-Broadway tryout production.
MARCH 2006 – Shamu’s BELIEVE opens at SeaWorld San Antonio.
MAY 2006 – Shamu’s BELIEVE opens at SeaWorld Orlando.
JUNE 2006 – Shamu’s BELIEVE opens at SeaWorld San Diego.
NOVEMBER 2006 – BELIEVE wins the Big E Award for Best Live Performance from IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions).
APRIL 2005 – SWANGO opens at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in White Plains, NY, and then at the Queens Theatre in the Park in Flushing, Queens.
MAY 2005 – SPIRIT THE SEVENTH FIRE opens in Philadelphia at Fairmount Park, in a 750 seated fully equipped tented theatre.
JULY 2005 – The Los Angeles Philharmonic hires Don Frantz to produce theatrical enhancements for its production of Wagner’s Gotterdammerung at the Hollywood Bowl – the Bowl literally is lit up in flames!
APRIL 2004 – KATONGA opens at Busch Gardens Tampa, bringing the talents of Broadway to the families at the African themed park! KATONGA wins the Big E Award for Best Live Performance from IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions).
JULY 2004 – WALKIN’ BROADWAY is launched and becomes the first self-guided audio tour of Broadway, with the music and the voices from legendary stars!
JUNE 2003 – SWANGO opens at the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack, NY, with the book by Rupert Holmes.
DECEMBER 2003 – The United States Department of Agriculture formally thanks Don Frantz, “Father of the Corn Maze” for opening the public’s eye with THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE to the great heritage of the family farm, and the potential of a fun, family, weekend outing to our rural America.
JULY 2002 – A CLASS ACT is produced in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA, and then travels to Japan and performs at the Akasaka Theatre in Tokyo.
DECEMBER 2002 – Don Frantz speaks at the International Cultural Industry Forum in Nanjing, China, and begins a dialogue on international exchange in theater and dance.
MARCH 2001 – A CLASS ACT opens on Broadway, and receives 5 Tony Nominations and 3 Drama Desk Nominations.
APRIL 2001 – SPECTROMAGIC celebrates its 10th Anniversary at Walt Disney World; the original directed by Don Frantz in 1991.
JUNE 2001 – PIRATES OF PENZANCE opens Off-Broadway on the Peking Ship at the South Street Seaport, and receives 2 Lucille Lortel Nominations
SEPTEMBER 2001 – I GOT MERMAN opens at the Stamford Performing Arts Center in Stamford, CT, and introduces famed Japanese director Amon Miyamoto to U.S. audiences.
OCTOBER 2001 – Bill Geist from CBS’s Sunday Morning gets lost in THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE!
DECEMBER 2001 – SUMMER OF ’42 opens Off-Broadway at the Variety Arts Theatre, and receives an Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical.
NOVEMBER 2000 – MADAME TUSSAUD’S grand opening in New York City produced by Don Frantz.
AUGUST 1999 – THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE appears on The Today Show, as Don Frantz brings it to Rockefeller Plaza by building a maze with over 4,000 corn stalks, over 3,000 square feet, in the shape of NBC’s signature peacock! Katie, Matt, Al & Anne all get lost!
1998
APRIL 1998 – Don Frantz assumes the General Management role for the National Tour of Livent’s RAGTIME, and transfers the operations to Clear Channel/SFX Productions.
1997
JULY 1997 – THE LION KING opens at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.
NOVEMBER 1997 – THE LION KING opens on Broadway, and receives 11 Tony Nominations (winner Best Musical, Direction of a Musical, Choreography, Scenic Design, Costume Design and Lighting Design) and 11 Drama Desk Nominations (winner Best Direction of a Musical, Choreography, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Puppet Design and Featured Actress in a Musical).
1996
AUGUST 1996 – THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE enters the Guinness Book of Records for a third time with the 5½ acre labyrinth in Dearborn, MI celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Henry Ford’s first working car.
1995
APRIL 1995 – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opens at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.
JULY 1995 – THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE in Shippensburg, PA breaks its own record, and is entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest maze in the world. It covered 172,000 square feet, attracted more than 23,000 visitors in 9 days, and received International press! The international fad of corn mazes takes off and the word “Agritainment” is born as millions of guests visit the family farms and living history museums.
AUGUST 1995 – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opens at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Toronto. OCTOBER 1995 – Hyperion Books publishes Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: A CELEBRATION OF THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, written by Don Frantz; reviews state, “This is a must for any musical theatre fan!”
1994
APRIL 1994 – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opens on Broadway, and receives 9 Tony Nominations (winner Best Costume Design) and 9 Drama Desk Nominations.
1993
SEPTEMBER 1993 – THE AMAZING MAIZE MAZE is born and invents the concept of giant interactive mazes and specifically making mazes in a cornfield. A Guinness Book of Records is awarded as the largest maze in history at 126,000 square feet and entertains 11,000 people in 3 days.
NOVEMBER 1993 – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opens at Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, TX; the first time in history the theatre hosts a pre-Broadway tryout production.
