Francesca is elated to return to NYC after eight months in the SF Bay Area as a recipient of the inaugural Stonehenge NYC Still Standing Artist Residency. From March 2021-February 2022, Francesca is commissioned to create a series of performances pieces in exchange for a free year of housing in Manhattan. Learn more about the residency here.
GLORIA: A LIFE streams on PBS’ Great Performances June 26 2020! /
August 2018 I had the privilege of joining the original cast of GLORIA: A LIFE, an off-Broadway documentary play about Gloria Steinem by Emily Mann and directed by Diane Paulus. A recorded performance of GLORIA will air on PBS’ Great Performances this Friday, June 26 at 6p PST // 8p CST // 9p EST, and will be available to stream on Thirteen after! Learn more here.
GLORIA: A LIFE premiered October 2018 at the Daryl Roth Theatre, starring Christine Lahti. To meld my activism and art into one production for nine months was affirming and inspiring. Gloria Steinem is truly the boss. It was a life changing experience and I am honored to have been part of its inception. Learn more about the show here.
The Other Place with Kate Walsh and More /
Updating my website with what I’ve been busy with has been on my To Do list for two years. I recognize that isn’t something to be proud of, but it is the truth. On my 102nd day in quarantine and 1 week before I move out of my Bronx apartment to stay with family in the SF bay area (until theater comes back to NYC), now seems as good a time as any to check something off the To Do list.
I’ll keep this post to what I’ve done since graduating YSD, and how you can learn more about these past projects. I hope wherever you are, you are well, safe and taking care of yourself amidst the struggle. The struggle for your health and sanity while in quarantine, as well as the struggle for the liberation of Black people from unjust and broken systems, because none of us are free until all of us are free.
Photoshoot with William Sinclair Moore, March 2020.
GLORIA: A LIFE at the Daryl Roth Theatre, photo credit: Joan Marcus, 2018.
After finishing Summer Shorts, I had the privilege of joining the original cast of GLORIA: A LIFE, an off-Broadway documentary play about Gloria Steinem by Emily Mann. It premiered October 2018 at the Daryl Roth Theatre, directed by Diana Paulus and starring Christine Lahti. Learn more about GLORIA here.
Once GLORIA: A LIFE closed, I traveled to California to fulfill a childhood dream and perform at the California Shakespeare Theater, or CalShakes, in Orinda. I watched my first Shakespeare play there in high school and also interned for them in college. Embodying Shen Te and Shui Ta in Bertolt Brecht’s Good Person of Szechwan on that stage for the bay was a true honor. Directed by CalShakes Artistic Director, Eric Ting. You can learn more about Good Person here.
Good Person of Szechwan at CalShakes, Jay Yamada 2019.
Since moving to NYC, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with other pilipinx theater artists at Clubbed Thumb, The Lark, Loose Change Productions and Egg & Spoon Theatre. Never in my life had I worked in a rehearsal room that was majority pilipinx, exploring issues and performance specific to the pilipinx diaspora. You can learn more about these workshops and readings here.
In January 2020 I collaborated one again with Rachel Shuey, the Managing Director for Yale Cabaret when I was a co-Artistic Director for it’s 50th year. Love, Medea, written by Peter Gray and directed by Michael Alvarez, premiered at the Center at West Park. You can learn more about it here.
Finally, while in quarantine my creativity has manifested in different ways, returning to my background in community organizing and producing.
Photo by William Sinclair
As a producer with AYE DEFY, we partnered with Ma-Yi Theater and HowlRound to stream a reading of Diana Oh’s My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theater June 2020.
I’m joining the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) as Associate Development Manager for their digital festival October 2020.
April 2020 I performed in an onlinereading of The Other Place by Sharr White, produced by Play Per View and directed by Tyne Rafaeli. Starring Kate Walsh and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
Most exciting is I’ve been writing scripts, and I hope to share more news about that soon.
"Wonderful" new one act at SUMMER SHORTS /
Francesca made her NYC debut at the Throughline Arts SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL, as part of Abby Rosebrock's one act "Kenny's Tavern." Directed by Jess Chayes. You have two more weeks to catch her at E59E!
Mariah Lee, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie and Stephen Guarino in "Kenny's Tavern." Photo by Carol Rosegg, 2018.
Stunning Reviews for Death of Yazdgerd /
Death of Yazdgerd by Bahram Beyzai Directed by Shadi Ghaheri
December 5-9 at the Iseman Theatre, Yale School of Drama, 2017.
Press:
"The actors are transfixing as they bring these forms to life...Her whole body becomes an instrument."
- Who Killed the King?" by Lucy Gellman at Arts Paper
"Then there’s Francesca Fernandez McKenzie as the woman, a role that comes to dominate...she enacts a kind of sorcery of storytelling. McKenzie’s intensity is unflagging as she turns the tables several times, speaking with the authority of mercurial emotions."
- "Life Saving Stories" by Donald Brown at the New Haven Review
Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
More:
- "Yazdgerd" Got it Right" by Roya Hakakian at the New Haven Independent
Storytelling SoundCloud /
Check out Francesca's SoundCloud for all her live storytelling at the Moth New Orleans, Bring Your Own Story, and other live story events.
Interview on "Along St. Claude" /
Francesca was part of an audio documentary series called "Along St Claude," created by Eve Abrams, a radio producer, writer and documentarian. Francesca shared her experience as an artist making theatre in the rapidly gentrified neighborhood along St Claude Avenue in downtown New Orleans. Listen to the entire series or just her interview in "Part 6: New Kids on the Block" here.
It premiered on the local NPR station, WWNO, and it's coverage can be read and listened to here.
The audio documentary also included a portrait installation that premiered during it's airing. Here is Francesca's portrait, taken by Jonathan Traviesa.
Co-Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret /
Did you know that Francesca is also a theatre producer? In her last year of grad school, she has the honor and privilege of being a co-Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret in it's 50th year. You can learn more about their season here.
MISSION
Yale Cabaret is a haven for the creative spirit that resides in every student at the Yale School of Drama. We are an intersection for curious audiences, invigorating stories, and artistic excellence. In its 50th year, we will continue to illuminate the many voices of our community by producing brave and passionate work that champions the growth of our artists.
Press about the vision of Yale Cabaret's 50th Season:
Yale Cabaret Turns 50, Rolls out New Season by Donald Brown at the New Haven Independent
Yale Cabaret Turns 50 via Yale School of Drama Alumni News
Left to right: Josh Wilder, Rachel Shuey, Francesca Fernandez McKenzie and Rory Pelsue. Photo Courtney Jamison