Barney Frank Will Take a Senate Seat…in Encores! Revival of Fiorello!

Former Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank will make his stage debut as an outspoken conservative senator in Encores! 20th anniversary production of Fiorello!. Frank will take the stage on February 2 at New York City Center in the political musical. Fiorello! will run January 30 through February 3.

Featuring a book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Fiorello! tells the story of Mayor Fiorello LaGuarda’s rise from an immigrant’s son to feisty congressmen. His guts and determination helped fight corruption and brought down the crooked Tammany Hall political machine. The Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical originally opened on Broadway on November 23, 1959 and ran for 795 performances.

Directed by Gary Griffin,  Fiorello! stars Danny Rutigliano (The Lion King) as Fiorello LaGuardia, Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!) as Ben Marino, Kate Baldwin (Giant) as Thea, Erin Dilly (A Christmas Story) as Marie and Emily Skinner (Billy Elliot) as Mitzi and Jenn Gambatese (All Shook Up) as Dora.

Frank, in real life an outspoken liberal Democrat, served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011. Frank has expressed interest in serving temporarily in the United States Senate should John Kerry be confirmed as Secretary of State, making Fiorello! a dress rehearsal for his role as senator.