Frank Megna

Frank Megna

Frank Megna is a New York trained actor, writer and director. His first play, Leather Heart was produced off-Broadway which led to writing stints for such TV shows as Crime Story, Wiseguy and Veronica Claire. In both New York and Los Angeles, he has worked on numerous theater productions in various capacities. He wrote and directed his first feature film, The Seekers, in 2008 along with Diana Ljungaeus. In...
Frank Megna is a New York trained actor, writer and director. His first play, Leather Heart was produced off-Broadway which led to writing stints for such TV shows as Crime Story, Wiseguy and Veronica Claire. In both New York and Los Angeles, he has worked on numerous theater productions in various capacities. He wrote and directed his first feature film, The Seekers, in 2008 along with Diana Ljungaeus. In addition to writing episodic television, film, news stories and a book, he has conducted many acting and writing workshops and seminars.
With his partners in Opening Minds Productions, Frank has revived Steve Allen’s award winning PBS series Meeting of Minds as live theater updating the original scripts and directing such acting luminaries as Ed Asner, Wendie Malick, Jean Smart, Hal Gould, Gary Cole, Robert Forster, Ray Abruzzo, Joe Mantegna, Stana Katic, Maud Adams, Bill Smitrovitch, Bruce Davison and Dan Lauria.
In 2013 he directed the critically acclaimed one-woman show Surfing DNA, written and performed by Sullivan and Son star Jodi Long, at the Working Stage Theater in West Hollywood
Frank along with Opening Minds Productions is developing a number of projects aimed at cultural and educational institutions.
Most recently he directed Dan Lauria’s black comedy Dinner with the Boys for both The New Jersey Repertory Company (2014) and the Off Broadway premier (2015). He has just completed a screenplay adaptation, along with Dan Lauria, of Dan’s play Dinner with the Boys. Currently, Frank is editing his short film Stumble Bums starring Jack Maxwell.
Frank is also Founder and Artistic Director of the Working Stage Theater which originated in New York and is now located in West Hollywood.
Lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)
Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC)
Dramatist Guild
Mystery Writers of America (MWA)

Plays

  • Pattycake by Frank Megna
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: metoo, domestic violence + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: metoo, domestic violence, feminist
    A teenage girl tell an abused woman she must change her life or face the consequences.
  • The Nightingale Tells.. by Frank Megna
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: PTSD, racism + 1 more
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: PTSD, racism, Vietnam War
    A 70 year old Vietnam War Veteran and POW is still dealing with his PTSD when an Asian woman appears in his life claiming to be his daughter. The mystery unravels in unexpected ways forcing the characters to deal with lost love, racism and the destructive forces of an unjust war fought half a century ago.
  • Blood Relations by Frank Megna
    Cast: 
    5–6
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: gay and lesbian, family + 5 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: gay and lesbian, family, ghosts, Buddhism, spiritual, Broadway, revenge
    A modern family deals with death, birth and an unusual demand from an estranged daughter who wants her father be a sperm donor for her same-sex marriage.
  • Ghost in the House: A meditation on the life and times of Jack Johnson by Frank Megna
    Cast: 
    1–4
    ·
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: African American, Boxing + 3 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, period, political
    Keyword: African American, Boxing, racism, Jim Crow, social justice
    Ghost in the House: A meditation on the life and times of Jack Johnson, a new play written by Ernie Hudson and Frank Megna. The play is available in 2 versions: as a one man show and as a 4 actor show.

    Production Note: Integrated into the play are various media including: historical videos and archival photographs, filmed reenactments, assorted graphics, newspaper headlines, both prerecorded...
    Ghost in the House: A meditation on the life and times of Jack Johnson, a new play written by Ernie Hudson and Frank Megna. The play is available in 2 versions: as a one man show and as a 4 actor show.

    Production Note: Integrated into the play are various media including: historical videos and archival photographs, filmed reenactments, assorted graphics, newspaper headlines, both prerecorded period music (and live music played by “The Wraith), sound effects, court voiceovers from actual trial transcripts and letters written by the characters both actual and imagined. All this material has been recorded and is available as a QLab file.

    Why is Jack Johnson an important figure in American History?

    Ghost in the House is the story the first African-American Heavyweight Champion’s self-reliance and individuality. It is the quintessential American story.
    Jack Johnson possessed gifts and talents that went way beyond being a prize fighter. He was a musician, raconteur, entertainer, horse jockey, bullfighter, inventor, race car driver and secret agent during World War I. He was an infamous Lothario who flaunted his flashy lifestyle in the face of contemporary mores. Jack Johnson was the catalyst for celebrations, condemnations, deadly riots and outrage from all sides of the racial divide. He was also the most famous Black man in the world while being one of the most misunderstood. And for the most part, he has been both ignored and forgotten by history.