Theatre Poster Design Guru Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo Releases New Book

Bryan Andes, Fraver

If you don’t know the name Fraver, you most certainly know his work: This Drama Desk Award-winning artist created the artwork and posters for Deathtrap, The Tony Awards, several Sondheim shows and many more. In celebration of the Tony Awards, Sofitel New York transformed their lobby into the Fraver Art Gallery. Through June 30, theatergoers and art lovers alike can view works by theater poster legend Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo.

The posters of Fraver

T2C was there for the unveiling of Fraver’s new book published by Schiffer Publishing.  Fraver By Design: Five Decades of Theatre Poster Art from Broadway, Off-Broadway and Beyond by Frank ‘Fraver’ Verlizzo will be released May 28, 2018. The book includes over 250 of his theatre poster designs from Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional and international productions. Graphic designer Frank Verlizzo, known professionally as Fraver has created the logo designs for hundreds of theatrical productions from  to Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Getting Away With Murder, and the landmark 2002 Sondheim Celebration. His posters encompass those created for Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Kennedy Center, and New York City Center‘s Encores! series. Fraver by Design also features an additional 40 unpublished poster sketches never before seen for some of Broadway’s favorite shows.

Fraver by Design also includes 22 commentaries on various Fraver posters by such theatre glitterati as Bernadette Peters, Judy Kaye, Ted Chapin, Manny Azenberg, Gerard Alessandrini, Dean Pitchford, Liz Callaway, and Jack Viertel plus a foreword by legendary theatrical poster designer, David Edward Byrd (Follies, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar).

The monograph collection is divided into 6 chapters: Broadway, Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Off-Broadway, Beyond, and Unpublished.

Fraver

Frank was born in Manhattan and raised in The Bronx. He attended High School of Art and Design in NYC and received his BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. In Fraver By Design he explains the genesis of his nom de poster. “I use the name Fraver to sign my posters. At the High School of Art and Design, few teachers could pronounce my last name and I thought it too complex, so I merged the first three letters of my first and last names.”

In 1987, Fraver’s designs garnered him a Special Drama Desk Award for “consistently inspired artwork for theatrical productions,” an honor never before bestowed in the area of theatrical advertising. In 2011, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center presented a retrospective exhibit of his posters in celebration of his illustrious career. In 2017, Fraver was a recipient of Pratt Institute’s Alumni Achievement Award which recognizes outstanding graduates who have distinguished themselves in their fields.

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. is a family-owned, independent publisher of high quality books. Since 1974, Schiffer has published thousands of titles. Schiffer has recently expanded its catalogue to include books on contemporary art and artists. Visit www.schifferbooks.com for more information.