AN AWARD- WINNING PODCAST
Welcome to First Online with Fran
A podcast celebrating Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things in the Arts
Hosted by Dr. Frances McGarry, a multihyphenate creative with a PhD in Educational Theatre from NYU, this vibrant show shines a spotlight on the transformative power of the arts in our culture. Since its launch in 2018, First Online with Fran has produced over 100 episodes, sharing authentic stories from creatives whose work inspires, heals, and uplifts. In 2023, the podcast was recognized by Amazon Podcasts as one of the best in the Arts category and surpassed 12,000 downloads. That same year, Blubrry awarded it the “Countries Reached (50)” badge, marking its international impact. Based in New York, Fran brings charisma, curiosity, and deep passion to every conversation—amplifying voices that deserve to be heard and championing the power of artistic expression to spark change.
Hi, I’m Frances McGarry.
Radiating with personality and charisma, I am a professional actress, author, arts advocate and theater educator with a PhD in Educational Theatre from NYU. Based in New York City, my passion for the arts fuels my mission to communicate important messages, shift cultural perspectives, and make a mark in the lives of students, audiences, and filmmakers around the world. Over the last decade, I’ve starred in TV, films, theatre, voiceovers, and national commercials, including my most recent co-star role in the Hallmark movie One Royal Holiday. In 2018, I launched First Online With Fran a podcast featuring ordinary people doing extraordinary things in The Arts. Currently, I am working on a book as an extension of my commitment to the legacy of Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Festival and its Artistic Director, Sheri M. Goldhirsch.
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Recent Episodes
Georgia Stitt: Her Need to Tell. . . through Music
Making Music: The League of Professional Theatre Women Networking Event
League of Professional Theatre’s NETWORKING MONDAYS; Meet the Music Makers!
An interview with…Cheryl Navo, Playwright LIE OF OMISSION, World Premiere Play
Why women-only initiatives are vital for the arts
The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University Honor Teachers with the Excellence in Theatre Education Award
On the Red Carpet at SOHO International Film Festival
Special Thanks to March Hare Media
Award-winning in art direction and broadcast, C.A. Kotlar Turchyn Media+Marketing is a woman-owned media and marketing enterprise that offers extensive involvement as a Digital Media Strategist in the User Experience, including creative direction, website development, eNewsletter design, promotion strategies that integrate tech applications with marketing campaigns, educational programs, and weekend events.