Kerry Frances sings a new song “For Christmas”, the title of her first holiday single.

Known for her roles as Sally in Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” and Shprintze, Tevye’s fourth daughter on Topol’s last nationwide tour in “Fiddler On The Roof,” Frances has lived and performed across the country, but she is happy to be at home in Milltown for the holidays.

“Every time I go I always end up coming back,” said Frances, a graduate of Bishop Ahr High School in Edison, now known as St. Thomas Aquinas. “I am a Jersey girl born and raised for life.”

Frances considers Milltown to be her home port. This is where she feels the happiest and even the most creative. This is where she was heading, with her dog Henry Bear, when the pandemic struck. And that’s where she wrote and recorded “For Christmas”, available on all music streaming and social media platforms.

“I made it in my childhood closet. I turned it into a studio,” Frances said with a laugh. “It’s really a complete moment. As a kid I used to sit in that closet and write songs.”

Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do in a pandemic, Frances found herself focusing on what she could do.

“It gave me a whole new approach,” she said. “’Knives Out’ was released in November 2019. I was living my dream in Los Angeles, going to premieres and events. Seeing myself on gigantic screens in iconic theaters. It was the most magical experience of my time. life. And that went right into early March. I had dates scheduled and there was renewed interest in me. Then the door slammed.

Frances had the ‘pity party’ for herself, came home and ‘used this time to develop other relationships’. As people in the industry had more time as well, his Zoom emails and calls started to say “Yes.” She focused more on music, took part in podcasts and got her first producer credit on “Dominos”, a feature film.

“I realized I didn’t have to sit down and wait,” she said. “Success is not based on location. It was a game-changer for me. The playing field was level. I realized that everyone was home and everyone was struggling and having a lot of difficulties. But it became very liberating for me. “

Singing before she could speak, Frances also wrote songs before she could write; her mother wrote the words for her.

“I’ve been writing songs forever, but I’ve never done anything with them,” she said. “I would sing on other people’s songs, but not on my own. In September, I contacted a music producer, John Marlin, to do a holiday song. I worked on the song – I got it. wrote really fast – lyrics, melody, sang and we did the harmonies. And we recorded it. “

“For Christmas” has a positive message, but also reflects the times in which we currently find ourselves in society, said Francis. It focuses on a message of love, peace and kindness – “For Christmas”.

Frances began playing the role of a child, traveling to New York to pursue musical theater as soon as she had the chance.

“I booked the ‘Fiddler’ Broadway Tour on an open call right out of school,” said Frances, who attended Wagner College in Staten Island.

On the nationwide tour, Frances, then presented as Kerry Alexander, played the daughter of three of the world’s best living Tevyes – Topol, Theo Bikel and Harvey Fierstein – and she was featured in the performance’s 50th anniversary. Fiddler On The Roof ”in New York.

Frances also worked alongside Sally Struthers in “Hello Dolly!”; originally starred in “Delirium’s Daughters”, an off-Broadway play from studio to full air; and can be seen and heard in various commercials and voiceovers, including MTV, Geico, Entenmann’s, Prudential and Mattel. She has also made numerous print commercials and recordings, most notably with songwriter and producer Sam Hollander.

There was a short hiatus while Frances battled Lyme disease about five years ago. She returned home to the Garden State to recuperate and regroup.

Her next project, Peacock’s “Poker Face”, will reunite her with Johnson, who created and is about to write and direct the series. Early next year, Frances will also be taking part in “The OPC”, a narrative podcast.

“What’s the next step? In the ideal world, there is more television, more movies and more music,” she said. “And having that balanced life – here in Los Angeles, traveling for work. Like a good trampoline, a good place to bounce back and come back.”

To follow Frances, visit www.kerryfrances.com/ or @kerryingon on Twitter and @kerryfrancesofficial on Instrgam.

Email: [email protected]

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning reporting and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, which is part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or @CherylMakin.