All stories by Gene Maddaus on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

CAA Didn't Steal Writer's Idea for TV Pilot but May Have Blacklisted Him, Judge Rules by Gene Maddaus

In a long-awaited ruling, a judge has found that CAA did not steal a TV show idea from a writer to give to a higher-profile client. But Judge Kerry Bensinger also found that the agency has a…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:41PM[SHARE]

Dave Franco and Alison Brie's 'Together' Director Responds to Idea Theft Lawsuit and Calls It 'Deeply Unsettling' by Gene Maddaus

Michael Shanks achieved a major breakthrough at Sundance, where his feature debut, "Together," sold for a whopping $17 million to Neon. But for the 34-year-old Australian writer-director, su…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Tyler Perry Accused of Sexual Assault and Harassment in $260 Million Suit by Gene Maddaus

Tyler Perry has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of sexually harassing and assaulting an actor on his BET show "The Oval." Derek Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of the show, alleges i…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:27PM[SHARE]

Why Midjourney Made the Perfect Target for Hollywood's First AI Lawsuit by Gene Maddaus

What were they waiting for? Disney's lawsuit against Midjourney, an AI image generator, on June 11 was hailed by creatives as a welcome development " if long overdue. The Writers Guild of Am…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:24PM[SHARE]
Friday, June 13, 2025

Blake Lively Moves to Block Justin Baldoni From Obtaining Taylor Swift Communications by Gene Maddaus

Blake Lively asked a judge Friday to close the door on discovery related to Taylor Swift in her ongoing legal battle with her "It End With Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni. In a new m…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:15PM[SHARE]
Monday, June 9, 2025

CAA Accuses Range Media Partners of Stealing Trade Secrets in Agency Battle by Gene Maddaus

CAA added a barrage of new allegations to a lawsuit against a rival firm on Monday, alleging that former employees illegally accessed CAA databases and stole trade secrets when they left to …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 29, 2025

New York IATSE Local Accused of Nepotism in Class Action Lawsuit by Gene Maddaus

The largest crew union in New York was hit with a class action lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that it has excluded hundreds of film and TV workers while reserving jobs for insiders. Ronald Bis…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:31PM[SHARE]
Friday, May 9, 2025

New York Boosts Film Subsidy to $800 Million in Tussle With New Jersey by Gene Maddaus

After a monthlong delay, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved a state budget that expands the film subsidy to $800 million. The state is facing a downturn in production work, and competit…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 11, 2025

'Moana' Trial Ends in Win for Disney as Company Is Cleared of Copyright Infringement by Gene Maddaus

A jury on Monday sided with Disney in a copyright trial involving "Moana," clearing the company of an infringement suit brought by a screenwriter. The plaintiff, Buck Woodall, filed suit in …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:44AM[SHARE]
Monday, February 17, 2025

Harvey Weinstein Accuses Brother Bob of Financial Betrayal in Lawsuit by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein, who is jailed at Rikers Island and in failing health while he awaits his third rape trial, has filed an unusual lawsuit accusing his brother of siphoning funds from their c…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:12PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 9, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Trial Can Start Within Four Months, Los Angeles D.A. Says by Gene Maddaus

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office told a judge on Wednesday that it is ready to bring Harvey Weinstein to trial within four months on charges of rape and sexual assault. Wein…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:32AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

AMC Close to Taking Over Pacific's Grove and Americana Theaters in L.A. by Gene Maddaus

AMC is close to taking over the Pacific Theatres locations at two popular Los Angeles shopping malls, a source confirmed to Variety on Tuesday. Pacific Theatres, founded in 1946, announced i…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:40PM[SHARE]

Why Did the ArcLight Fade Away? Inside the Sad Final Chapter of the Pacific Theatres Chain by Gene Maddaus

On April 12, Pacific Theatres issued a terse, five-sentence statement announcing that it would not reopen its theaters, which include the much-loved ArcLight Cinemas chain. On one level, it …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:05PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

California Senate Approves Film Credit Boost for Diverse Hiring by Gene Maddaus

The California Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that encourages film and TV productions to diversify the entertainment workforce. The bill creates an incentive for productions to hire the g…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:23AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 26, 2021

SAG-AFTRA Names Duncan Crabtree-Ireland New Executive Director by Gene Maddaus

SAG-AFTRA made it official on Wednesday, appointing longtime general counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland as the group's new national executive director. Crabtree-Ireland takes over for David Whi…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:37PM[SHARE]
Monday, May 24, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Raises Paperwork Issue Again to Delay Extradition by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein is still fighting his extradition to Los Angeles to face rape and sexual assault charges, as his attorney filed a second motion on Monday claiming that the paperwork is out …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:59PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 6, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Seeks to Recoup $1 Million From Ex-Lawyer Jose Baez by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein wants his money back. The imprisoned producer " who is awaiting extradition to Los Angeles " filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Jose Baez, one of several lawyers who brief…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:11AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Movie Theaters Don't Have to Disinfect Anymore. Many Are Still Doing It Anyway by Gene Maddaus

Since reopening at the end of 2020, movie theaters have been trying to keep patrons safe from COVID-19 by disinfecting after every screening. They bought up misters and foggers, along with u…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:41PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Michael Jackson's Image Was Worth Just $4 Million at His Death, Tax Court Rules by Gene Maddaus

Michael Jackson's image was worth just $4 million at the time of his death in 2009, a U.S. tax court judge ruled on Monday, far below the $161 million valuation sought by the IRS. The ruling…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:36PM[SHARE]
Saturday, May 1, 2021

Santa Monica Mall Owner Moves to Evict ArcLight Theater by Gene Maddaus

The owner of the Santa Monica Place mall has filed a lawsuit seeking to evict the ArcLight Theatre for non-payment of rent. Macerich, the real estate investment trust that owns the mall, ser…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:30AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Endeavor Sets Share Price of $24 Ahead of Thursday's IPO by Gene Maddaus

Endeavor has set a share price of $24, the final step before the media conglomerate goes public on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. The company had previously announced that it would…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:03PM[SHARE]
Friday, April 23, 2021

Michael Chabon Apologizes for Staying Silent on Scott Rudin's Abuse by Gene Maddaus

Novelist Michael Chabon has issued a lengthy apology for not speaking up sooner about producer Scott Rudin's abuses, saying that he witnessed Rudin mistreat his staff but kept quiet about it…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:20PM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 22, 2021

Scott Rudin Scandal Could Spur Efforts to Make Workplace Bullying Illegal by Gene Maddaus

Scott Rudin has had a public reputation as an abusive boss for decades. But this week, for the first time, he began to experience some consequences for it. A24 let it be known that it wasÂ…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Friends of Scott Rudin's Late Assistant Speak Out on Producer's Abuses: 'He Was So Terrified of That Man' by Gene Maddaus

In the wake of Kevin Graham-Caso's suicide last October, his friends pored over his old emails, looking for answers. Klodiana Alia found one from 2009, when Graham-Caso was working as an ass…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:16AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Pacific Theatres Shutters: Who Will Rescue the Cinerama Dome? by Gene Maddaus

The workers at the ArcLight Hollywood have been on furlough for more than a year, and have been waiting eagerly for the venue to reopen. On Monday, they got word that the theater would remai…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:23PM[SHARE]
Monday, April 12, 2021

Weinstein Attorneys Object to Paperwork in Los Angeles Extradition by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein's attorneys objected on Monday to the paperwork submitted to seek his extradition to face sex assault and rape charges in Los Angeles. A judge in Buffalo, N.Y., set an April…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:13PM[SHARE]
Friday, February 5, 2021

Donald Trump Resigns From SAG-AFTRA After Union Moves to Expel Him by Gene Maddaus

Former president Donald Trump has resigned from SAG-AFTRA, after the union announced last month that it would move to expel him for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. SAG-AFTRA anno…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:21PM[SHARE]
Monday, January 25, 2021

Court Approves $17 Million Payout to Harvey Weinstein's Victims by Gene Maddaus

Nearly three years after the Weinstein Co. declared bankruptcy, a judge on Monday confirmed a liquidation plan that provides a $17.1 million fund for Weinstein's sexual misconduct victims. T…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:40PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

SAG-AFTRA to Hold Hearing on Expelling Trump Over Capitol Attack by Gene Maddaus

SAG-AFTRA said Tuesday that it will consider expelling President Donald Trump from membership over his role in inciting the attack on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago. Union president Gabriell…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:53PM[SHARE]
Monday, December 14, 2020

Michael Jackson Estate Wins Appeal in HBO 'Leaving Neverland' Suit by Gene Maddaus

An appeals court on Monday handed a victory to the estate of Michael Jackson in its battle over the 2019 HBO documentary "Leaving Neverland," which accused the late singer of sexually abusin…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:47PM[SHARE]
Saturday, May 18, 2019

Harvey Weinstein Trial Documents to Remain Sealed by Gene Maddaus

A New York State appeals court on Thursday unanimously upheld a judge's decision to bar the public from a critical hearing in the Harvey Weinstein rape case. On April 26, Justice James Burke…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:15AM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off