All stories by Rebecca Rubin on BroadwayStars

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Box Office: 'Tom and Jerry' Opens to Surprisingly Strong $13.7 Million, Giving Movie Theaters Hope by Rebecca Rubin

Warner Bros.' animated family film "Tom and Jerry" debuted to $13.7 million at the domestic box office, one of the biggest opening weekend hauls of the coronavirus era and a signal that movi…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:44PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

New York City Movie Theaters Can Finally Reopen. Will People Return? by Rebecca Rubin

For the first time in nearly a year, New York-based movie theater operator Nicolas Nicolaou can breathe a sigh of relief. That's because Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that cinemas across the f…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:56PM[SHARE]
Monday, February 22, 2021

New York City Movie Theaters Can Reopen at Limited Capacity, Gov. Cuomo Says by Rebecca Rubin

After nearly a year of closures, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given movie theaters in New York City permission to reopen at limited capacity starting on March 5. During his daily press bri…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:17PM[SHARE]
Thursday, February 18, 2021

Lupita Nyong'o Children's Book 'Sulwe' Getting Adapted Into Animated Netflix Musical by Rebecca Rubin

Lupita Nyongo's children's book "Sulwe" will be adapted into an animated musical for Netflix. Written by Nyong'o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, the book follows a young Kenyan girl name…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM[SHARE]

Philip Seymour Hoffman Scholarship Set at NYU's Tisch School (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

NYU Tisch School of the Arts has established a scholarship in honor of alumnus Philip Seymour Hoffman. The $50,000 grant will support Tisch drama students who demonstrate financial need, aca…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM[SHARE]
Friday, February 12, 2021

'My Little Pony' Movie Skipping Theaters to Debut on Netflix (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

"My Little Pony," an animated movie aimed at family audiences, is heading to Netflix. Paramount Pictures was originally set to distribute the film, which had been scheduled to open in the…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:15PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, February 9, 2021

'Wizard of Oz' Remake in the Works at New Line With Director Nicole Kassell by Rebecca Rubin

Hold on to your ruby red slippers and break out the pointy black hats: A "Wizard of Oz" remake is in the works at New Line Cinema. Nicole Kassell ("Watchmen") is directing the adaptation of …

SOURCE: Variety at 05:13PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

'Come From Away' Plans Live Filmed Version of Broadway Musical by Rebecca Rubin

While Broadway remains dark, Entertainment One is bringing the musical "Come From Away" to audiences at home. The company is producing and financing a live stage recording of the Tony Award-…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:43PM[SHARE]
Sunday, January 31, 2021

Denzel Washington's 'The Little Things' Leads Box Office Despite HBO Max Debut by Rebecca Rubin

Would audiences pay to see a new movie in theaters if they could watch the same title at home from the comfort of their couch? Prior to the pandemic, the response from theater operators and …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:33PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Cirque du Soleil Composer Benoît Jutras Developing Rock Opera About Japan's Imperial Family (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

Benoît Jutras, the composer behind many Cirque du Soleil productions, is developing a slate of original musicals for the stage and screen. The first project will be a rock opera that trac…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:57PM[SHARE]
Thursday, January 7, 2021

'Mean Girls' Won't Reopen on Broadway Due to the Pandemic by Rebecca Rubin

When the lights go up on Broadway, "Mean Girls" won't be returning to the stage. Producers announced Thursday that the musical, based on Tina Fey's modern cult classic, will not reopen when …

SOURCE: Variety at 06:15PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, January 6, 2021

'Spamalot' Movie Moves From Fox to Paramount by Rebecca Rubin

Paramount Pictures is getting in on the business of Monty Python. The studio has acquired "Spamalot," the upcoming movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The film was previously set u…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:34PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Bryan Cranston Calls Out Trump at Tony Awards: 'Media Is Not the Enemy' by Rebecca Rubin

Bryan Cranston took a moment to get political during Sunday night's Tony Awards, blasting the president's stance on the state of journalism. "The media is not the enemy of the people. Demago…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:06AM[SHARE]

Tony Winner Rachel Chavkin Says Broadway Needs More Women Directors by Rebecca Rubin

"Hadestown" director Rachel Chavkin, who won her first Tony Award on Sunday night, used her acceptance speech to make a call for greater diversity and representation on Broadway. "There are …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:06AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 3, 2019

'Lion King' Dazzles CinemaCon With New Footage by Rebecca Rubin

Hakuna Matata, indeed. Disney debuted all-new footage of the highly anticipated remake at CinemaCon, the annual exhibition trade show in Las Vegas. The roughly five minute clip followed a yo…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:08PM[SHARE]

'Cats' Behind-the-Scenes Footage Debuts at CinemaCon, Jennifer Hudson Sings 'Memory' by Rebecca Rubin

Jennifer Hudson delivered an anthemic rendition of "Memory" to cap Universal Pictures' CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday. Universal and Working Title didn't release any footage from "Cats,…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:31PM[SHARE]
Sunday, March 31, 2019

Box Office: 'Dumbo' Lands at No. 1 With Soft $45 Million by Rebecca Rubin

Disney's "Dumbo" had an underwhelming liftoff at the domestic box office. Tim Burton's live-action remake of the 1941 cartoon debuted with $45 million from 4,259 North American theaters, bel…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:32AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Will Disney's 'Dumbo' Remake Take Off at the Box Office? by Rebecca Rubin

Disney's upcoming adaptation of "Dumbo" is taking flight this weekend. Directed by Tim Burton, the studio's live-action re-imagining of the 1941 cartoon is expected to earn roughly $50 milli…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Disney's 'Aladdin' Trailer Spotlights Will Smith's Genie by Rebecca Rubin

You ain't never had a friend like Will Smith's Genie. Disney released the first full-length trailer for the studio's live-action remake of "Aladdin," starring Smith as the Genie, Mena Massou…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:27AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Disney Unveils First Look at 'Frozen 2' (Watch) by Rebecca Rubin

Elsa, I have a feeling we’re not in Arendelle anymore. Everyone’s favorite ice queen is braving a new element in the newest teaser trailer for Disney’s “Frozen 2,R…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:19AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, January 23, 2019

'BlacKkKlansman' Returns to Theaters After Six Oscar Nominations (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

“BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee’s crime drama about a black detective who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan, is heading back to theaters after picking up six Oscar nominations. The …

SOURCE: Variety at 02:10PM[SHARE]
Friday, January 4, 2019

'Aquaman,' 'A Star Is Born' Propel Warner Bros. to 2018 Global Box Office Record (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

Thanks to the smash successes of “Aquaman,” “A Star Is Born,” and “The Meg,” Warner Bros. capped off 2018 with a new milestone. The studio had its biggest…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:18AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Movie Theaters Bounce Back: What's Behind the 2018 Rebound by Rebecca Rubin

Reports of the death of movies are greatly exaggerated. The exhibition business came roaring back in 2018, as blockbusters such as "Black Panther," “Avengers: Infinity War,” and …

SOURCE: Variety at 02:42PM[SHARE]
Thursday, November 1, 2018

'Frozen 2' Release Moves Up a Week by Rebecca Rubin

The wait never bothered us anyway, but “Frozen” fans will get to see Anna and Elsa back on the big screen a little sooner than expected. Disney announced “Frozen 2” h…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:52PM[SHARE]
Sunday, October 21, 2018

'Venom' Rules International Box Office Again, 'A Star Is Born' Crosses $200 Million Worldwide by Rebecca Rubin

“Venom” remains a force to be reckoned with overseas as the Tom Hardy superhero movie topped the foreign box office for the third weekend in a row. Sony’s “Venom̶…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:30PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Box Office: 'Venom' Faces Off Against 'A Star Is Born' by Rebecca Rubin

Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Hardy are injecting a little star-power into multiplexes. Following a lackluster September at the box office, “Venom” and “A Star Is Born…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:19PM[SHARE]
Thursday, September 13, 2018

Box Office: 'Venom' Targets $65 Million Debut, 'A Star Is Born' Aims for Mid-$20 Millions by Rebecca Rubin

October should start strong as two releases targeting vastly different audiences will open at the box office. One stars a shocking otherworldly being. The other is “Venom.” Early…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:50PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 17, 2018

'Pretty Woman' Broadway Cast Recalls Performing for Julia Roberts by Rebecca Rubin

Samantha Barks didn’t watch Julia Roberts and Richard Gere’s iconic “Pretty Woman” in preparation for her starring role in the new Broadway musical adaptation of the …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:32PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Keri Russell to Join Adam Driver in 'Burn This' on Broadway by Rebecca Rubin

Keri Russell is Broadway bound. The award-winning actress is joining Adam Driver in the first Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson’s “Burn This.” Tony Award winner Michael Ma…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:24PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Bryan Cranston Returns to Broadway in 'Network' by Rebecca Rubin

Bryan Cranston will return to Broadway in his Olivier Award-winning role of Howard Beale in “Network.” Lee Hall and Ivo van Hove are adapting the play, which is based on the 1976…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:12AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 11, 2018

Amy Schumer Calls 'My Fair Lady's' Henry Higgins a Mansplainer by Rebecca Rubin

While introducing the first Tony nominee for best revival of a musical, “My Fair Lady,” Amy Schumer paused to throw some general shade at the state of women’s right in Amer…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:04AM[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