All stories by Rebecca Rubin on BroadwayStars

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Box Office: 'Godzilla vs. Kong' Sets Pandemic Record With $48.5 Million Debut by Rebecca Rubin

"Godzilla vs. Kong" muscled its way to a pandemic-era box office record, giving Hollywood studios and theater owners alike hope that people are ready to return to the movies after a year of …

SOURCE: Variety at 03:04PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Los Angeles Movie Theaters Can Expand to 50% Capacity by Rebecca Rubin

The pandemic isn't over yet, but the picture of moviegoing in Los Angeles is looking brighter. The country's most populous county is moving into California's orange tier, the third step in t…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:27PM[SHARE]

'Diana' musical sets Netflix premiere ahead of Broadway opening night by Rebecca Rubin

In an unprecedented move, a live stage recording of "Diana" is coming to Netflix on Oct. 1, two months before preview performances are expected to resume on Dec. 1 at the Longacre Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:29PM[SHARE]

'Diana' Musical Sets Netflix Premiere Ahead of Broadway Opening Night by Rebecca Rubin

"Diana," a musical about the people's princess, will premiere on Netflix ahead of its Broadway debut. The show had completed only a few preview performances (and was expected to officially o…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:56AM[SHARE]
Monday, March 29, 2021

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Movie 'Being the Ricardos' Rounds Out Cast With Tony Hale and More by Rebecca Rubin

"Being the Ricardos," an upcoming movie about the relationship between "I Love Lucy" stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, has added several names to the call sheet. Ahead of the start of produ…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:37PM[SHARE]
Thursday, March 25, 2021

NYC to Set Up COVID-19 Vaccine Sites for Broadway Workers by Rebecca Rubin

New York City is taking steps to revive the theater industry, a sector of the city that has been shuttered for more than a year due to the pandemic. Those efforts, Mayor Bill de Blasio revea…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:13AM[SHARE]
Sunday, March 21, 2021

'Raya and the Last Dragon' Leads Box Office as L.A. Theater Revival Boosts Ticket Sales by Rebecca Rubin

Disney's animated adventure "Raya and the Last Dragon" led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing r…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:18PM[SHARE]
Friday, March 19, 2021

'In the Heights' Moves Up Release Date by Rebecca Rubin

"In the Heights" will hit theaters, and HBO Max, sooner than expected. The musical is slated to open on June 11 instead of June 18. Director Jon M. Chu shared the news on Twitter, writing, "…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:24PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Los Angeles Movie Theaters Could Reopen as Soon as Saturday by Rebecca Rubin

Movie theaters in Los Angeles county are poised to reopen at limited capacity as soon as Saturday. The county had to meet several requirements, such as distributing two million vaccine doses…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:15PM[SHARE]
Saturday, March 6, 2021

These New Yorkers Don't Care What's Playing in Theaters. They're Just Happy to be Back at the Movies by Rebecca Rubin

For New York City residents Marina Thomas and Brandt Kempin, going to the movies carries near spiritual significance. "It's a version of church," Kempin says. The couple returned to their sa…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:28PM[SHARE]
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]

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