Broadway: Disney's "Aladdin" Is A Surprise Throwback Hit by Roger Friedman

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Great Mark Ruffalo-Keira Knightley Film Gets Strange Name Change, to Close Tribeca by Roger Friedman

The best film seen at last fall’s Toronto Film Fest was John Carney’s “Can a Song Save Your Life?” Now for some Categories: Featured Theater Uncategorized(Read mo…

"Rocky" Delivers a Knock Out Punch on Broadway, And Wins the Match by Roger Friedman

Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” is now a Broadway musical. Listen, it’s a hit. There’s no way around it. “Rocky” is a huge entertaining Categories: F…

Oscar Boom: Idina Menzel Broadway Musical "If Then" Has $900K Week " Before It Even Starts by Roger Friedman

Wow! “If/Then,” a Broadway musical not even in previews yet, sold $909,000 worth of tickets last week. Why? The show’s star is Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Re…

LBJ Now the New "Lincoln" With Spielberg in Audience at Broadway Opening by Roger Friedman

I remember Lyndon Baines Johnson. When he announced he wasn’t running for re-election in March 1968, the United States of America was Categories: Theater(Read more...)

Emma Thompson Sheds Mary Poppins for Mrs. Lovett in Magnificent "Sweeney Todd" by Roger Friedman

I’d have paid double last night and would pay it again to see Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel in “Sweeney Todd” at Categories: Featured Music Theater(Read more...)

Broadway: Kelli O'Hara Successfully Crosses "Bridge" to Nowhere by Roger Friedman

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Broadway: Carole King Breaks Record, "Bronx Bombers" is a Solid Triple by Roger Friedman

Broadway is buzzing in the middle of winter, believe it or not. The Carole King-Gery Goffin-Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil musical “Beautiful” broke a Categories: Celebrity Featured …

Carole King Won't Come See Her Broadway Musical, But She Should by Roger Friedman

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Anna Crouse, Grandmother of "Girls" star Zosia Mamet, Creator of TKTS Booth, Dies at 97 by Roger Friedman

Anna Crouse, widow of playwright Russel Crouse and mother of actress Lindsay Crouse, has died at age 99. So far only a Categories: Celebrity Theater(Read more...)

A "Knots Landing" Reunion and All Star Send Off for 6 Time Tony Winner Julie Harris by Roger Friedman

Six time Tony Award winner Julie Harris, first lady of the American theater, got an all-star send off this afternoon from a Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more...)

Broadway: Kinky Boots Breaks Record, Popular Press Agent Leaves, Pippin Recoups by Roger Friedman

A big Broadway day: over the weekend Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s “Kinky Boots” broke a house record at the Hirschfield Theater. Categories: Featured Theater(Read…

Broadway: "Spider Man" " Closing Soon" Celebrates 3rd Anniversary Tonight by Roger Friedman

Not every show on Broadway will be remembered for something. But tonight “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” marks three years since Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

Monty Python Reunion Now 5 Shows (Remember My 100 Show Scoop, Kids) by Roger Friedman

The Monty Python reunion has been extended to five shows from its original one. Please do remember my scoop about 100 shows Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

"X Men" on Broadway: Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart Score a Huge Success in Pair of Plays by Roger Friedman

Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom (Arwen, and Legolas Greenleaf to you) came to celebrate Gandalf. Others came to cheer on the “X Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

Review: Sarah Jessica Parker, Blythe Danner Sizzle in Off Broadway Play about "The Madoffs" by Roger Friedman

Bernie and Ruth Madoff probably never imagined they’d become the stuff of celebrity drama. First Woody Allen reinvented them for “Blue Jasmine” Categories: Featured Thea…

Broadway "Spider Man" Closing in January After Box Office Collapses (As Tipped Here) by Roger Friedman

“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is closing in January. I told you twice. On August 22nd http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/08/22/broadway-spider-man-has-big-drop-from-last-week-while…

"Big Fish," Third Broadway Bust of Season, Will Close Next Month by Roger Friedman

Broadway: The truly bad musical of the movie “Big Fish” will close on December 29th after 34 previews and 98 performances. How Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read mor…

Hugh Jackman, Darlene Love Celebrate Fantasia "After Midnight" Opening by Roger Friedman

Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra Lee Furness, famed pop singer Darlene Love, Mary Louise Parker, and R&B star Freddie Jackson were just Categories: Theater(Read more...)

"Spider Man" Laid to Rest as Julie Taymor's Stunning "Midsummer Night's Dream" Opens by Roger Friedman

Broadway "Spider Man"" Most Expensive Musical Ever" Is Now Officially Struggling by Roger Friedman

“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is now officially struggling at the box office. While November 28 will mark its third unofficial anniversary on Broadway, the $75 million show is …

True Blood Star Rutina Wesley Headed to Important Off Broadway Play by Roger Friedman

EXCLUSIVE She’s been playing Tara Thornton on “True Blood” since day one. Now I’m told that the intensely talented Rutina Wesley is coming to off Broadway this fall. …

Catherine Zeta Jones Makes A Splash at "Big Fish" Broadway Opening by Roger Friedman

My favorite thing about the Broadway opening of “Big Fish” on Broadway last night–besides Norbert Leo Butz’s magnificent work as the younged down Albert Finney charac…

Gwyneth Paltrow Signs on to Co-Produce Musical About the GoGo's | Showbiz411 by Roger Friedman

Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar winner, website owner, cookbook author, is launching a new career. Paltrow has agreed to co-produce a Broadway musical. The show is based on the music of the GoGo's, t…

Gwyneth Paltrow Signs on to Co-Produce Musical About the GoGo's by Roger Friedman

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Exclusive: "Buyer & Cellar" Star Being Replaced as Show Recoups in Record Time by Roger Friedman

I just got a press release saying that the off Broadway hit “Buyer and Cellar” has recouped its investment in record time– nine weeks. But the press release doesn’t m…

Broadway: Michelle Williams, Alan Cumming in All-Star "Cabaret" Revival by Roger Friedman

Circle April 24, 2014: Alan Cumming is returning to Broadway in “Cabaret” directed by Sam Mendes and choreographed by Rob Marshall. His Sally will be movie star Michele Williams,…

Broadway: "Spider Man" Has Big Drop From Last Week, While Producers Plan Marvel Spectacle by Roger Friedman

It’s an interesting turn of events in Marvel land. “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” had the second biggest drop last week. It was down 7.1% from the week before, making just…

Queen Musical "We Will Rock You" Sets US Tour At Last by Roger Friedman

Why should we be left out? Hot on the news that there’s no one to play Freddie Mercury in his own biopic– Sacha Baron Cohen is out–comes news of a Queen musical in the U.S.…

Broadway: Kinky Boots Paying Off, Beatles Blues, Old Jews Turn 500 by Roger Friedman

It’s the mid summer blahs on Broadway, but not for musicals. They are all booming, even “Spider Man” as it hunts for a new lead. (Reeve Carney is finally exiting in Septemb…

Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz on Broadway: Early 1 Week Ticket Sale by Roger Friedman

Get ready to sleep on the sidewalk for tickets to the Mike Nichols-directed “Betrayal” on Broadway. The play starring married couple Daniel Craig (aka James Bond) and Rachel Weis…