All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Oscar Winner Mira Sorvino Coming to Broadway Next Month in Longest Running Musical "Chicago" as Roxie Hart by Roger Friedman

Mira Sorvino is coming to Broadway. The Oscar winner will join the long running musical "Chicago" on September 15th as Roxie Hart. Roxie is kind of the musical version of Mira's award winnin…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:18PM[SHARE]

NY's Mayor Eric Adams Courts the Broadway Crowd with "Made in NY" Awards for Live Theater After Already Saluting Movies by Roger Friedman

It was just a short time ago that Gracie Mansion hosted the Made in NY Awards for the movie community. That was before Mayor Eric Adams was on the run, so to speak, from Zohar Mamdani in the…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:18PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 6, 2025

"Hamilton" Getting 10th Anniversary Star Treatment with September Release of Filmed Musical, Pricey Private Screening by Roger Friedman

"Hamilton" is coming to the big screen. Sort of. Disney will release the original filmed version of the musical on September 5th to theaters. This is the version that was shown on Disney Plu…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:36PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Las Vegas Tourists MIA: Plenty of Tickets to Backstreet, Kelly Clarkson, Lots of Top Hotel Rooms by Roger Friedman

I keep reading that Las Vegas is empty right now. International tourists are staying away in droves. I guess the idea of being rounded up by ICE agents and sent to the Sudan is unappealing. …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:32PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Tom Hanks Joins the 700 Club: Slow Sales So Far for Denzel, Clooney Priced Tickets to Oscar Winner's Off Broadway Show by Roger Friedman

I can't wait until this fall when someone at the New York Post expresses outrage at the price of tickets for Tom Hanks's off Broadway show. Right now, the Post is running advertorial for Viv…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:12PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Would Liza Minnelli Accept a Kennedy Center Honor Under the New Trump Regime? Her Former Publicist Says "No" by Roger Friedman

Liza Minnelli is one of our premier artists in the world. An Oscar winner, along with an Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe " not to mention a Lifetime Achievement statue from the…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:54PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Kennedy Center Drama Continues as Trump Wants Opera House Renamed for Melania, Deadline for Honors Inductees Pending by Roger Friedman

Donald Trump wants to end the opera component at the Kennedy Center. He's trying to push through a plan rename the opera house after First Lady Melania Trump. If Congress votes for this, the…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:36PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Broadway: "Gypsy" Announces Sudden Closing, Jean Smart's "Call Me Izzy" On Life Support in Tough Summer by Roger Friedman

"Gypsy" starring Audra McDonald is closing early, on August 1th This abrupt announcement came tonight. Despite great reviews, "Gypsy" has struggled to keep an audience. The musical played at…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:48PM[SHARE]
Monday, July 7, 2025

Broadway: Scott Rudin is Coming Back After 4 Years Away, Like it or Not, to Produce New Play Starring Laurie Metcalf by Roger Friedman

Nothing good lasts forever. After four years of being cancelled, Broadway producer Scott Rudin is coming back. Rudin and Barry Diller are producing a new play called "Little Bear Ridge Road,…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:12PM[SHARE]

Legendary Marilyn Maye, 97, Wows the Hamptons With One Woman Show: She Was Johnny Carson's Most Frequent Guest by Roger Friedman

Marilyn Maye " she's 97, she looks fantastic and sounds even better. What's the story here? She's been a cabaret star since the 1950s. She recorded the song "Cabaret" five years before Liza …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:12PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 4, 2025

Broadway Great Paul Libin, 94, Died This Week: Won a Lifetime Tony Award for Being a Quiet Giant in Theater History by Roger Friedman

I've been waiting for the New York Times to write an obit for Paul Libin. The Broadway great, winner of a lifetime Tony Award, was a quiet giant in American theater. Paul's death is one of t…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:54PM[SHARE]
Monday, June 30, 2025

Broadway Stunt Casting: TV's Cedric the Entertainer Coming Next Spring in August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" by Roger Friedman

When Cedric the Entertainer made his Broadway debut in 2008, critics were not impressed. Cedric appeared in David Mamet's "American Buffalo," which was panned and closed quickly. The Times s…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:24AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Broadway Box Office Drops $6.5 Mil With Clooney, Denzel Gone, But Post-Tony Awards "Hamilton" Jumps Back to $2 Mil Week by Roger Friedman

The numbers are in for the first Broadway post- Tony Awards. The total dropped over $6.5 million because on the afternoon of the Tonys, both "Othello" and "Good Night and Good Luck" closed u…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:06PM[SHARE]
Thursday, June 12, 2025

Kennedy Center "Les Miz" Debacle: Boos for Trump, Drag Queens, Empty Seats, $2 Mil Donors Mixed with Guests in Jeans, Missing Cast by Roger Friedman

Wednesday night's Kennedy Center showing of "Les Miserables" was quite the scene. While high rolling Trump donors were taking their seats, so were a lot of other less well dress " or more fl…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:48AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Broadway: "Smash," the Musical Made from a Failed TV Show, Will Close June 22nd After Receiving No Love from Tony Awards by Roger Friedman

"Smash," the musical based on a failed TV show, is done. The Musical will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, June 22, 2025 after 32 previews and 84 regular performances at the Im…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:18PM[SHARE]

Tony Awards Up 38% As Cynthia Erivo "Wicked" Fame, "Hamilton" Reunion Cause Best Showing Since 2019 by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards on Sunday were a big hit. Ratings were up 38% from last year. The beautifully executed show boomed on host Cynthia Erivo's popularity from "Wicked," and a 10th anniversary re…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:12AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 9, 2025

"Les Miserables" Touring Cast in Press Blackout as Wednesday Kennedy Center Opening with Trump Looms by Roger Friedman

In two days, the touring cast of "Les Miserables" has a crushing decision. Will all or some of them perform in the musical's opening night at the Kennedy Center? That's the night Donald Trum…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:54PM[SHARE]

Broadway: Darren Criss First "Glee" Cast Member to Get a Tony, "Hamilton" Cast Reunites for All Star Performance by Roger Friedman

Cynthia Erivo led one of the best Tony Awards shows ever last night, showing off so much versatility and warmth they'll probably ask her back a couple more times. The Tony winner and Oscar n…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:54PM[SHARE]
Saturday, June 7, 2025

"Good Night and Good Luck" Should Make CBS Never Settle Lawsuit with Trump in Keeping with Honored Legacy by Roger Friedman

"Good Night and Good Luck" has just concluded its live performance on CNN. The story of how legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow stared down Senator Joseph McCarthy is more timely than eve…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:12PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Sunday's Tony Awards Will Be Bill & Ted's New Adventure with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter Among A List Presenters by Roger Friedman

Bill and Ted have been to outer space, but never to the Tony Awards. Until now. This Sunday, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will among the A list presenters on CBS for the annual Tony Awards a…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:36PM[SHARE]
Monday, June 2, 2025

Broadway: "Maybe Happy Ending," "Purpose" Win Drama Desk Awards Before Tony's, Women Sweep Acting Categories! by Roger Friedman

The Drama Desk Awards just concluded on Broadway. "Maybe Happy Ending" won Best Musical. "Purpose" won Best Play. They will certainly win at the Tony Awards next Sunday. There were ties all …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:03AM[SHARE]
Sunday, June 1, 2025

Patti Lupone Apologizes for Terrible Things She Said About Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis After Being Shunned by Peers by Roger Friedman

Broadway star Patti Lupone says she's sorry. Lupone is apologizing after the dreadful " and maybe racist " things she said about fellow performers Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis. The comment…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:36AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Freddie Trumper Unfortunate Name of Main Character in Broadway Musical "Chess" Coming Soon in First Ever Revival by Roger Friedman

The first ever revival of the musical, "Chess," is coming to Broadway. But it may never get to the Kennedy Center. The main character is named Freddie Trumper, aka The American. Freddie is n…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:18AM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Tony Winner James Corden is Coming Back to Broadway in "Art" with Bobby Cannavale and Neil Patrick Harris by Roger Friedman

Bang! The fall Broadway season is coming into focus now that we've survived the Tony Awards parade. Next up: Tony winner James Corden, who hosted a talk show more recently, is coming back to…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:12PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Really? Reviled Head of Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell, Joins Live Nation Board of Directors by Roger Friedman

This is startling. Trump toadie Richard Grenell, now running the Kennedy Center into the ground, has been elected to Live Nation's board of directors. Under Grenell the Kennedy Center has lo…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 8, 2025

Broadway BO: Clooney Play and "Othello" Still Booming, But TV Inspired "Stranger Things" London Import Running Cold by Roger Friedman

It was good news and bad news last week on Broadway after Tony Awards nominations were announced. George Clooney and his "Good Night and Good Luck" rose to its all time high, $4 million. Tha…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:12AM[SHARE]

Kennedy Center "Les Miz" Cast Refuses to Perform for Trump at Opening Night Fundraiser, Grenell Calls Them "Vapid and Intolerant" by Roger Friedman

Donald Trump and Richard Grenell have a problem. Most theater artists despise them. CNN reports that around a dozen members of the touring cast of "Les Miserables" won't perform on their ope…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:54AM[SHARE]
Friday, May 2, 2025

Broadway Casualty: Idina Menzel's "Redwood" " Without Any Tony Noms " Closing in Three Weeks by Roger Friedman

The first casualty of the Tony Awards has arrived. "Redwood," a musical starring Idina Menzel, will shutter on May 18th. "Redwood" had mixed to poor reviews. It received not one Tony Award n…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:48PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 1, 2025

Broadway: Updating Tony Nominations at 8:30: George Clooney, Denzel, Kieran in the Mix (Watch Here) by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards nominations begin rolling out at 8:30 this morning. In the mix potentially: George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kieran Culkin and other Hollywood stars. Will …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:06PM[SHARE]

Full List of Nominees for 2025 Tony Awards Here: "Maybe Happy Ending,""Buena Vista," "Death," Each with 10 by Roger Friedman

Nominations for the 2024-2025 Season American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards® Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing Best Book of a Musical Buena Vista Social Club Mar…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:06PM[SHARE]

Tony Noms: Denzel Snubbed, Also Kieran Culkin, "Smash," "Pirates," "Stranger Things," Too, Clooney In But Not "Good Night and Good Luckâ by Roger Friedman

The major Tony Awards nominees have been announced. Denzel Washington famous for the $900 ticket, was snubbed the Awards for "Othello." Neither was Jake Gyllenhaal. Shock snub: Kieran Culkin…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:06PM[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