All stories by Eriq Gardner on BroadwayStars

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Frankie Valli Faces Trial for Ripping Off His Own Life Story in 'Jersey Boys' by Eriq Gardner

A journalist's widow pursues an odd copyright case that's four decades in the making.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 11:34AM
Friday, June 5, 2015

Abbott & Costello Heirs Sue Over Lifting of "Who's on First" Routine by Eriq Gardner

The Tony-nominated play "Hand of God" features a scene where the main character performs the sketch before later admitting that it is a "famous routine from the fifties."read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:32AM
Monday, December 1, 2014

Dramatists Use Shakespeare in Effort to Protect 'Three's Company' Parody by Eriq Gardner

The owner of the John Ritter sitcom tells a judge that "3C" is a "poor adaptation" of "one of the first television shows to say that there was nothing wrong with being gay"read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:59AM
Monday, August 11, 2014

Lawsuit Explores Who Owns Rights to a Stax Records Musical by Eriq Gardner

One producer owns rights to the sound recordings while another producer enjoys rights to the compositionsread more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 04:45PM
Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Former Asia Singer, Fired Las Vegas Musical Director Sues Casino by Eriq Gardner

John Payne claims his creative contributions were copyrighted and that his rights assignment was executed under duress. read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 04:04PM
Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Inside the Legal Battle Over a Lucrative 'Dirty Dancing' Stage Musical (Exclusive) by Eriq Gardner

A blockbuster success couldn't stop an arbitration over global rights to the romance story.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 11:22AM
Monday, July 29, 2013

'Rebecca' Fraud Case: New York Man Admits Guilt by Eriq Gardner

Appearing at a court hearing, Mark Hotton makes a plea agreement with prosecutors.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 07:06PM
Friday, July 5, 2013

Monty Python Members Lose 'Spamalot' Musical Profits Dispute by Eriq Gardner

Mark Forstater, the self-proclaimed "seventh Python," wins his lawsuit that under a deal to produce "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," he deserved a larger share of the musical spin-off.read…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 07:44AM
Monday, March 18, 2013

Julie Taymor's Lawsuit Over 'Spider-Man' Musical Set for May Trial by Eriq Gardner

Sometimes, a "settlement" doesn't mean a settlement.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 04:48PM
Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Lawsuit Over 'Rebecca' Musical Now Focuses on Role of Publicist by Eriq Gardner

Marc Thibodeau is being accused of using pseudonyms to warn an investor about the production, but his lawyer claims he was an "innocent whistle-blower."read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 03:59PM
Friday, May 11, 2012

Why Broadway Is Betting on Big Stars by Eriq Gardner

Familiar faces from film and TV guarantee sold-out shows, but producers might be sacrificing big profits.

SOURCE: Backstage at 11:55AM

Why Broadway Is Betting on Big Stars by Eriq Gardner

Eriq Gardner Familiar faces from film and TV guarantee sold-out shows, but producers might be sacrificing big profits.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:00AM
Friday, March 23, 2012

Julie Taymor, 'Spider-Man' Producers File  to Dismiss Lawsuits by Eriq Gardner

The parties in the dispute over the expensive Broadway musical argue why the cases are bogus.

SOURCE: Backstage at 11:10AM
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

'Spider-Man' Producers File Countersuit Against Julie Taymor by Eriq Gardner

In a filing Tuesday, Taymor is blamed for the show's troubles as producers say they made "superhuman efforts" to save the production. "The show is a success despite Taymor, not because of …

SOURCE: Backstage at 11:26AM
Friday, November 11, 2011

Harlem Nun Sues Disney, Sony Claiming They Stole 'Sister Act' by Eriq Gardner

Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures are being sued by a woman who claims her autobiography was the inspiration for the film and the subsequent stage musical.

SOURCE: Backstage at 11:36AM
Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Taymor Sues 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' for Infringing Her Creative Input by Eriq Gardner

The most expensive production in Broadway history gets hit with a big lawsuit from the famed director, who left the production in March.

SOURCE: Backstage at 04:29AM
Monday, November 7, 2011

'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' Investor Sues for Theater Fee (Exclusive) - Hollywood Reporter by Eriq Gardner

To get off the ground, the Broadway spectacle had to pull money from many sources, including from Patricia Lambrecht, who put up $2.5 million in collateral so that producers could license th…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 11:10AM
Friday, May 13, 2011

'Tootsie' Musical Hit by Lawsuit From Songwriters by Eriq Gardner

A lyricist and composer on the forthcoming Broadway musical adaptation of "Tootsie"claim in a lawsuit filed in NY Supreme Court that the producer is trying to cut them out of the project.

SOURCE: Backstage at 02:49AM
Thursday, May 12, 2011

'Tootsie' Musical Hit By Lawsuit From Songwriters - Hollywood Reporter by Eriq Gardner

A dispute has erupted over the forthcoming Broadway musical adaptation of the classic comedy Tootsie. A lyricist and composer on the project claim in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in New York Supr…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 09:19PM

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2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards