All stories by Barbara Hoffman on BroadwayStars

Thursday, January 10, 2019

How a box of forgotten letters became a Holocaust jazz opera by Barbara Hoffman

After their widowed father died in 1995, jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal and his sister packed up the family home in Great Neck, LI. They didn’t know what that box of letters, all written in Ge…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:47PM
Friday, January 4, 2019

Comedian Mike Birbiglia says Brooklyn is the Boise of NYC by Barbara Hoffman

“I graduated from Georgetown in 2000 and started off sleeping on my sister Gina’s couch in Carroll Gardens,” says comedian Mike Birbiglia. “And 18 years later, I live in Carroll Gard…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:55PM
Friday, December 14, 2018

Rachel Dratch’s son is a weekend waffle warrior by Barbara Hoffman

For nearly a decade, Rachel Dratch has read aloud from the musings of Madonna, Ethel Merman and Burt Reynolds’ secretary. Lately, the “SNL” alum and others have shared all that and mor…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:18PM

This wacky musical was inspired by Mario Kart and Neil Diamond by Barbara Hoffman

One of this season’s funniest musicals got its start from . . . Mario Kart. So say David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, the writers and stars of off-Broadway’s “The Other Josh Cohen.” …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 10:42AM
Friday, December 7, 2018

Check out bold twists on the Grinch, ‘Nutcracker’ and more by Barbara Hoffman

Christmas in the city: Rockefeller Center’s tree, Radio City’s Rockettes, New York City Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” But let’s say you’ve already been there, seen that: Are you actin…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:18PM
Friday, November 30, 2018

Alvin Ailey guru likes his weekend mornings hot, steamy by Barbara Hoffman

“When I first came here, the city was wonderful and scary at the same time,” recalls Robert Battle, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The Florida native was 17…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:18PM
Monday, November 26, 2018

‘The Dead’ star Melissa Gilbert on the ‘essentials’ of living in NYC by Barbara Hoffman

She’s gone from a “Little House on the Prairie” to a pied-à-terre in the city, and Melissa Gilbert couldn’t be happier. “Everything’s here — grocery shopping, the park, amazin…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:15PM
Sunday, November 11, 2018

These six-month-olds are Broadway’s youngest stars by Barbara Hoffman

Forget the falling chandelier of “Phantom” or the 20-foot-tall ape puppet of “King Kong.” The single greatest special effect on Broadway these days is the real live baby in “The Fe…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:42AM
Thursday, November 1, 2018

Meet Broadway’s biggest leading man: King Kong by Barbara Hoffman

He can’t dance, can’t sing or even talk, yet he’s the biggest musical star of the season. Meet King Kong, the 2,000-pound gorilla of Broadway. The Great White Way has never seen anythi…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:21PM
Friday, October 26, 2018

Weekend forecast: Al Roker eating pizza in the Staten Island Ferry terminal by Barbara Hoffman

“As a singer,” says Al Roker, “I’m a great weatherman.” That hasn’t stopped the 64-year-old “Today” show veteran from performing in the Broadway musical “Waitress,” throu…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 05:19PM
Friday, October 12, 2018

Stage star Angelica Page gets smacked with leaves at Turkish baths by Barbara Hoffman

“I grew up with my legendary parents in the Chelsea brownstone that had ‘Torn Page’ as the nameplate on our buzzer,” says Angelica Page. These days, the 54-year-old actress daughter …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:42PM
Thursday, October 4, 2018

The secret behind Mandy Patinkin’s stylish beard game by Barbara Hoffman

Before he became Saul on TV’s “Homeland” — even before his Inigo Montoya pledged vengeance in “The Princess Bride” — Mandy Patinkin was a creature of the theater. With a tenor …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:54PM
Friday, September 28, 2018

That time Audra McDonald went into labor at brunch by Barbara Hoffman

Audra McDonald didn’t get to Carnegie Hall until she was at Juilliard, when she saw Ella Fitzgerald sing there. “A friend of mine calls it an upside-down wedding cake,” she recalls of …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:24PM
Thursday, September 27, 2018

Broadway star Janet McTeer to #MeToo offenders: ‘I’d punch you!’ by Barbara Hoffman

Never mind that Sarah Bernhardt — the towering actress of her day — was scarcely more than 5 feet tall. Janet McTeer stands nearly 6-feet-1, but that hasn’t stopped her from playing Be…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 08:32PM

Why playing black cops is ‘important’ to Denzel’s actor son by Barbara Hoffman

He was the go-getter police detective of Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman.” Now John David Washington, 34, is back in blue as the conflicted cop of “Monsters and Men.” Out Friday, the S…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:15PM
Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Broadway lights will dim for ‘Odd Couple’ Pigeon sister by Barbara Hoffman

Broadway will dim its lights Wednesday night for Carole Shelley, the Tony-winning actress who — despite playing dozens of roles in her storied career — will probably be remembered best a…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 04:53PM

Al Roker headed back to Broadway with singing role in ‘Waitress’ by Barbara Hoffman

The forecast for Broadway this fall: Al Roker with a sprinkling of pie. The venerable “Today” weatherman is the latest to join the cast of Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress.” From Oct. 5 t…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 02:36PM
Thursday, August 23, 2018

‘Pretty Woman’ star dishes about having ‘sex’ on stage by Barbara Hoffman

It’s not every woman who could pull on Julia Roberts’ thigh-high, vinyl boots night after night (and some afternoons), but Samantha Barks is doing just that in Broadway’s “Pretty…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 08:06PM
Friday, August 3, 2018

How ‘Carousel’ star Renée Fleming relaxes between shows by Barbara Hoffman

Opera great Renée Fleming has four Grammys and the distinction of inspiring a dessert: a chocolate confection Daniel Boulud dubbed La Diva Renée. These days, the 59-year-old soprano’s be…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 04:07PM
Saturday, July 28, 2018

Actors recall living in fear of Jerome Robbins -- yet dying to work with him by Barbara Hoffman

It’s a legend that even now, 20 years after Jerome Robbins’ death, threatens to define him: While berating his actors, he stepped farther and farther back on stage until he toppled into …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 11:14AM
Thursday, July 19, 2018

Why Daveed Diggs is never going back to ‘Hamilton’ by Barbara Hoffman

Hard to believe that it’s been two years since Daveed Diggs pulled off his “Hamilton” boots and headed for Hollywood. Now, several commercials, albums, voice-overs and TV series later …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:08PM
Thursday, July 12, 2018

The cast of the new ‘Fiddler’ had to learn Yiddish from scratch by Barbara Hoffman

Imagine doing a big, beloved Broadway musical … in Yiddish. Sounds crazy, no? Not when that show is “Fiddler on the Roof.” Since its 1964 debut, the story of Tevye and his daughter…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:52PM
Tuesday, July 10, 2018

‘Nanny’ star: Marilyn Monroe gave me the craziest diet tip by Barbara Hoffman

For as long as she can remember, Renée Taylor has been on a diet. We’re talking seven decades, because Taylor — who among other things played Fran Drescher’s mom on “The Nanny” �…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 08:42PM
Thursday, July 5, 2018

This actor’s butt is the star of his off-Broadway show by Barbara Hoffman

Off-Broadway’s long been the place to discover fresh faces. Now and then, along comes something cheekier: a dashing derrière. That last belongs to Trey, the young hottie of the Roundabout…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:20PM

This elaborate costume was made out of a trash can by Barbara Hoffman

Since 1972, when Mummenschanz began, the troupe’s been making masks and costumes from just about anything: plastic, toilet paper, foam rubber, Slinkys … pastry dough! That last figur…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:03PM
Thursday, June 28, 2018

Meet the guy who makes Nathan Lane look so dapper by Barbara Hoffman

At the Tony Awards this month, when Nathan Lane collected his third statuette, he gave an emotional shoutout to Andrew Garfield, his “Angels in America” co-star, to Devlin Elliott, his h…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:24PM

Glenda Jackson’s playing a man on Broadway by Barbara Hoffman

If you missed her as a woman, you can catch her as a man: Glenda Jackson, hot off a Tony Award for “Three Tall Women,” will return to Broadway next spring as the title character of a gen…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 10:51AM
Monday, June 11, 2018

Bagels were the inspiration for a ‘Frozen’ song by Barbara Hoffman

They met in 1999 at a musical-theater workshop and haven’t let go of each other since. Now the Oscar-winning “Let It Go” songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez are up for …

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:48PM

‘Band’s Visit’ star traveled to Israel to study her role by Barbara Hoffman

She played a bouncy Czech in “Once: The Musical” and a Polish lesbian in “Indecent.” Now Katrina Lenk is up for a Tony as a world-weary Israeli in “The Band’s Visit.” And to th…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:48PM

How Broadway superfans see their favorites dozens of times by Barbara Hoffman

How much does Vivian Carlson love “Come From Away”? Let’s just say she’s seen it more than 25 times. The office manager/photographer, who goes by the name Viv Jean, buys $25 to $50 r…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:48PM

Gina Gershon is ready to play a sexy grandma by Barbara Hoffman

“There are some days I feel 102 years old, and other days, like I’m 14,” says Gina Gershon, who falls somewhere in between. “I just think we’d be a much happier society if there we…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:48PM

All that Chat

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