All stories by Gordon Cox on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

‘Smash’ Cast Reunites for ‘Bombshell’ on Broadway by Gordon Cox

The show-within-the-show became the show on June 8, when the cast of NBC series “Smash” reunited to present a song-and-dance concert version of “Bombshell,” the music…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:18AM
Monday, June 8, 2015

The 5 Biggest Surprises and Snubs at the 2015 Tony Awards by Gordon Cox

By the reckoning of many Broadway observers, the 2015 Tony Awards had a script and largely stuck to it. A lot of wins had been predicted by pundits — as was the case with sure thing …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:27PM
Sunday, May 31, 2015

‘Hamilton,’ ‘Curious Incident’ Top the 2015 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST) by Gordon Cox

Off Broadway hit “Hamilton” and Tony contender “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” topped the 2015 Drama Desk Awards, with “Hamilton” taking seven awards includin…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:31PM
Friday, May 29, 2015

Broadway’s ‘An Act of God’ Makes Jim Parsons Feel Divine by Gordon Cox

With the opening of Broadway comedy “An Act of God,” Jim Parsons joins the venerable pantheon of actors who have taken on the almighty role of, well, The Almighty. “It̵…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:39AM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Gotham goes for a 'Ride' by Gordon Cox

Producers decide to combine visitors' two fave things to do in Gotham: see the sights and a show.

SOURCE: Variety at 05:58PM

Legit Review: ‘The Hothouse’ by Gordon Cox

“I resent this levity, sir.” So says besuited neatnik John Simm as Gibbs, who has just been accused of plotting to murder his boss. That his line and plight are met with raucous laughter…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:58PM
Wednesday, May 20, 2015

West End Review: ‘McQueen’ Starring Dianna Agron by Gordon Cox

Raised in the East End and trained on Saville Row, fashion designer Alexander McQueen was an icon of creative London in an era when Cool Britannia ruled the waves. James Phillips’ soulless…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:01PM
Thursday, May 14, 2015

West End Review: ‘Death of a Salesman’ with Antony Sher by Gordon Cox

Timed to mark Arthur Miller’s centenary, “Death of a Salesman” proves grimly pertinent in austerity Britain. High school students are taught to see Willy Loman as a man chasing the Am…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:21PM
Monday, May 11, 2015

Off Broadway Review: Athol Fugard’s ‘The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek’ by Gordon Cox

Despite a distinguished career spanning half a century, the celebrated 82-year-old South African playwright, Athol Fugard, still thinks of himself as an “outsider artist.” That p…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00PM

Outer Critic Circle Awards 2015 (full list): 'Curious Incident' wins big by Gordon Cox

Tony contender "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" led the Outer Critics Circle Awards, taking five statues including the honor for Broadway play. Broadway musical "An Americ…

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 09:04AM
Monday, May 4, 2015

Broadway’s ‘Doctor Zhivago’ to Close After Tony Shutout by Gordon Cox

Broadway musical “Doctor Zhivago” will close at the end of the week, following the show’s shutout from the  2015 Tony nominations. “Zhivago,” which earned mix…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:28PM
Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Tony Nominations Aftermath: ‘Living on Love’ First to Post Closing Notice by Gordon Cox

Broadway comedy “Living on Love” will make a quick exit, with producers announcing they’ll close the show Sunday after the production failed to secure a spot on the list of…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:16PM
Friday, April 24, 2015

New York Mayor’s Office, Teamsters Team Up for Community Grants by Gordon Cox

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 have partnered to award three “Made in NY” grants to support community-based organiza…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM
Thursday, April 23, 2015

New 99 Seat Theater Rules Could Affect About Half of L.A.’s Intimate Theaters by Gordon Cox

Theater union Actors’ Equity Association has taken the latest step in its controversial bid to restructure the employment arrangement for actors working in Los Angeles theaters of 99 seats…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:45PM

‘Something Rotten!’ Opening Earns Mid-Show Standing O by Gordon Cox

What’s better than a standing ovation at the end of a Broadway show? A standing ovation halfway through the first act. Just ask the cast of musical comedy “Something Rotten.̶…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:52AM
Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Drama League nominations: Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal (full list) by Gordon Cox

Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Elisabeth Moss and Bill Nighy are all in competition -- in the same category -- for the 2015 Drama League Awards. 

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 12:45PM

Movie Musical ‘Lucky Stiff’ to be Released by Abramorama and The Orchard by Gordon Cox

Distributors Abramorama and The Orchard have teamed up to release “Lucky Stiff,” a movie musical starring a slew of Broadway talent, this summer. Broadway regular Christopher Ashley (“…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:45PM

Drama League Nominations: Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal (FULL LIST) by Gordon Cox

Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Elisabeth Moss and Bill Nighy are all in competition — in the same category — for the 2015 Drama League Awards. For …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:56AM
Thursday, April 16, 2015

Big Softie Harvey Weinstein Opens ‘Finding Neverland’ on Broadway At Last by Gordon Cox

When Harvey Weinstein throws a Broadway opening, Hollywood shows up. There was Bryan Cranston, sporting a mustache and a full head of hair, chatting at intermission. Helen Mirren and Taylor …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:17AM
Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Broadway Review: ‘It Shoulda Been You’ by Gordon Cox

“It Shoulda Been You” is awfully funny. That’s strange, because there’s nothing especially clever about this musical comedy by Brian Hargrove (book & lyrics) and …

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00PM
Friday, April 10, 2015

Vanessa Hudgens on her happiest day at the Broadway opening of 'Gigi' by Gordon Cox

Now that legendary New York restaurant Tavern on the Green is open again, it's back in the business of Broadway opening night parties. "Gigi," which opened April 8, made the most of the laby…

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 09:48AM
Thursday, April 9, 2015

Vanessa Hudgens on her Happiest Day at the Broadway Opening of ‘Gigi’ by Gordon Cox

Now that legendary New York restaurant Tavern on the Green is open again, it’s back in the business of Broadway opening night parties. “Gigi,” which opened April 8, made th…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:35AM
Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Broadway Review: ‘Gigi’ Starring Vanessa Hudgens by Gordon Cox

Prudish American audiences can relax. There’s nothing to offend their tender sensibilities in this antiseptic version of “Gigi,” Lerner and Loewe’s enchanting 1958 fi…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:30PM

Broadway review: 'Hand To God' by Gordon Cox

God may have created the heavens and the earth and all living things -- but the Devil surely created Tyrone, the filthy-minded, foul-mouthed sock puppet that has audiences howling at "Hand t…

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 08:54AM
Monday, April 6, 2015

Alicia Silverstone, Kelly Reilly on tap for upcoming New York stage productions by Gordon Cox

Alicia Silverstone, "True Detective" actress Kelly Reilly and Eve Best ("Nurse Jackie") have joined the casts of upcoming plays in New York, with Silverstone set to appear in Manhattan Theat…

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 03:59PM
Friday, April 3, 2015

How to Make Pasta with Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy at Broadway’s ‘Skylight’ Opening by Gordon Cox

The opening of “Skylight” on Broadway, in a production starting Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy, stirred up a lot of important issues. For one: The enduring problems of economic in…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:58AM

'Groundhog Day' musical hits Broadway in 2017 by Gordon Cox

Groundhog Day," the hit 1993 Columbia Pictures comedy, will poke its head up on Broadway in spring 2017, bowing in a new musical version from the creators of current Broadway draw "Matilda."

SOURCE: Boston Herald at 05:40AM
Monday, March 30, 2015

Broadway Box Office: New Musicals, Packed Houses by Gordon Cox

New musicals brought new business to Broadway last week, with two of the week’s four new shows playing to full houses. The Broadway transfer of Off Broadway success “Fun HomeR…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:27PM

Broadway’s Dog Whisperer Gets Reality TV Spotlight by Gordon Cox

Bill Berloni, Broadway’s go-to dog trainer for stage canines, will get a TV showcase this summer with a new reality TV series set to begin airing in August on Discovery Family Channel. Bot…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Tonys Preview: Glitzy Shows, Big Stars Likely to Lead Noms by Gordon Cox

With a whopping 14 shows yet to open before the end of Broadway’s 2014-15 season, there’s still plenty of time left for surprises in the upcoming race for the Tony Awards. But a couple o…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:00PM

Tonys Team With Carnegie Mellon U. to Honor Teachers by Gordon Cox

If you’ve ever thought your high school drama teacher deserved a Tony Award, now is your chance to make it happen. In an unprecedented move, the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards have tea…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:00PM