All stories by Jeff Lunden on BroadwayStars

Monday, March 14, 2022

Norwegian opera singer Lise Davidsen is on the verge of superstardom by Jeff Lunden

Lise Davidsen is in her mid-thirties, and she didn't even hear an opera live until she was in her twenties. Now, she's a sought-after opera singer.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:18AM
Monday, February 14, 2022

A machine turns Black people white in the musical 'Black No More' by Jeff Lunden

An off-Broadway show, based on a 1931 novel, explores the results when a scientist charges Black people $50 each to change their race with his new invention.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:33AM
Saturday, January 29, 2022

Theater stars spring to life on the pages of 'B is for Broadway' by Jeff Lunden

A few years ago, a children's book called A is for Audra celebrated musical theater divas. Its creators have written a new book, B is for Broadway, celebrating theater from auditions to Zieg…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:42PM
Sunday, January 23, 2022

Omicron hampers Broadway. Fewer tourists are there for just a score of shows by Jeff Lunden

Tickets may be easier and cheaper to get for the plays that are still open. Some producers reopened until the virus raced through the cast and crew. Future productions are hard to see on th…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:06AM
Friday, January 14, 2022

Two-time Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage turns a triple play in New York City by Jeff Lunden

Nottage, the only woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, has a new play on Broadway, an opera at Lincoln Center and a Michael Jackson musical opening soon.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 09:12AM
Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Cecily Strong finds 'Signs of Intelligent Life' in a celebrated one-woman show by Jeff Lunden

The 'Saturday Night Live' cast member and 'Schmigadoon!' star performs in "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," a one-woman show made famous by Lily Tomlin.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 09:42PM
Monday, January 3, 2022

With COVID outbreaks, Broadway's understudies take center stage by Jeff Lunden

Breakthrough infections from the omicron variant have been spreading like wildfire among casts and crews, so understudies and swing performers have been helping keep shows afloat.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:33AM
Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Latest COVID surge hits Broadway during the lucrative holiday season by Jeff Lunden

While most shows are maintaining a regular schedule, nine popular musicals and plays announced they would take a hiatus until after Christmas because of breakthrough infections.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:48AM
Sunday, December 12, 2021

As theater reopens, how directors are putting their reimaginations into action by Jeff Lunden

During the height of pandemic closures, three artistic directors spoke about their hopes for what theater would look like when it reopened. More than a year later, we check in to see what's …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 03:03AM
Monday, December 6, 2021

A prescient play about race in America has its long-overdue Broadway premiere by Jeff Lunden

Playwright Alice Childress took an unflinching look at racism in society and in the theater with "Trouble in Mind" in 1955. Now in its overdue Broadway premiere, the play proves prescient an…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:06AM
Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brings 2 dances made for the web to the stage by Jeff Lunden

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater shifted to streaming presentations online during pandemic. Now, two dances conceived for the web are included in the company's return to in-person perf…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:06PM
Saturday, November 27, 2021

Stephen Sondheim, the Broadway legend, has died at 91 by Jeff Lunden

The celebrated composer-songwriter died on Friday. He had won several Tonys and Grammys, as well as an Oscar and Pulitzer, for musicals including West Side Story and Company.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 03:42AM
Wednesday, November 24, 2021

In 'Eurydice,' Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl recast opera's foundational myth by Jeff Lunden

Composer, conductor and MacArthur "genius" Mathew Aucoin just debuted his opera, 'Eurydice,' at the Met. The new work reinterprets an ancient, archetypal myth from the perspective of its nam…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:24AM
Tuesday, November 23, 2021

In 'Eurydice,' Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl recast opera's foundational myth by Jeff Lunden

Composer, conductor, pianist and MacArthur "genius" Aucoin adapted playwright Ruhl's work, which reinterprets an ancient, archetypal myth from the perspective of its namesake.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:03AM
Sunday, November 7, 2021

Broadway returns as theater rethinks on-stage representation by Jeff Lunden

After more than a year of closures and reflection, Broadway is back making changes to who is represented on stage.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 02:32PM
Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein illuminates a lifetime in art with a new multimedia concert by Jeff Lunden

The eloquent pianist used a work break imposed by the pandemic to learn something new: stage directing, a skill set she put to use in creating a multimedia recital.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:54AM
Sunday, October 10, 2021

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein illuminates a lifetime in art with a new multimedia concert by Jeff Lunden

The eloquent pianist used a work break imposed by pandemic to learn something new: stage directing, a skill set she put to use in creating a multimedia recital.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:12PM
Monday, September 27, 2021

'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' Dominated The Tony Awards by Jeff Lunden

Sunday night, more than 15 months after they were originally scheduled, the 74th Annual Tony Awards were presented.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 11:12AM
Sunday, September 26, 2021

4 Things To Know Ahead Of The 2021 Tony Awards by Jeff Lunden

The 74th Annual Tony Awards will be presented on Sunday, September 26 more than 15 months after they were previously scheduled. But these pandemic Tonys are by no means business as usual.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:12PM
Saturday, September 4, 2021

'Hadestown' Returns To Broadway by Jeff Lunden

Broadway is coming roaring back on Sept. 2 and one of the musicals to open that day is Hadestown. We follow the cast and crew as they remount the show and celebrate opening night.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:36PM
Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Curtains Up! Broadway Musicals Return, But COVID Concerns Are Center Stage by Jeff Lunden

Broadway shows have implemented strict protocols, but anxiety is high. "The culture of 'the show must go on,' it has to be left behind," says the executive director of the Actors' Equity Ass…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 07:24AM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Many Stages Are Still Dark, But You Can Now See These Iconic Costumes Up Close by Jeff Lunden

The Showstoppers! exhibition in New York's Theater District showcases the work of an industry hit hard by the pandemic. Visitors can see more than 100 costumes — and watch artists hard at …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:36AM
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

'Pass Over' Covers Modern Issues In A Blend Of The Bible And 'Waiting For Godot' by Jeff Lunden

The first play to open on Broadway in over a year, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Pass Over tells the story of two young Black men dreaming of a better tomorrow in a world of police violence.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 11:18PM
Monday, July 19, 2021

Back Together And Blown Away: The Boston Symphony Orchestra Returns To Tanglewood by Jeff Lunden

The Boston Symphony Orchestra recently returned to its storied summer home, Tanglewood, after the pandemic canceled last season. With reopening comes normalcy, as well as an opportunity for …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:06PM

Rising From The Ashes, Jacob's Pillow Welcomes Back Dancers, Audiences by Jeff Lunden

Jacob's Pillow had a particularly tough 2020, closed by pandemic and struck by a fire that consumed one of its theaters. This summer the dance center rises from the ashes, literally and figu…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:24PM
Saturday, June 19, 2021

In New York City, A Juneteenth Event Examines The Meaning Of Freedom by Jeff Lunden

Lincoln Center observes Juneteenth, now a federal holiday, with "I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me," an ambulatory experience conceived by Carl Hancock Rux.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:36PM
Sunday, May 23, 2021

'Shuffle Along' Changed Musical Theater 100 Years Ago by Jeff Lunden

Though much of it is unwatchable today — it contains blackface and other minstrelsy — Shuffle Along brought jazz to Broadway and was the first African American show to be a smash hit.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 08:36AM
Friday, May 14, 2021

One-To-One Concerts Bring Listeners Back To Live Music, One At A Time by Jeff Lunden

A live-music series founded in Europe, which connects one musician with one listener at a time, comes to Brooklyn for two weekends of concerts by Silkroad Ensemble artists.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:42PM
Tuesday, May 11, 2021

A Transformed Lincoln Center In New York City Brings Back Live Audiences by Jeff Lunden

The past year, with COVID and calls for social justice, has made those running Lincoln Center and other arts organizations question their core missions, says Lincoln Center's president Henry…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 04:42PM
Monday, May 3, 2021

Broadway Shows Can Reopen In May, But That Doesn't Mean They Will by Jeff Lunden

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says Broadway can open on May 19. But opening a show takes time.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 05:54PM
Friday, April 2, 2021

Indoor Theater Slowly Resumes In A Socially Distanced Way In New York City by Jeff Lunden

It's been more than a year since theater goers have been able to see an indoor performance in New York City. But some spaces and producers are moving to find safe ways to open up.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 06:12PM

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