All stories by Marc J. Franklin on BroadwayStars

Friday, September 3, 2021

A First Look at Samantha Barks, Stephanie McKeon, and More in Disney's Frozen in London by Marc J. Franklin

The musical is set to open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane September 8.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:59AM

Check Out Photos of Waitress’ Return to Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

Starring Sara Bareilles, the return engagement of the hit musical began performances at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre September 2.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:53AM

A Look Inside the Reopening of Hadestown on Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The Tony Award-winning musical resumed performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre September 2.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:00AM
Wednesday, September 1, 2021

A Look Inside Rehearsal for the Broadway Return of Aladdin by Marc J. Franklin

The hit Disney musical is set to resume performances at the New Amsterdam Theatre September 28.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:15PM

A Look Inside Rehearsal for The Normal Heart at the National Theatre by Marc J. Franklin

The co-production of Larry Kramer’s seminal drama is set to begin September 23.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:06AM
Monday, August 30, 2021

Stop Time: How Ryan Scott Oliver and Matthew Murphy Reconnected to Their Artistic Roots Amid the Pandemic by Marc J. Franklin

As theatre returns, the husbands and creators of the hit song cycle 35MM revisit their seminal collaboration and reflect on its impact on their careers.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:09PM
Thursday, August 26, 2021

A Look Inside Rehearsal for the Reopening of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's film is set to return to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre September 24.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:23PM

Take a First Look at PBS’ Wicked Concert Celebration With Amber Riley, Alex Newell, and More by Marc J. Franklin

The musical tribute, directed by Baayork Lee, will debut August 29.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:56PM
Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Take a First Look at Come From Away on Apple TV+ by Marc J. Franklin

The film capture of the Tony-nominated production is scheduled to premiere September 10.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:59AM
Monday, August 23, 2021

Can You Finish These Missing Lyrics to Six? by Marc J. Franklin

Test your knowledge of the show's score ahead of its return to Broadway on September 17.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:54PM
Thursday, August 19, 2021

Check Out Photos of Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s Pass Over on Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The play, starring Jon Michael Hill, Namir Smallwood, and Gabriel Ebert, is set to open at the August Wilson Theatre August 22.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:27PM

A Look Inside the 1st Rehearsal for Broadway Return of The Lion King by Marc J. Franklin

The hit Disney musical is set to resume performances at the Minskoff Theatre September 14.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:25PM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021

A Look Inside Rehearsal for the North American Tour of Frozen by Marc J. Franklin

The tour is set to resume performances in Buffalo at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre September 10.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM
Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Check Out Photos of Lilli Cooper’s All the Feels at Feinstein’s/54 Below by Marc J. Franklin

The Tony nominee recently made her solo cabaret debut at the Broadway supper club.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:18PM

Take a Look Back at the Original Broadway Production of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… by Marc J. Franklin

With the announcement of the show's upcoming Main Stem revival, Playbill looks back at the show’s 1976 Broadway debut.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:47AM
Sunday, August 15, 2021

A Look Back at Hairspray in Celebration of Its Broadway Anniversary by Marc J. Franklin

The musical, based on the John Waters film, opened at the Neil Simon Theatre August 15, 2002.

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:00AM
Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Art of Moving Forward: 7 Theatremakers Reflect on Broadway’s Return by Marc J. Franklin

As the curtains begin to rise in the theatre district, arts workers share their thoughts on moving forward after the theatre shutdown.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:10AM

Check Out Photos of Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical Off-Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The comedic riff on Netflix’s Stranger Things opens at the Players Theatre August 11.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:12AM
Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Inside the World Premiere of The Show Must Go On With Ariana DeBose, Ali Ewoldt, and More by Marc J. Franklin

The documentary by Dori Berinstein and Sammi Cannold premiered with a one-night-only fundraiser benefiting The Actors Fund at the Majestic Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:26AM

Go Inside Rehearsal for the West End Transfer of Back to the Future by Marc J. Franklin

The stage adaptation of the 1985 film is set to begin performances at the Adelphi Theatre August 20.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:33AM
Monday, August 9, 2021

Go Inside the Public Theater’s Opening Celebration for Merry Wives by Marc J. Franklin

Jocelyn Bioh’s adaptation of the Shakespearean classic opens at the Delacorte August 9.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:36PM

A Look Inside Rehearsal for the U.K. and Ireland Tour of Beauty and the Beast by Marc J. Franklin

The production, starring Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo, is set to begin performances at the Bristol Hippodrome August 25.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:31AM
Friday, August 6, 2021

Take a First Look at Carousel at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre by Marc J. Franklin

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, starring Carly Bawden, Declan Bennett, and more, is set to open in London August 9.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:15PM
Thursday, August 5, 2021

Go Inside the First Performance of Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s Pass Over on Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The play began performances at the August Wilson Theatre August 4, becoming the first play to return to Main Stem since the theatre shutdown in March 2020.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:10AM
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Go Inside Rehearsal of the World Premiere of Bob Marley Musical Get Up, Stand Up! by Marc J. Franklin

The new biomusical, starring Arinzé Kene as Marley, is set to begin performances in the West End October 1.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:57AM
Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Take a First Look at the World Premiere of Flying Over Sunset on Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The Lincoln Center Theater production, starring Harry Hadden-Paton, Carmen Cusak, and Tony Yazbeck, is set to begin performances November 11.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:33PM
Monday, August 2, 2021

See Photos of Adrienne Warren’s Carnegie Hall Citywide Performance at Bryant Park by Marc J. Franklin

The Tina: The Tina Turner Musical star performed an in-person, outdoor concert July 30 as a part of Carnegie Hall’s summer series.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:27PM
Thursday, July 29, 2021

All The World’s A Stage: 43 Musicals Theatre Fans Wish They Could Live Inside by Marc J. Franklin

From Great Comet to SpongeBob, check out the worlds Playbill readers wish they could inhabit.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:58PM

Take a First Look at London’s Anything Goes Starring Sutton Foster by Marc J. Franklin

The production, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, is set to officially open at the Barbican Theatre August 4.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:51AM
Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Go Inside Rehearsal for 2:22-A Ghost Story With Lily Allen, Hadley Fraser, Julia Chan, and Jake Wood by Marc J. Franklin

The world premiere of Danny Robins’ supernatural thriller is set to begin performances in the West End August 3.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:55AM
Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Look Back at the All-Black 1976 Revival of Guys and Dolls On Broadway by Marc J. Franklin

The production, featuring Motown musical arrangements, opened at the Broadway Theatre July 21, 1976.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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