All stories by Mark Robinson on BroadwayStars

Saturday, December 12, 2015

One Song and Gone: 13 Characters Who Make Their Mark With One Number by Mark Robinson

When we think of coveted roles and showstopping numbers, it's easy to fall back on classics like Mama Rose and her "Rose's Turn" or Jean Valjean and his "Bring Him Hom…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, December 7, 2015

Heroes of Theatre How Wartime Musicals Created These 9 Unforgettable Characters by Mark Robinson

What makes a compelling character? War often creates circumstances for deep characters to emerge out of the ashes, and on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, we recall nine heroes who made a la…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, November 27, 2015

8 Rules Every Theatre Person Must Follow Do You Know All of Them? by Mark Robinson

Why can't you whistle inside a theatre? We uncover the lore behind this (and 7 other) theatrical superstitions. Read the complete list, and be sure you don't accidentally violate hal…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, October 31, 2015

10 Wickedly Wonderful Musicals Inspired By “The Wizard of Oz” by Mark Robinson

In honor of Wicked's anniversary on Broadway, we take a tour through the land of Oz and look at all of the musical adaptations the L. Frank Baum book inspired (with photos, videos and mo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16AM
Sunday, October 25, 2015

From Maria von Trapp to Eva Peron, the Real-Life Stories That Inspired Broadway Musicals by Mark Robinson

The heroes and heroines of musical theatre may seem larger than life onstage, but many of them are based on actual people. Learn the stories of the men and women who inspired theatre lovers&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, October 19, 2015

Judas, Che and Aaron Burr, Sir! 9 Antiheroes and Narrators of Musical Theatre by Mark Robinson

In musical theatre, clear-cut heroes and villains are few and far-between. Instead, audiences are often drawn into the narrative by complex and complicated antiheroes, many of whom a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, October 11, 2015

Broadway-Bound But Never Made It: Why Did Shows Like The Baker’s Wife Never Open? by Mark Robinson

Playbill.com correspondent Mark Robinson looks back at musicals that were Broadway-bound, but never made it all the way to the Great White Way.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, September 27, 2015

Don’t Rain on Our Parade! We Explore What Makes a Showtune Timeless by Mark Robinson

Playbill.com correspondent Mark Robinson examines the question of what renders a showtune as timeless.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, September 7, 2015

Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me: Classic Musical Revivals or Creative New Reimaginings? by Mark Robinson

With upcoming revivals of some classic Broadway musicals in the 2015-16 season, Playbill.com correspondent Mark Robinson reflects on productions that have reimagined shows in new and sur…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, September 5, 2015

If a Show Played Off-Broadway for Years, Is its Broadway Bow a “Revival”? by Mark Robinson

When the 2014 Tony Award nominations were announced, the hit musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch was placed in the category of Best Revival, even though the production was playing Broadway for…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, August 31, 2015

Will Audiences Around the Country Come to the Fun Home? The Tony-Winning Musical May Be Controversia by Mark Robinson

With its multiple victories at the Tony Awards, Fun Home will soon be touring the country. Bruce Lazarus, executive director of Samuel French, Inc., which has licensed the musical, talks wit…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, August 23, 2015

Bombshell’s Bringing Her Back! But Is Marilyn Monroe Meant for the Stage? by Mark Robinson

With Bombshell, the musical featured in the essential theatre lover's TV show "Smash," planning a Broadway bow, iconic film star Marilyn Monroe will be featured on the Great Wh…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, August 9, 2015

Life After Broadway: Musicals That Find Success Away from the Great White Way by Mark Robinson

Not every show succeeds on Broadway. It is the unfortunate reality of theatre that many plays and musicals will never make their money back, let alone run for years and turn tidy profits for…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, August 7, 2015

Gotta Dance! Professional Hoofers Who Have Made the Leap to Broadway by Mark Robinson

With Misty Copeland poised to join the cast of On the Town, Playbill.com looks back at professional dancers who have made the leap to Broadway.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, August 1, 2015

Will Modern-Day Theatregoers Fall For She Loves Me? Debating the Question of “Dated” Musicals by Mark Robinson

One never knows how an older musical will speak to a present-day audience. Some decades-old works have found new resonance with theatreogers, while others have not. With the classic …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, July 23, 2015

What Is It That Draws People Back Into the Woods Again and Again? by Mark Robinson

With two Broadway productions, one Off-Broadway mounting and countless regional productions as well as a hit Disney live-action movie, Into the Woods has proven its staying power. Wh…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, July 5, 2015

On the Town: Why Does a Helluva Show Struggle to Fill Houses? by Mark Robinson

On the Town, the classic musical about a trio of sailors exploring New York on 24 hours of leave, received glowing reviews and a slew of awards nominations. But the critically-praised re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, June 20, 2015

Broadway Rarity The Golden Apple Given Joyous New Life in Full-Length Album by Mark Robinson

Playbill.com takes readers through the history of the short-lived musical The Golden Apple and its newly released full-length cast recording.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 11, 2015

Company, Les Mis and More: Which Musicals Got No Love From the Critics But Took Home the Tony? by Mark Robinson

Following the June 7 Tony Awards broadcast, Playbill.com looks at productions that were not loved by critics but went on to win Broadway's biggest honors.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:19AM
Sunday, May 24, 2015

The Battle of the Blondes: Comparing Madeline Kahn and Kristin Chenoweth’s Rides On the Twentieth Ce by Mark Robinson

Decades after its first Broadway bow, the madcap musical comedy On the Twentieth Century has returned to Broadway — and released a cast recording. How does this anticipated revival…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, May 23, 2015

Ethel and Angela and Patti, Oh My! Who Is the Fiercest Mama Rose of All? by Mark Robinson

Playbill.com looks at the various leading ladies and dynamic divas who have played the infamous stage mother, Mama Rose, in Gypsy.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Uncompromising and Entertaining 50 Years of Kander and Ebb On Broadway by Mark Robinson

The opening of the Tony-nominated new musical The Visit, starring Chita Rivera, marks the final work of John Kander and Fred Ebb to reach Broadway. Playbill.com looks back on the decades…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:30AM
Sunday, May 10, 2015

Who Took Home the Trophy? Tight Tony Award Races for Best Musical by Mark Robinson

With awards season in full swing, Playbill.com looks back at Tony Awards races of previous years and reflects on surprising wins of the coveted Best Musical trophy.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, May 3, 2015

What Do the Short Runs of Leap of Faith and Scandalous Predict for Amazing Grace’s Broadway Bow? by Mark Robinson

Carolyn Ross Copeland, one of the producers of Amazing Grace, shares her thoughts on how the new musical speaks to a modern-day audience about faith.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, May 2, 2015

Tony Nominations - Where We Are Wrong — Mark Robinson Writes by Mark Robinson

Earlier this week the 2015 Tony Award nominations came out and we have seen the usual barrage of whines and complaints that “so-and-so was snubbed” or “this show was entirely overlooke…

SOURCE: www.markrobinsonwrites.com at 06:21PM
Saturday, April 18, 2015

Taking a Risk on Bye Bye Birdie Paved the Way for Avenue Q and Something Rotten! by Mark Robinson

Musicals like Anything Goes and Bye Bye Birdie are often considered old-fashioned classics that receive affectionate revivals. But when they first premiered, these musicals were ground&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, April 12, 2015

How Vincente Minnelli Made Magic… That Resurfaces This Season With Gigi and An American in Paris by Mark Robinson

Two stage adaptations of films directed by the late, great Vincente Minnelli are making their way to Broadway this spring: Gigi and An American in Paris. Playbill.com looks at the screen pre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16AM
Sunday, March 29, 2015

How Is Meryl’s Cut Song? Other Sondheim Music in the Background? The Scoop on the Special Features o by Mark Robinson

The highly-aniticipated film adaptation of Into the Woods has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Playbill.com revisits the film and looks through the many bonus features the recording…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, March 22, 2015

We’re Losing Our Minds Comparing Four Recordings of Sondheim’s Follies! by Mark Robinson

In honor of Stephen Sondheim's 85th birthday, we look at the four different recordings of one of his most challenging and complex musicals: Follies.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, March 21, 2015

Sunset Boulevard Gives Patti and Glenn Their Close Ups But Who is the Greatest Star? by Mark Robinson

On the eve of Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday, we look at recordings of one of his most well-known musicals, the tragic drama Sunset Boulevard.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Sunset Boulevard Gives Broadway’s Greatest Stars of All Their Close Ups on Disc by Mark Robinson

On the eve of Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday, we look at recordings of one of his most well-known musicals, the tragic drama Sunset Boulevard.

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