All stories by Michael Paulson on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 15, 2023

Tony Awards Broadcast Can Proceed After Striking Writers’ Union Agrees by Michael Paulson and John Koblin

The Tony Awards, a key marketing opportunity for Broadway, can go ahead in an altered form after the striking screenwriters’ union said it would not picket this year’s broadcast.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:02PM

Tony Awards Officials Ask Striking Writers to Reconsider Broadcast by Michael Paulson

The strike by the Writers Guild of America is endangering the June 11 broadcast of the Tony Awards, one of the biggest marketing opportunities for an industry recovering from the pandemic.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:54PM
Friday, May 12, 2023

Jeremy Strong to Star in Broadway Revival of ‘An Enemy of the People’ by Michael Paulson

The production, with a new script by Amy Herzog and directed by Sam Gold, will begin early next year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:32PM

Hollywood Writers’ Strike Puts the Tony Awards in Jeopardy by Michael Paulson and John Koblin

The Tonys, set to be telecast on June 11, are Broadway’s biggest marketing moment. But the strike by the Writers Guild of America means the show might not go on.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:24AM
Thursday, May 11, 2023

‘Bad Cinderella’ Had a Not Good Run on Broadway. It Will Close June 4. by Michael Paulson

The show features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who arrived on Broadway in 1971 and has had an unbroken streak of shows since 1979.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:48AM
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

5 Tony-Nominated Broadway Shows, 5 Stagecraft Secrets by Michael Paulson

What’s on Jessica Chastain’s mind as she spins onstage? Plus: Ben Platt’s silence, the “Fat Ham” ghost, the “Shucked” corn dance and all that “Sweeney” blood.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:32AM
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Sanaz Toossi on Her Pulitzer: ‘This Signals to Iranians Our Stories Matter’ by Michael Paulson

The 31-year-old playwright received the honor for her first produced play, “English,” about a language test-prep class in Iran.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:18PM
Friday, May 5, 2023

Nataki Garrett to Step Down at Oregon Shakespeare Festival by Michael Paulson

Garrett began her tenure at the organization in August 2019, and plans to depart at the end of this month.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:06PM
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

‘Dancin’’ to Close on Broadway, a Casualty of Tony Nominations by Michael Paulson

The production, a revue celebrating the choreography of Bob Fosse, received no Tony nominations on Tuesday. Its last show will be Sunday.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:30PM

As Broadway Rebounds, ‘Some Like It Hot’ Gets 13 Tony Nominations by Michael Paulson

The musicals “New York, New York,” “Shucked” and “& Juliet” each got nine and “Kimberly Akimbo” picked up eight. Several major stars earned nominations.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:48PM

J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell, Gender Nonconforming Performers, Earn Tony Award Nominations by Michael Paulson

J. Harrison Ghee of “Some Like It Hot” was nominated in the best leading actor in a musical category, and Alex Newell of “Shucked” was nominated in the best featured actor in a music…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:18AM
Friday, April 28, 2023

‘Harmony,’ a Manilow Musical Set Under Nazis, Is Broadway-Bound by Michael Paulson

The show about the Comedian Harmonists, a real-life sextet that ran afoul of the Nazi regime, was first staged in 1997.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:02AM
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Meet Justin Cooley of Broadway’s ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ by Michael Paulson

Justin Cooley plays an anagram-obsessed, Elvish-speaking high school student in the musical.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:32AM
Tuesday, April 25, 2023

‘The Shark Is Broken,’ a ‘Jaws’ Comedy, Plans Broadway Run by Michael Paulson

The play stars Ian Shaw, whose father, Robert Shaw, played a shark hunter in the movie.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:02AM
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Todd Haimes, Who Rebuilt Roundabout Theater Company, Dies at 66 by Michael Paulson

After rescuing the company from bankruptcy, he turned it into a major player on Broadway and one of the largest nonprofit theater companies in the country.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:24PM
Sunday, April 16, 2023

Fans Gather as ‘Phantom’ Ends a Record Broadway Run by Michael Paulson

The final day of “The Phantom of the Opera” was marked by a combination of nostalgia and celebration at the Majestic Theater. It is closing on an unexpectedly high note.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:36PM
Friday, April 14, 2023

Broadway’s Longest-Running Musical Turns Out the Lights by Michael Barbaro and Michael Paulson

We went backstage during one of the final performances before the show’s famous chandelier crashes down one last time. “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest running show in the histo…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:20AM

The Phandom of the Opera by Michael Paulson

As “The Phantom of the Opera” ends its record-breaking Broadway run on Sunday, its most devoted followers, who call themselves Phans, are mourning.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:12AM
Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Ariana DeBose to Return as Tony Awards Host This Year by Michael Paulson

The annual ceremony, honoring Broadway plays and musicals, is to take place June 11 at the United Palace in Washington Heights.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:02AM
Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Did Your School Play Face Pushback? We Want to Hear From You. by Michael Paulson

Picking plays and musicals has become more complicated in some school districts. We’d like to hear about your experience.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:54AM

Alex Edelman, ‘Just for Us’ Comedian, Will Bring Show to Broadway by Michael Paulson

The solo performance will open on June 26 at the Hudson Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:12AM
Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan to Bring Hansberry Play to Broadway by Michael Paulson

The duo recently starred in a revival of “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” at BAM; now the production is moving uptown.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:32AM
Wednesday, March 22, 2023

A Stage Adaptation of ‘Smash’ Is Setting Its Sights on Broadway by Michael Paulson

Producers including Steven Spielberg have been exploring several possible incarnations of the decade-old TV series. Now they have a plan.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:00AM

‘Camelot,’ Beloved but Befuddling, Gets the Aaron Sorkin Treatment by Michael Paulson

The Golden Age musical is back on Broadway, with a new take by one of the nation’s great screenwriters. Walk with us.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:00AM
Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Danny and Lucy DeVito Head to Broadway With Roundabout Theater Company’s New Season by Michael Paulson

The actors will play a father and daughter in “I Need That,” a comedy written by Theresa Rebeck.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:00AM
Thursday, March 16, 2023

Broadway’s ‘Room,’ Starring Adrienne Warren, Postpones Run Indefinitely by Michael Paulson

The show, scheduled to open in April at the James Earl Jones Theater, was adapted from Emma Donoghue’s best-selling 2010 novel.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:48AM

Final Sondheim Musical Will Be Staged in New York This Fall by Michael Paulson

His long-gestating final show, now titled “Here We Are,” is coming to the Shed; it is inspired by two Luis Buñuel films.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:00AM
Monday, March 6, 2023

A24, the Indie Film Studio, Buys New York’s Cherry Lane Theater by Michael Paulson

The studio’s first venture into live performance follows the move by Audible, Amazon’s audio subsidiary, to stage works at the nearby Minetta Lane Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:24PM
Sunday, March 5, 2023

Tennessee Law Limiting ‘Cabaret’ Shows Raises Uncertainty About Drag Events by Rick Rojas, Emily Cochrane, Ava Sasani and Michael Paulson

The measure is part of a wave of legislation by conservative lawmakers across the country against drag performances. Many are wondering how it will be applied.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:52AM
Thursday, March 2, 2023

Broadway’s ‘Funny Girl’ to Close Labor Day Weekend by Michael Paulson

Lea Michele, whose star turn in the musical has reversed its flagging fortunes, will stay with the show to the end.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:00AM

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