All stories by Michael Riedel on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The great dark way by Michael Riedel

The show must go on. Unless Sandy comes to town. Broadway, which grosses more than $1 billion a year and pumps about $30 million a week into New York’s economy, went dark Monday and Tuesda…

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Super role’s a good Bette by Michael Riedel

TONY-winning playwright John Logan is at work on a onewoman show about Hollywood super-agent Sue Mengers, who died last year. And he wants Bette Midler to play her. Midler hasn’t done a Br…

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Great White Way’s top salesman by Michael Riedel

Al Pacino is Broadway’s $6 million man. At a time when every producer is looking for money, when the desperate, pathetic producers of “Rebecca” have sold their souls to the devil to b…

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Friday, October 19, 2012

On old B’way: It takes a thief by Michael Riedel

The “Rebecca” scandal has made me nostalgic for the Broadway of the ’70s and ’80s, when the street had a colorful selection of rascals and rogues and ticky-tacky productions that clo…

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Thursday, October 18, 2012

On old B’way: It takes a thief by Michael Riedel

The “Rebecca” scandal has made me nostalgic for the Broadway of the ’70s and ’80s, when the street had a colorful selection of rascals and rogues and ticky-tacky productions that clo…

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The producer: a one-act farce by Michael Riedel

When news of the “Rebecca” scandal first broke, the sense around Broadway was that lead producer Ben Sprecher was either a criminal mastermind or a fool. Well, the verdict’s in, and it…

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Laurents, the ungrateful dead by Michael Riedel

You gotta love that Arthur Laurents. Broadway’s King Cobra is still spewing venom — from the grave!His posthumous memoir, “The Rest of the Story,” has just been published by Applause…

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Finding help for ‘Neverland’ by Michael Riedel

The cast of “Finding Neverland,” Harvey Weinstein’s lavish new musical that’s trying out in Leicester, England, looked out into the audience during the first preview and saw a man hu…

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Sunday, September 30, 2012

'Rebecca' Broadway musical cancelled due to lack of financing by Michael Riedel

Manderley has been torched. "Rebecca," the foundering $12 million Broadway musical slated to open next month at the Broadhurst, has been cancelled due to lack of financing, theater sources s…

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Bah humbug for ‘Christmas’ by Michael Riedel

It may be cold comfort, but Ben Sprecher, the beleaguered lead producer of “Rebecca,” isn’t the only Broadway type out there on the street with his tin cup. The producers of the upcomi…

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

‘Rebecca’ puzzle by Michael Riedel

I go away for a couple of weeks, and what happens?“Rebecca” is out of money!Plus ca change . . .The “Rebecca” marquee at the Broadhurst is looking pretty forlorn these days, especial…

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Harvey hopes ‘Neverland’ will fly by Michael Riedel

Page Six’s favorite movie mogul — Harvey Weinstein — is in England trying to become David Merrick. Weinstein’s pulling out all the stops in an effort to become a big-time theatrical …

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Swinging for the fences by Michael Riedel

LONDON — Is Broadway big enough for two little girls? A juicy rivalry is shaping up this season between “Annie,” which begins previews next month at The Palace, and “Matilda,” a We…

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

‘Moose’ is loose by Michael Riedel

Feb. 22, 1983: A night that will live in Broadway infamy. It was the night a 28-year-old writer named Arthur Bicknell opened his first (and last) Broadway play, a mystery-farce called “Moo…

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Who’s afraid of the fall? by Michael Riedel

The fall season is technically under way, but since the first musical was “Bring It On,” which opened over the summer, I’m calling for a do-over. Just when you thought Broadway musical…

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

‘Tootsie’ role perfect as is by Michael Riedel

Go, “Tootsie,” go! Well, not so fast, my dear. Sony Pictures announced last week that it has struck a deal with Broadway producer Scott Sanders (“The Color Purple”) to turn some of i…

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Money madness by Michael Riedel

‘Wall Street” meets “Good-fellas” — that’s how they’re describing Chazz Palminteri’s new play “Human,” which is slated to open on Broadway in the spring. Palminteri, who …

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Don’t cry for Ricky Martin by Michael Riedel

I can’t say much for Ricky Martin’s performance as Ché in the revival of “Evita” at the Marquis. With his jaunty cap and peppy demeanor, he looks more like a newsboy in Disney’s…

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

No ‘Woods’ on B’way by Michael Riedel

To the tune of Stephen Sondheim’s “No One Is Alone” — or, if you don’t know it, “The Candy Man” (they’re practically interchangeable) — let’s all sing an ode to the Publi…

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Chaplin on B’way: that’s Rich by Michael Riedel

It’s always fun, this time of year, to scan the credits of upcoming musicals to learn the names of the latest crop of suckers — I mean, investors! — about to try their luck on the Grea…

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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Genius’ greatest hit saved Broadway by Michael Riedel

Marvin Hamlisch wrote the musical that saved Broadway. The year was 1973, and Hamlisch, New York-born, Juilliard-trained, was out in Hollywood, collecting Oscars. He won three for movies tha…

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Friday, August 3, 2012

To the Gore of the matter by Michael Riedel

Though best known for his novels and essays, Gore Vidal, who died this week at 86, had a decent run on Broadway. Between 1957 and 1972, he wrote five plays, including two hits, “A Visit to…

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Theater leader Long overdue by Michael Riedel

The American Theatre Wing, one of Broadway’s longest-running institutions, has a dapper new chairman — William Ivey Long, the celebrated costume designer of such shows as “Chicago,” …

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

‘Into’ is lost in the woods by Michael Riedel

SUMMERTIME — and the gossip is sparse. So thank heavens for the first preview this week of “Into the Woods” in Central Park. At last, something to swing my ax at. “Disaster.” “Tr…

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Rare painting's in play by Michael Riedel

The venerable Players Club may soon have to part ways with one of its oldest members.

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Katie’s next stage by Michael Riedel

Now that she’s ditched Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is going to reinvent herself on the Great White Way. The actress will appear at the Music Box Theatre this fall in a new comedy…

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Village musical in the maybe by Michael Riedel

The Village People, the biggest boy band of the disco era, are the subject of a new Broadway musical. The only trouble is, the first draft is like Ethel Merman’s infamous disco album — a…

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Theater legend gets Act 2 by Michael Riedel

Ask anybody who works in show business to name his favorite book about the theater, and I’ll lay you 10-to-1 the answer will be Moss Hart’s autobiography, “Act One.” Woody Allen, NEA…

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Friday, July 13, 2012

Hot tracks for ‘Soul Train’ by Michael Riedel

If Berry Gordy Jr. can hit Broadway, why not Don Cornelius? Gordy, as The Post reported last month, is developing a Broadway show based on his life and the story of Motown. Now I hear throug…

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

‘Boots’ made for walkin’ by Michael Riedel

The hype — much of it generated by this very column! — is already building for “Matilda,” the London hit that will land at the Shubert Theatre in the spring. Rave reviews, Tony Award…

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Closer than ever to a hit by Michael Riedel

It’s polished, witty, tuneful and, if you’ve hit middle age, unsettling.In the 23 years since it debuted at off-Broadway’s Cherry Lane Theatre, “Closer Than Ever,” Richard Maltby J…

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All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic