All stories by Michael Riedel on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Tony nods go by 'The Book' by Michael Riedel

'The Book of Mormon" is much more than the hit of the season. It's the hit Broadway's been looking for -- the hit Broadway's been desperate for -- since "Jer sey Boys" shook up the town i…

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

And the nominees will be . . . by Michael Riedel

Let's torture some produc ers today! A few of them are on the ledge, fretting that, in a crowded season, their shows will be snubbed Tuesday when the Tony nominations are announced. Ad…

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tonys try to Rock the boat by Michael Riedel

Nothing's more predict able than the Tony telecast. The host is usually some sitcom star -- Sean Hayes, Neil Patrick Harris -- who opens the show with a second-rate Hugh Jackman song-and-…

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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Belushi, dresser in fisti-'cuff' by Michael Riedel

Broadway's such a gossipy little world, it's hard to keep a lid on a good old backstage fracas. But when that fracas involves a star and his female dresser -- well, don't even bother. The…

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Frank look at biz scandal by Michael Riedel

FrankLangella, who was unforgettable as Richard Nixon a few years ago in "Frost/Nixon," will return to Broadway next season in "Man and Boy," Terence Rattigan's long-forgotten but all-too-to…

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

'Public' affairs not in order by Michael Riedel

The poor -- and I do mean poor -- Public Theater is facing some tough times. The theater that once produced "A Chorus Line" has gotten a reputation around Broadway for failing to meet fin…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:15PM
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Skeptics can eat their 'Hat' by Michael Riedel

As I predicted last week, Stephen Adly Guirgis' "The Motherf**ker With the Hat" is turning out to be the sleeper hit of the season. Oh, sure, a few naysayers may have whispered in my ear …

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 12:36AM
Thursday, April 7, 2011

Slipping into sound 'Sleep' by Michael Riedel

I had breakfast recently with Nick Hytner, head of Great Britain's National Theatre. He's in town checking up on the National's production of "War Horse," which opens Thursday at Lincoln Cen…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:19PM
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Rock's in a hard place by Michael Riedel

By all rights, the new Broadway play "The Motherf**ker With the Hat" should be a feather in a cap. Chris Rock heads up a strong cast including the excellent Bobby Cannavale and the sexy An…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:42PM
Friday, April 1, 2011

Taylor gave 'em Hellman by Michael Riedel

The news that a major star is coming to Broadway rarely causes a stir these days. Right now you can see a bunch of them -- Daniel Radcliffe ("How To Succeed in Business Without Really Try…

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Seating battle set to spark pande-Tony-um by Michael Riedel

The Tony Awards are three months away, but controversy -- and attendant hissy fits -- is already brewing. The problem stems from the awards show's new location: the Beacon Theatre at Broa…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 10:58PM
Thursday, March 17, 2011

Dead divas' dramatic duel by Michael Riedel

As Hollywood rivalries go, the one between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was about as vicious as it gets. The sharp-taloned stars appeared together famously in 1962's "What Ever Happened …

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Not 'Crying' over 'Spidey' by Michael Riedel

Oscar-winning screenwriter Neil Jordan certainly dodged a cannonball when he backed out of "Spider-Man: Iceberg Dead Ahead." Jordan, whose movies include "The Crying Game," was the first…

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Bono spearheading effort to save 'Spider-Man' musical by Michael Riedel

Bono is now captain of the Titanic. After keeping a low pro file for months while director Julie Taymor was steering "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" into the iceberg, Bono is spearheading…

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Bono caught in sticky web by Michael Riedel

Bono is now captain of the Titanic. After keeping a low pro file for months while director Julie Taymor was steering "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" into the iceberg, Bono is spearheading…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 03:27AM
Wednesday, March 9, 2011

'Spider-Man' blame Taym by Michael Riedel

The Lion Queen is being dethroned. As I reported last week, the producers of "Spider-Man: We Are Lost in the Dark" are indeed throwing Julie Taymor under a bus. The new director is lik…

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Laurents' livid Stack attack by Michael Riedel

It may be small consola tion, but Jeffrey Tam bor should know he wasn't the first TV actor to come a cropper as Georges, the dapper nightclub owner in "La Cage aux Folles." (Tambor quit the …

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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Plan afoot to tame Taymor by Michael Riedel

The cast and crew of "Spider-Man: Please Go Away" are await ing an announce ment that the March 15 opening will likely be scrapped for a date in June -- though the year has yet to be determi…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 10:32PM
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tambor battles 'Cage' fright by Michael Riedel

There's trouble in St. Tropez. The delightful Tony-winning re vival of "La Cage aux Folles" has two new romantic leads -- Harvey Fierstein, as Albin, the high-strung drag queen, and Jeffr…

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Slow spring awakening by Michael Riedel

As we head toward March, Broadway's beginning to perk up. The Duke Studios on West 42nd Street are a hive of activity, with half a dozen shows in various states of rehearsal. Walk arou…

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Problem-plagued "Spider-man" bringing in co-director by Michael Riedel

Producers of the beleaguered $65 million musical, "Spider-Man:Turn Off the Dark," appear to be losing faith in their director Julie Taymor, creator of the "Lion King," and are looking to hir…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 02:09AM
Friday, February 18, 2011

Lavishing love on Lavin by Michael Riedel

Linda Lavin knows how to make an en trance. As Silda, a sharp- tongued, recovering alcoholic in Jon Robin Baitz's hit play "Other Desert Cities" at Lincoln Center, she doesn't appear unti…

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Knightley news: 'Hour' by Michael Riedel

On the strength of terrific reviews last week for her per formance in "The Children's Hour" in London, the lovely Keira Knightley is likely to be the leading box-office draw on Broadway in t…

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

'Blunderland' (maybe) by Michael Riedel

The elephant gun I trained on "Spider- Man: Turn Off the Dark" seems a little excessive for today's target -- Frank Wildhorn's "Wonderland." A popgun should do. The musical, which begi…

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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

'Dark' sure to be turned off by Michael Riedel

I rest my case. “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” is no longer an out-of-control curiosity in which somebody might get killed. Now, buried under an avalanche of mostly negative reviews, it…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 12:29AM
Thursday, February 3, 2011

'Scores' he never settled by Michael Riedel

Which comes first -- the music or the lyrics? That question is always asked of songwriters, and their standard answer is that it's impossible to say because songwriting is such a collabor…

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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Expect calls to ban 'Book' by Michael Riedel

Mormons! Catholic Leaguers! Freedom Partiers! The time has come to get out the signs and rev up the protesters. "The Book of Mormon" starts previews at the Eugene O'Neill on Feb. 24, a…

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

B'way gets shot at prime time by Michael Riedel

With the success of "Glee," Broadway mu sicals are a hot subject for television. HBO tried to produce a series called "The Miraculous Year," about a brilliant but nasty composer modeled o…

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

'Matilda' a wise one to book by Michael Riedel

I'm sick of "Spider-Man." So let's talk about something that's supposed to be good -- "Matilda," a new musical that opened last month in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bill Shakespeare's hometown. …

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Friday, January 21, 2011

'A Clear Day' gets Harry by Michael Riedel

After Hugh Jack man, Broadway's go- to leading man is Harry Connick Jr. He gave a winning performance a few years ago in the revival of "The Pajama Game," and last summer played a sold-ou…

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

'Spidey' a critical test by Michael Riedel

On Jan. 31, the New York Drama Critics Circle has one last chance to check its slide into irrelevancy when it comes to "Spider-Man, We're Postponing Again." The critics meet that day, and…

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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