All stories by Rebecca Rubin on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Ben Platt Calls Out ‘Randos Being Jerks’ About His Age in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Trailer by Rebecca Rubin

Ben Platt is many things: a Tony-winning actor who perfected the art of snot-crying onstage and a songwriter whose talents extend to catchy Yom Kippur jingles. What Platt is not, as many on …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:45PM
Tuesday, May 4, 2021

AFI Reschedules Life Achievement Gala Honoring Julie Andrews by Rebecca Rubin

As Julie Andrews’ character says in “The Princess Diaries” sequel: “A queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early.” So it’s only fitting that the American Film Institute�…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:36PM
Saturday, May 1, 2021

New York City Plans to Fully Reopen on July 1, Mayor de Blasio Says by Rebecca Rubin

New York City is aiming to fully reopen on July 1, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio, nearly a year-and-a-half after COVID-19 restrictions on movie theaters, restaurants and most businesses …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:31AM

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Wants Movie Theaters Fully Reopened by July. Will It Happen? by Rebecca Rubin

Joseph Masher, a New York-based movie theater operator, understands that audiences may be reluctant to return to the movies. After all, it’s been at least a year since most people have ste…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:30AM
Friday, April 30, 2021

Filmed version of Broadway musical ‘Come From Away’ to debut on Apple TV+ by Rebecca Rubin

A filmed version of the popular Broadway musical “Come From Away” will debut on Apple TV Plus.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:06PM

Filmed Version of Broadway Musical ‘Come From Away’ to Debut on Apple TV Plus by Rebecca Rubin

A filmed version of the popular Broadway musical “Come From Away” will debut on Apple TV Plus. Apple Original Films landed rights to the live stage recording, which is being produced and…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:00PM
Monday, April 26, 2021

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Animated Musical Movie ‘Vivo’ Moves to Netflix by Rebecca Rubin

“Vivo,” an animated movie that boasts new music from “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, is coming to Netflix. The family friendly film was initially scheduled to release in theat…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:10PM
Monday, April 19, 2021

New York City Movie Theaters Can Expand Capacity to 33% by Rebecca Rubin

Movie theaters in New York City will soon be able to welcome a slightly larger number of customers into their venues. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given local cinemas permission to operate…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:03PM
Friday, April 16, 2021

‘In the Heights’ to Open Tribeca Film Festival by Rebecca Rubin

“In the Heights,” a movie adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical, has been tapped to open the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. The festival’s opening night screening will be held …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:33PM
Wednesday, April 14, 2021

To Protest Scott Rudin, Broadway Star Karen Olivo Won’t Return to ‘Moulin Rouge’ by Rebecca Rubin

Broadway star Karen Olivo says she won’t return to “Moulin Rouge” once the musical reopens. She’s leaving her Tony-nominated role in protest of the theater industry’s silence on al…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:24PM
Monday, April 12, 2021

‘Promising Young Woman’ to Offer Free Screenings for College Students by Rebecca Rubin

“Promising Young Woman,” the dark comedy starring Carey Mulligan, will be offered for free to college students. Focus Features, the film’s backer, has partnered with RAINN, the country…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:13PM
Thursday, April 8, 2021

‘In the Heights’: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu on the Hard Fight to Turn the Groundbreaking Musical Into a Movie by Rebecca Rubin

When Lin-Manuel Miranda was pitching his musical “In the Heights” nearly two decades ago, Broadway heavyweights stumbled over what he was selling. They wanted the young female protagonis…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:44AM
Sunday, April 4, 2021

Box Office: ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sets Pandemic Record With $48.5 Million Debut by Rebecca Rubin

“Godzilla vs. Kong” muscled its way to a pandemic-era box office record, giving Hollywood studios and theater owners alike hope that people are ready to return to the movies after a year…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:04PM
Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Los Angeles Movie Theaters Can Expand to 50% Capacity by Rebecca Rubin

The pandemic isn’t over yet, but the picture of moviegoing in Los Angeles is looking brighter. The country’s most populous county is moving into California’s orange tier, the third ste…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:27PM

‘Diana’ musical sets Netflix premiere ahead of Broadway opening night by Rebecca Rubin

In an unprecedented move, a live stage recording of “Diana” is coming to Netflix on Oct. 1, two months before preview performances are expected to resume on Dec. 1 at the Longacre Theatr…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:29PM

‘Diana’ Musical Sets Netflix Premiere Ahead of Broadway Opening Night by Rebecca Rubin

“Diana,” a musical about the people’s princess, will premiere on Netflix ahead of its Broadway debut. The show had completed only a few preview performances (and was expected to offici…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:56AM
Monday, March 29, 2021

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Movie ‘Being the Ricardos’ Rounds Out Cast With Tony Hale and More by Rebecca Rubin

“Being the Ricardos,” an upcoming movie about the relationship between “I Love Lucy” stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, has added several names to the call sheet. Ahead of the start …

SOURCE: Variety at 02:37PM
Thursday, March 25, 2021

NYC to Set Up COVID-19 Vaccine Sites for Broadway Workers by Rebecca Rubin

New York City is taking steps to revive the theater industry, a sector of the city that has been shuttered for more than a year due to the pandemic. Those efforts, Mayor Bill de Blasio revea…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:13AM
Sunday, March 21, 2021

‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Leads Box Office as L.A. Theater Revival Boosts Ticket Sales by Rebecca Rubin

Disney’s animated adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon” led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a movieg…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:18PM
Friday, March 19, 2021

‘In the Heights’ Moves Up Release Date by Rebecca Rubin

“In the Heights” will hit theaters, and HBO Max, sooner than expected. The musical is slated to open on June 11 instead of June 18. Director Jon M. Chu shared the news on Twitter, writin…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:24PM
Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Los Angeles Movie Theaters Could Reopen as Soon as Saturday by Rebecca Rubin

Movie theaters in Los Angeles county are poised to reopen at limited capacity as soon as Saturday. The county had to meet several requirements, such as distributing two million vaccine doses…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:15PM
Saturday, March 6, 2021

These New Yorkers Don’t Care What’s Playing in Theaters. They’re Just Happy to be Back at the Movies by Rebecca Rubin

For New York City residents Marina Thomas and Brandt Kempin, going to the movies carries near spiritual significance. “It’s a version of church,” Kempin says. The couple returned to th…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:28PM
Sunday, February 28, 2021

Box Office: ‘Tom and Jerry’ Opens to Surprisingly Strong $13.7 Million, Giving Movie Theaters Hope by Rebecca Rubin

Warner Bros.’ animated family film “Tom and Jerry” debuted to $13.7 million at the domestic box office, one of the biggest opening weekend hauls of the coronavirus era and a signal tha…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:44PM
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

New York City Movie Theaters Can Finally Reopen. Will People Return? by Rebecca Rubin

For the first time in nearly a year, New York-based movie theater operator Nicolas Nicolaou can breathe a sigh of relief. That’s because Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that cinemas across the…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:56PM
Monday, February 22, 2021

New York City Movie Theaters Can Reopen at Limited Capacity, Gov. Cuomo Says by Rebecca Rubin

After nearly a year of closures, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given movie theaters in New York City permission to reopen at limited capacity starting on March 5. During his daily press bri…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:17PM
Thursday, February 18, 2021

Lupita Nyong’o Children’s Book ‘Sulwe’ Getting Adapted Into Animated Netflix Musical by Rebecca Rubin

Lupita Nyongo’s children’s book “Sulwe” will be adapted into an animated musical for Netflix. Written by Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, the book follows a young Kenyan…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM

Philip Seymour Hoffman Scholarship Set at NYU’s Tisch School (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

NYU Tisch School of the Arts has established a scholarship in honor of alumnus Philip Seymour Hoffman. The $50,000 grant will support Tisch drama students who demonstrate financial need, aca…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM
Friday, February 12, 2021

‘My Little Pony’ Movie Skipping Theaters to Debut on Netflix (EXCLUSIVE) by Rebecca Rubin

“My Little Pony,” an animated movie aimed at family audiences, is heading to Netflix. Paramount Pictures was originally set to distribute the film, which had been scheduled to open in t…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:15PM
Tuesday, February 9, 2021

‘Wizard of Oz’ Remake in the Works at New Line With Director Nicole Kassell by Rebecca Rubin

Hold on to your ruby red slippers and break out the pointy black hats: A “Wizard of Oz” remake is in the works at New Line Cinema. Nicole Kassell (“Watchmen”) is directing the adapta…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:13PM
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

‘Come From Away’ Plans Live Filmed Version of Broadway Musical by Rebecca Rubin

While Broadway remains dark, Entertainment One is bringing the musical “Come From Away” to audiences at home. The company is producing and financing a live stage recording of the Tony Aw…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:43PM
Sunday, January 31, 2021

Denzel Washington’s ‘The Little Things’ Leads Box Office Despite HBO Max Debut by Rebecca Rubin

Would audiences pay to see a new movie in theaters if they could watch the same title at home from the comfort of their couch? Prior to the pandemic, the response from theater operators and …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:33PM

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