All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Phenom: “Hamilton” Soundtrack Is Now Number 1 AND 2 on iTunes, With Six Tracks on the Singles Charts by Roger Friedman

I told you already this week, the “Hamilton” soundtrack is number 1 on iTunes, where it’s selling downloads by the thousands. “Hamilton”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:06PM
Monday, July 6, 2020

Exclusive: RIP Nick Cordero, Beloved Tony Nominated Broadway Star Who Spent 91 Days in Hospital with COVID by Roger Friedman

UPDATE Unfortunately, I can confirm that the story is true. Nick is said to have passed around 11:30am at Cedars Sinai in

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:12PM

“Hamilton” CD Soars Back to Number 1 on iTunes, Sells More Copies Over Weekend than It Did Last Week by Roger Friedman

“Hamilton” is on Disney Plus so we’re never going to know how well it’s doing, or did on its first weekend of

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:12PM

Nick Cordero’s Wife, Amanda, Writes About His Tragic Death: “My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him” by Roger Friedman

Amanda Kloots, Nick Cordero’s devoted wife, has posted a long, sad message to Instagram following her husband’s death. She writes: “God has

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:12PM
Friday, July 3, 2020

Cirque du Soleil Bankruptcy Also Involves the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Blue Man Group, and Quebec– Not Just Flying Acrobats by Roger Friedman

When anyone says Cirque du Soleil you think of flying acrobats, nameless, faceless bodies from shows with strange names. But the recent

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42AM

Broadway: Batter Up! “Take Me Out” Revival With “Suits” Star Patrick J. Adams and Jesse Williams Books April 2021 Opening by Roger Friedman

Add another show to next April 2021 on Broadway. The revival of the baseball musical “Take me Out” has set March 22nd

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42AM
Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Disney’s $75 Mil Pays Off: “Hamilton” Film Scores a 100 on Rotten Tomatoes, Soundtrack Jumps Back to Number 1 Almost 5 Years After Release by Roger Friedman

The “Hamilton” CD, the score to the hit Broadway show, was released on September 25, 2015. It was a hit right away,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:18PM
Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Review: Oscar Contender “Hamilton” On Film for DisneyPlus Puts Us Right in the Room Where it Happened by Roger Friedman

I always say, and you may, too: Donald Trump doesn’t realize who will write his story. Lin Manuel Miranda got that when

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:42AM
Monday, June 29, 2020

Flashback Review: “Hamilton” Opens at the Public Theater February 17, 2015 And Shakes the Whole World by Roger Friedman

I was lucky enough to attend the opening of “Hamilton” at the Public Theater on February 17, 2015. To say everyone in

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:32PM

Broadway League Says Theaters Will Remain Shut At Least Until January 3, 2021 Because of Virus Fears by Roger Friedman

Broadway will remain shut down at least until January 3rd, 2021 says the Broadway League. It’s because, as we know, social distancing

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:24PM
Thursday, June 25, 2020

Broadway Shows “American Buffalo” and “The Minutes,” Set for Next Spring After COVID Postponement by Roger Friedman

Great news! The revival of David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” and the launch of Tracy Letts’ “The Minutes” will open on Broadway next

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:03PM

Broadway Star Nick Cordero’s Wife Posts Long Update: “Nick is profoundly weak. Is this defeating? Sometimes it is, I won’t lie” by Roger Friedman

Nick Cordero: his wife Amanda Kloots has posted a long, honest message on Instagram. I have copied it here. This poor guy.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:03PM

80 Days in Hospital: Broadway Star Nick Cordero “has a little bit of a new infection…but it’s under control” says wife by Roger Friedman

Over 80 days in the hospital, still just described as “alert” but not talking Broadway star Nick Cordero is still suffering from

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:42AM
Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Hugh Jackman’s “Music Man” Broadway Revival Sets Opening for May 2021– After Usual Tony Award Eligibility by Roger Friedman

I guess producer Scott Rudin doesn’t care if his very very expensive “Music Man” revival gets Tony Awards in 2021. Rudin has

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:42PM
Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Here’s the Trailer for “Hamilton” the Filmed Stage Version of the Broadway Mega-hit, Coming July 3rd to DisneyPlus by Roger Friedman

The filmed stage version of “Hamilton” comes to DisneyPlus on July 3rd. The mega hit musical will one day be a real

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:06AM

What Lin Manuel Miranda Did So Disney Plus Would Rate “Hamilton” Telefilm PG-13 Instead of R by Roger Friedman

On Twitter just now, Lin Manuel Miranda explained what he gave up so DisneyPlus would rate the “Hamilton” telefilm PG-13 instead of

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:06AM
Friday, June 19, 2020

Broadway Star Nick Cordero’s Wife Says He’s Lost 65 Pounds Since Hospitalization, Blood Pressure “All Over the Place,” Can’t Move or Speak by Roger Friedman

Nick Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, took live questions over Instagram last night. She keeps an upbeat visage, but the news isn’t very

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:42AM
Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Broadway Must See for June 17th: Three Time Tony Nominee Rebecca Luker Will Be Feted Online by Katie Couric, “Tootsie” Star Santino Fontana by Roger Friedman

Rebecca Luker is one of Broadway’s great stars. She has three Tony nominations, ranging from 1995 to 2007. She was most recently

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42AM
Tuesday, June 9, 2020

“Grease” Was Not the Word: CBS Sunday Night Sing-a-long Replacement for Tony Awards Beaten by…Celebrity Family Feud by Roger Friedman

“Grease” was not the word Sunday night. CBS’s answer to not having the Tony Awards was a sing-a-long to the movie “Grease,”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:48AM
Saturday, June 6, 2020

Cops Arrest Elton John’s Broadway Songwriting Partner on “Devil Wears Prada” for Cheering on Protestors from Stoop by Roger Friedman

NYPD over zealousness hit a really sour note Thursday. Cops arrested songwriter Shaina Taub, who’s writing the musical “The Devil Wears Prada”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54PM
Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Broadway Star Nick Cordero’s Wife, Amanda, Sad Admission After 62 Days Unconscious: “I’ve been told to say goodbye…” by Roger Friedman

After 62 days suffering from the effects of COVID 19, Nick Cordero’s wife Amanda Kloots is sadly admitting what the doctors have

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:42PM
Sunday, May 31, 2020

Reality Check on the Saga of Nick Cordero After 61 Days Wife Admits: “We’re at a standstill…Looking for a miracle” by Roger Friedman

Reality is setting in unfortunately on the status of Broadway star Nick Cordero. His wife, Amanda Kloots, has posted to Instagram stories

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:36PM

Stevie van Zandt, Vinnie Pastore Launch a Sopranos-E Street Tribute to Nick Cordero with His Song “Live Your Life” by Roger Friedman

All the coolest people in New York have gotten together for a tribute to Broadway star Nick Cordero. It’s a Sopranos-E Street-Broadway

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:12AM
Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Larry Kramer, Fierce AIDS Activist and Playwright Author of “The Normal Heart,” Dies of Pneumonia at Age 84 by Roger Friedman

Larry Kramer, the most ferocious AIDS activist in history, and playwright author of “The Normal Heart,” has died at age 84. The

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:03PM
Friday, May 22, 2020

NYC’s Famed Public Theater Will Stream All-Star Show with Sting, Glenn Close, Audra McDonald, Oscar Isaac, Elvis Costello, More by Roger Friedman

New York’s famed Public Theater is losing a lot of money while the lockdown continues. Their revenue stream needs a big shot

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54AM

Steven Spielberg to Produce First Ever Broadway Musical, “Smash,” Based on the Failed Cult NBC TV Show by Roger Friedman

Steven Spielberg has produced dozens of movies and TV shows but just one Broadway play. “The Farnsworth Invention,” written by Aaron Sorkin,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54AM

Broadway Will Celebrate the Tony Awards as Planned on June 7th, Retaliation Against CBS “Grease” Screening by Roger Friedman

Well played! The Tony Awards will be celebrated on June 7th as planned, streaming on Broadway.com. The John Gore Organization will produce

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54AM
Wednesday, May 20, 2020

CBS Will Replace the Tony Awards with the Movie of “Grease,” A Show That’s Never Won A Tony Award by Roger Friedman

“Grease” is the word. The movie of “Grease” will air on CBS on Sunday, June 7th in place of the Tony Awards.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:24AM

Condition of Broadway Star Nick Cordero, Still on a Tracheostomy Ventilator, Continues to Be Up in the Air by Roger Friedman

I can’t imagine what life is like right now for Amanda Kloots, the devoted young wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero. Forty

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:24AM
Friday, May 15, 2020

Broadway Star Nick Cordero’s Wife Amanda Says: “He is starting to wake up” after Six Weeks in a Coma Because of Corona virus by Roger Friedman

Amanda Kloots, wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero, has some hopeful news. She writes on Instagram: “We had some great news this

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:12PM

Disney Plus Moves 11 Tony Award Winner “Hamilton” Up to July from October ’21 to Score Broadway Starved Audience by Roger Friedman

Disney has tried everything to get us to subscribe to Disney Plus– all the “Star Wars” movies, their whole animation catalog, etc.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:12PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre