All stories by Sam Eckmann on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Tony Awards: Best Play frontrunner 'Oslo' faces strong challenge from 'A Doll's House Part 2' by Sam Eckmann

The 2016-2017 Broadway season has been an unusually strong one for straight plays. So it is only fitting that the race for Best Play remains in flux just hours before ballots are due on Frid…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:30PM[SHARE]
Monday, May 1, 2017

Tony Awards: Four performers that could pull off shocking upsets … if they get nominated! by Sam Eckmann

The Tony Awards nominating committee has a difficult job every year, and shows that have already closed are always in danger of being forgotten. So it’s important to highlight some ast…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM[SHARE]

2017 Tony Awards nominations: Last minute-panic over predictions [WATCH] by Sam Eckmann

Just hours before Tony Awards nomination are announced on May 2, Gold Derby's in-house trio of theater pundits — David Buchanan, Paul Sheehan and myself – got together online …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:30PM[SHARE]
Saturday, April 29, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: Laurie Metcalf is force of nature in 'A Doll's House, Part 2' by Sam Eckmann

Laurie Metcalf has won three Emmys for her role on "Roseanne," but a Tony win still eludes her despite three previous nominations. That could change this June thanks to a heavy hitting role …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, April 28, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: Michelle Wilson ('Sweat') shows immense range as Cynthia by Sam Eckmann

Lynn Nottage's new play "Sweat" doesn't possess any "star names" above the title, but its stellar ensemble cast is sure giving some star-worthy performances. One standout is Michelle Wilson,…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 27, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: Lindsay Mendez pulls no punches in 'Significant Other' by Sam Eckmann

Lindsay Mendez has been on Broadway before, singing opposite Sherie Renee Scott in "Everyday Rapture," and belting out 'Defying Gravity' during a stint in "Wicked," but has yet to find that …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:30PM[SHARE]

What new category do YOU want to see at the Tony Awards? [POLL] by Sam Eckmann

It was recently announced that the Tony Awards would reinstate the previously nixed Best Sound Design categories. The two awards, handed out to a play and musical, were eliminated in 2014. B…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Tony Awards: Which Featured performer should go Lead to boost their odds of winning? [POLL] by Sam Eckmann

If you've been having difficulty making your Tony Awards predictions for Featured Actor and Actress in a Play this year, you are not alone. The current Broadway season could easily be summed…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM[SHARE]
Friday, April 21, 2017

Can Bette Midler and company break the 'Hello, Dolly!' Tony Awards curse? by Sam Eckmann

If you're even remotely aware of Broadway, you probably know that celebrated diva Bette Midler is starring in a lush revival of "Hello, Dolly!" at the Shubert Theatre. The show has been brea…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: 'Significant Other' makes a star out of Gideon Glick by Sam Eckmann

Gideon Glick made his Broadway debut in the original company of "Spring Awakening." Though he would go on to roles in "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and "Into the Wood" in Central Park (opp…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:30PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: Michael Aronov steals the show in 'Oslo' by Sam Eckmann

Standing out in a crowded ensemble requires immense commitment from the actor to their character. And with a perfect marriage of role and actor, that is exactly what Michael Aronov achieves …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM[SHARE]

Tony Awards spotlight: Simon McBurney mystifies in 'The Encounter' by Sam Eckmann

The great part about giving a solo performance, is come Tony time, no one can pull focus from you. That will be a major benefit to Simon McBurney as he tries to crack the crowded field for B…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:30PM[SHARE]
Monday, April 17, 2017

Tony Awards spotlight: Stephanie J. Block brings down the house in 'Falsettos' by Sam Eckmann

Stephanie J. Block, one of Broadway's top belting divas, has repeatedly missed her date with the Tony Awards despite a celebrated career. Her first, and so far only, Tony nomination came …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:30PM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 6, 2017

'War Paint': Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole face off at Tony Awards? by Sam Eckmann

Two of mightiest stage divas in world have returned to Broadway on the same bill. Tony winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole star in the new musical "War Paint."  These theater lege…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, March 31, 2017

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul could EGOT before Lin-Manuel Miranda thanks to 'Dear Evan Hansen' by Sam Eckmann

"La La Land" didn't wind up winning Best Picture, but Oscar night was still celebratory for songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Their catchy tune "City of Stars" beat Lin-Manuel Miranda'…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:30PM[SHARE]
Friday, March 17, 2017

Tony Awards 2017: Best Play could be filled with Broadway writing debuts by Sam Eckmann

Ten new plays compete for the Best Play award at the upcoming Tonys. Though the scribes of these new works range from veteran playwrights to young up and comers, all but one of these play…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:30AM[SHARE]
Thursday, February 23, 2017

Tony Awards poll results: Who do you want to host the 2017 ceremony? by Sam Eckmann

There has been no official announcement regarding who will inherit hosting duties for the 71st annual Tony Awards, but that hasn't stopped us from voicing our own opinions. We asked our read…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM[SHARE]
Saturday, February 11, 2017

Who do YOU think should host the 2017 Tony Awards? [POLL] by Sam Eckmann

Sure, the 2017 Tony Awards aren’t until Sunday June 11 but by this time last year, we already knew who would host Broadway's biggest night: James Corden was announced on February…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:30PM[SHARE]
Monday, October 10, 2016

EGOT champ Scott Rudin could win three more Tony Awards this Broadway season by Sam Eckmann

At the 2016 Tony Awards, Scott Rudin was the lead producer on two top Tony winners. "The Humans" claimed Best Play and "A View from the Bridge" snagged Best Play Revival. Not surprisingly, t…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:22AM[SHARE]
Saturday, June 11, 2016

Tony Awards 2016 predictions: Toughest 3 musical categories made easy by Sam Eckmann

The design categories at the Tony Awards may not be the most exciting races to casual viewers but guessing the correct winners could be the key to prevailing in Gold Derby's prediction conte…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:56PM[SHARE]

Tony Awards 2016 predictions: Toughest 3 play categories made easy by Sam Eckmann

I often find that the design categories for plays at the Tony Awards are the easiest to predict. Oftentimes there is one show with the grandest or most obvious achievement in design, as with…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:56PM[SHARE]
Friday, June 10, 2016

[WATCH] Tony Awards predictions preview: Creative arts races are key to winning our contest by Sam Eckmann

With only a few days until this year’s Tony Awards ceremony, Gold Derby’s in-house Tony trio — Executive Editor Paul Sheehan, contributor David Buchana and myself …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:46AM[SHARE]
Monday, May 30, 2016

Tony Awards 2016: Best Director (Play) could split from top races for only third time ever by Sam Eckmann

At the Tonys, the Best Director (Play) award usually goes to the helmer of either the Best Play or Best Play Revival winner. Indeed, since the Play Revival category was created in 1994…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:42PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 26, 2016

Matt Windman's 'The Critics Say …' is a must-read book for theater awards fans by Sam Eckmann

If you're a theatre nerd like me, you likely spend opening nights parsing through reviews to find out how the latest Broadway show fared with the critics. Amidst the cacophony of voices, you…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:54PM[SHARE]
Monday, May 2, 2016

Tony Awards voters: Attention must be paid to these 4 performances from plays by Sam Eckmann

Just as I did with the four musical acting categories, here are a quartet of performances on the play side that warrant consideration by the Tony Awards nominating committee, which is mee…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:21PM[SHARE]

Hey, Tony Awards nominations committee: Remember these 4 performances by Sam Eckmann

As the 50 members of the Tony Awards nominating committee come together on Monday to vote on the best of the Broadway season, it's time to remind them of performers who are sitting "on the b…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:51AM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off