All stories by Amanda Spears on BroadwayStars

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Emmys 2018: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar: Live’ could break the awards curse of this landmark musical by Amanda Spears

When “Jesus Christ Superstar” first debuted as a concept album in 1970, it was considered so sacrilegious by some that it was banned by the BBC.Fast-forward 48 years, and attitudes…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Monday, August 13, 2018

2018 Emmy slugfest: Holy war between ‘Godless’ and godly (‘Jesus Christ Superstar’) nominees for Movie/Mini Directing? [WATCH] by Amanda Spears

“The obvious choice is Ryan Murphy for ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ because it’s the Limited Series front-runner and those often go hand in hand with a directing win…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM
Friday, April 6, 2018

Emmys 2018: Claire Foy (‘The Crown’) could have an advantage over Elisabeth Moss thanks to her 2 SAG Award wins by Amanda Spears

Everything was going Claire Foy’s way on the awards scene for the first season of “The Crown,” which premiered in the fall of 2016. For playing Queen Elizabeth II she won both a Golden…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM
Saturday, January 27, 2018

2018 Grammys predictions: ‘Hello, Dolly!’ could upset ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ because voters love divas like Bette Midler by Amanda Spears

2017 Tony winner for Best Musical “Dear Evan Hansen” heads into this weekend’s Grammys as the heavy favorite to win Best Musical Theater Album. Since 2001 10 Tony winners for Best …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Tuesday, December 26, 2017

2018 Golden Globes: Are we underestimating Aaron Sorkin (‘Molly’s Game’) for Best Screenplay? by Amanda Spears

Aaron Sorkin is one of the most famous writers in Hollywood. He’s responsible for creating the television series “The West Wing” and “The Newsroom” as well as the films “A Few Go…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Monday, December 4, 2017

2018 Grammys predictions: Can ‘Game of Thrones’ take down ‘La La Land’ for Best Visual Media Score by Amanda Spears

“Game of Thrones” has naturally focused its awards attention on winning TV kudos like the Emmys. But there is one top music award they’ve been repeatedly snubbed for in the past but no…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM
Tuesday, June 20, 2017

John Lithgow (‘The Crown’) on brink of making Emmy history for playing Winston Churchill by Amanda Spears

John Lithgow has had a great start to his Emmy campaign for Best Drama Supporting Actor for his role as Prime Minister Winston Churchill on Netflix’s “The Crown.” He took home trop…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:15PM
Thursday, June 8, 2017

Winston Churchill: Who has played him on-screen, from John Lithgow to Richard Burton by Amanda Spears

Sir Winston Churchill is one of the most famous prime ministers of Great Britain, serving from 1940-1945 and again from 1951-1955. He has been portrayed many times on film and television, wi…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:30PM
Thursday, April 20, 2017

Grammy battle brewing: ‘La La Land’ vs. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ pits Oscar winners against each other by Amanda Spears

The Grammys love their high-profile “moments,” but often some of the most interesting moments take place before the telecast. The upcoming 2018 Grammys may have one such fascinat…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00PM
Thursday, April 13, 2017

Emmy spotlight: Choreographer Mandy Moore (‘La La Land,’ ‘Dancing with the Stars’) deserves to finally win by Amanda Spears

Mandy Moore is a name that kept coming up during the fall awards season, and I don’t mean the actress from “This Is Us” (though she should also get an Emmy nomination). I&#…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00PM
Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Will John Lithgow score Emmy nominations for both ‘The Crown’ and ‘Trial & Error’? by Amanda Spears

John Lithgow surprised many with his sensitive portrayal of Winston Churchill in Netflix’s “The Crown,” winning Best Drama Supporting Actor at the Critics’ Choice Aw…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Thursday, February 23, 2017

‘La La Land’ has narrow Oscar lead for Best Costume Design with 21-to-20 odds from Experts by Amanda Spears

With 21/20 odds from our 29 movie Experts, “La La Land” is predicted to win Best Costume Design at Sunday’s Academy Awards. Its costumes were designed by Mary Zophres who is a past Osc…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Wednesday, February 22, 2017

‘La La Land’ is the Oscar frontrunner for Best Sound Mixing with 4-to-11 odds from Experts by Amanda Spears

With 4/11 odds from our 28 movie Experts, “La La Land” is predicted to win Best Sound Mixing at Sunday’s Academy Awards. Andy Nelson is a past two-time Oscar winner (“Saving Priv…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:40PM
Monday, February 20, 2017

Oscar for Best Production Design: Why ‘La La Land’ & ‘Fantastic Beasts’ get a boost from their costumes by Amanda Spears

Best Production Design and Best Costume Design are two categories at the Oscars where scoring a nomination for both is critical to a film’s chances of winning either (read more on how that…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM

‘La La Land’ is the new ‘Gigi,’ the musical that swept the Oscars in 1958 by Amanda Spears

Movie musicals, a one-time staple of Hollywood, were all but extinct until “Chicago” won the Best Picture Oscar in 2002. Since then, a film adaptation of a Broadway musical has been r…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:30AM
Friday, February 17, 2017

Oscars: Why ‘Jackie’s’ costume designer should root against ‘La La Land’s’ production designer by Amanda Spears

Best Costume Design and Best Production Design are two categories at the Oscars where scoring a nomination for both is critical to a film’s chances of winning either. Of the 85 times these…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Thursday, February 16, 2017

Will ‘La La Land’ win Best Picture on first round of preferential ballot counting? by Amanda Spears

The Best Picture winner at the Oscars is determined by a preferential vote unlike the other categories which are decided by a straight plurality. With potentially up to 10 nominees, no one…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM
Monday, February 13, 2017

Will Denzel Washington & Viola Davis join these 9 actors who won Tony & Oscar for the same role [PHOTOS] by Amanda Spears

Only nine performers have won both a Tony and Oscar for their portrayal of the same role. “Fences” stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis (“Fences”) hope to be next for reprising th…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM
Friday, February 3, 2017

No laughing matter: Emma Stone (‘La La Land’) has to overcome BAFTA bias against comedy actresses by Amanda Spears

Emma Stone has been on an awards roll as of late for her singing and dancing performance as struggling actress Mia in the Oscar Best Picture frontrunner “La La Land.” So far Stone has pi…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:30PM
Thursday, February 2, 2017

Damien Chazelle (‘La La Land’): Why a BAFTA win may be even more crucial than DGA for Oscar glory by Amanda Spears

Everything appears to be going Damien Chazelle’s way with “La La Land” and he could very well make history as the youngest winner of the Best Director Oscar. His film just scored a rec…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:45PM
Monday, January 30, 2017

‘Beauty and the Beast’ cast: Your first look at Disney’s live-action adaptation [PHOTOS] by Amanda Spears

Here is your first look at Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” the live-action adaptation of the animated classic directed by Bill Condon. A previous Oscar winner for Best Adapted Screenp…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:15PM
Thursday, January 19, 2017

Oscars record for ‘La La Land’: Will it be the 3rd film ever to receive 14 nominations? by Amanda Spears

“All About Eve” (1950) and “Titanic” (1997) are currently tied for the most Oscar nominations in history with 14 each. If “La La Land” should equal this haul on Tuesday, January …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:15PM
Wednesday, January 18, 2017

[PHOTOS] Will Ryan Gosling (‘La La Land’) join this list of Oscar-nominated musical men? by Amanda Spears

Twenty-five actors have been nominated for either Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for their work in movie musicals. Of those 25 actors, seven have gone on to win. Please ta…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:00PM
Thursday, January 12, 2017

Bryan Cranston (‘All the Way’): Top 4 reasons why I’m predicting him for SAG Awards upset by Amanda Spears

Bryan Cranston will contend at the SAG Awards for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor for his reprisal of his Tony winning role as President Lyndon B. Johnson in “All the Way.” According …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:15AM
Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Will Denzel Washington (‘Fences’) become 2nd actor to direct himself to victory at SAG Awards? by Amanda Spears

Denzel Washington went home empty handed at the Golden Globes, losing Best Film Drama Actor to Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”). But Washington is not out of the Oscar race yet. R…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Can Kevin Spacey (‘House of Cards’) make SAG Awards history by winning three in a row? by Amanda Spears

Poor Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”) — he fell victim a few months ago to the SAG-winner curse at the Emmys when he lost Best Drama Actor to Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”). …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Tuesday, December 20, 2016

[PHOTOS] Will Emma Stone (‘La La Land’) join these 31 musical actresses who earned Oscar nominations? by Amanda Spears

Thirty-one actress have been nominated for either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for their work in movie musicals. Of these, eight have gone on to win. To find out who…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:31PM
Monday, December 19, 2016

[PHOTOS] What 10 movie musicals have won Best Picture Oscar, and will ‘La La Land’ be the 11th? by Amanda Spears

Of the 32 movie musicals nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars only 10 have won. “La La Land,” which is aiming to be the 11th, would be the first original tuner to do so in 58 year…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:58PM

Can Damien Chazelle (‘La La Land’) break Golden Globes curse against musical directors? by Amanda Spears

“La La Land” just scored a whopping seven Golden Globe nominations: Best Film Comedy/Musical, Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Film Comedy/Musical Actress (Emma Stone)…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:35PM

John Lithgow (‘The Crown’) could make SAG Awards history as 1st winner for both comedy and drama by Amanda Spears

John Lithgow is one of television’s most beloved stars and he’s at a career best as Winston Churchill in Netflix’s “The Crown.” The accolades have already started to accumulate…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:34PM
Friday, December 16, 2016

‘La La Land’ could set Golden Globes record as the most awarded film ever by Amanda Spears

“La La Land” had a great Monday when the Golden Globe nominations were announced, scoring seven noms, more than any other film: Best Film Comedy/Musical, Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor (…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:35PM

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