Why this actress went to dog obedience school by Barbara Hoffman

If Annaleigh Ashford wins another Tony, she may thank Los Angeles' Zoom Room. No, it's not an acting academy: It's a dog school. It was there, while shooting "Masters of...

I beat cancer " and I'm back on Broadway by Barbara Hoffman

How do you measure a year? After her 30th birthday, actress Krysta Rodriguez found herself ticking off her days not in plays or TV shows " or, as in "Rent,"...

This pint-size star is taking Broadway by storm by Barbara Hoffman

She's met Cyndi Lauper, Anna Kendrick and Alan Rickman. When she's not at work, you may catch her dining at the Japanese barbecue joint Gyu-Kaku " or riding her scooter...

Gloria Estefan was almost a CIA agent by Barbara Hoffman

The highs, the lows … the congas! Clearly, Gloria and Emilio Estefan's marriage was meant to be a musical. And now " after playing Chicago, where their friend Rita Moreno...

Meet the woman who holds her own against the 'Hamilton' founding father by Barbara Hoffman

Even the stars of "Hamilton" don't always know which American president, rapper or movie star will pop up there next. Phillipa Soo, one of Lin-Manuel Miranda's co-stars, usually finds out...

Unstoppable Misty Copeland is just getting started by Barbara Hoffman

“Yes," Misty Copeland says shyly. She knows her cellphone screen is broken. "But I don't have time to fix it!" No surprise there: This ballerina's dance card is full. When...

Here are the stars who have seen 'Hamilton' on Broadway by Barbara Hoffman

Overheard at a preview of "Hamilton": A dazed-looking 20-something woman murmuring, "There are no words!" and then finding one " "Amazing!" Elsewhere, a middle-aged man extolled the virtues …

'I went from couch-surfing to starring on Broadway' by Barbara Hoffman

“Sure beats your old place," Daveed Diggs' brother joked when he saw the "Hamilton" star's Washington Heights apartment. That's not saying much" Diggs' "old place" was the No. 2 train.…

Brandy explains why she sang on the subway by Barbara Hoffman

And why she'd do it again.

Colin Quinn sounds off on Amy Schumer, Will Ferrell and Ed Koch by Barbara Hoffman

Colin Quinn doesn't believe in over-researching things. That includes his new one-man show, "The New York Story," which began previews at the Cherry Lane Theatre on Thursday. The show "...

These head shots got Hollywood's hottest stars hired by Barbara Hoffman

It’s the photo that can make or break an actor's career: the head shot " that indispensable casting tool. Lincoln Center's New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has...

Meet the new Jack Black in Broadway's 'School of Rock " The Musical' by Barbara Hoffman

"School of Rock " The Musical" just unveiled its Dewey Finn, and his name is Alex Brightman. Burly, bearded and 28, he'll play the role Jack Black immortalized in the...

Why Tony Danza creeped on Mel Brooks by Barbara Hoffman

Despite "Honeymoon in Vegas" star Tony Danza's all-out efforts " making the rounds of every talk show in town, even cameo appearances at the TKTS booth " the musical closed...

Broadway theaters cram seats together to boost profits by Barbara Hoffman

Broadway's really packing 'em in " literally. We'll probably hear hurrahs at Sunday night's Tony Awards telecast about how theaters this year sold a record 13.1 million seats " but...

Hot & bothered by BARBARA HOFFMAN

The hottest ticket this fall? We're betting on “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” the show that has it all: beloved Broadway stars, hotshot director, killer creative te…

Playing crazy: Sisto's system by BARBARA HOFFMAN

Jeremy Sisto thought he knew what crazy was. After all, he'd played suicidal, sister-obsessed Billy Chenowith of "Six Feet Under" to a bipolar fare-thee-well.But even after three years of r…

Sunset on Yiddish empire by BARBARA HOFFMAN

Fyvush Finkel sees dead theaters — and not just theaters, but an entire ghostly Great White Way: the Yiddish Rialto, which stretched for blocks along Second Avenue on the Lower East Si…

Stewart's backstage costume drama by BARBARA HOFFMAN

In “A Life in the Theatre,” David Mamet's comic valentine to the stage, Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight play actors yoked together in a barrage of bad plays, malfunctioning props…

My New York: Jesse L. Martin by BARBARA HOFFMAN

X'man's by BARBARA HOFFMAN

Talk about moving out of your comfort zone. For his stage debut, David Duchovny chose Neil LaBute's “The Break of Noon” — which features the former FBI Special Agent Fox Mu…

Ab-solute recovery by BARBARA HOFFMAN

As props go, nothing beats a fabulous pair of abs. And Laura Benanti -- who flits through Broadway's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" in various states of distressed undress -- ha…

For star, the play's the fling by BARBARA HOFFMAN

Rebecca Northan -- single, bright and attractive -- has had more than three dozen blind dates, none of which led anywhere. Maybe it's the rubber clown nose. Mostly, though, it's because "Bl…

Save the play for parents by Barbara Hoffman

"Pee-wee's Playhouse" has come and gone, but Playwrights Horizons is just setting up shop. What a concept: in-theater childcare! Beginning with the Feb. 27 matinee of a play called, aptly en…

Austin's powers of attraction by Barbara Hoffman

For a man who's made a ca reer of playing freaks and geeks, Austin Pendleton is quite the babe magnet. At 70 -- looking like an older, sleep-deprived Charlie Brown -- the actor/playwright/d…

Austin's powers of attraction by Barbara Hoffman

For a man who's made a ca reer of playing freaks and geeks, Austin Pendleton is quite the babe magnet. At 70 -- looking like an older, sleep-deprived Charlie Brown -- the actor/playwright/d…

Families that stage together by Barbara Hoffman and Elisabeth Vincentelli

Happy families, Tolstoy mused, are all alike — it's the messy, miserable ones we love to watch. So are great dramas born, from “King Lear” through “Long Day's Journey…

How Diana Ross' daughter learned her dad was Berry Gordy by Barbara Hoffman

Blood will out. Which is why " after her Emmy-nominated turn in the soap "Another World" and launching a real-estate firm " Rhonda Ross is singing again. Backed by an...

How Christian Borle got buff to play the Bard in 'Something Rotten!' by Barbara Hoffman

How big are Christian Borle's arms? Well, they have their own Twitter account " @ChrisBorlesArms " which the star of Broadway's "Something Rotten!" swears he has nothing to do with....

The Broadway star who looks hot in Dr. Zhviago's fur hat by Barbara Hoffman

His bags were packed, his flat rented, a New York apartment awaited. But the night before his big move, Tam Mutu got a phone call: "Rebecca," the financially troubled musical...

Hungry like a 'Wolf': Cafe serves playgoers feast fit for a king by Barbara Hoffman

Three hours of lust, ambition and betrayal can make anyone hungry. Enter the Proper English Feast, where " between parts 1 and 2 of Hilary Mantel's tale of Henry VIII...

Matthew Morrison spoke Hawaiian slang to woo his wife by Barbara Hoffman

Don’t ask Matthew Morrison about the "Glee" wrap party: He wasn't there. As soon as the cast filmed the last of their six-season run, the erstwhile Will Schuester was winging...