All stories by Brent Lang on BroadwayStars

Friday, January 14, 2022

NYC Media and Entertainment Commissioner on Omicron’s Impact on Broadway and Production by Brent Lang

The holiday season was supposed to be a celebratory time for New York City’s theater and live events industries, marking a period of revival after months of setbacks and closures related t…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:37PM
Wednesday, January 5, 2022

TodayTix Group Buys Goldstar, Live Entertainment Ticketing Service (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

TodayTix Group has acquired Goldstar, a live events ticketing platform that operates in 60 cities across the country. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it comes as TodayTix…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:00AM
Sunday, January 2, 2022

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Announces Broadway Hiatus Until March as COVID Hurts Ticket Sales by Brent Lang

The producers of “Mrs. Doubtfire” will suspend performances of the musical until March 14 as the show struggles to find a way to survive during a resurgence of COVID-19 that has imperile…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:40PM
Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Hugh Jackman Tests Positive for COVID-19, ‘Music Man’ Cancels Performances by Brent Lang

“The Music Man” will cancel performances through Jan. 1 after Hugh Jackman tested positive for COVID-19. The revival of Meredith Wilson’s classic musical is one of the hottest tickets …

SOURCE: Variety at 02:17PM

‘Ain’t Too Proud’ Becomes Latest Broadway Musical to Close as COVID Hits Theater Business Hard by Brent Lang

Broadway is losing another show. “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations,” the jukebox musical about the influential vocal group behind “My Girl” and “Ain’t …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:58AM
Friday, December 17, 2021

Omicron Is Here and Hollywood Is Finally Taking Notice by Brent Lang

On Monday, Sony Pictures Entertainment hosted a raucous premiere for “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” a superhero adventure widely expected to generate a new COVID-era record opening weekend. …

SOURCE: Variety at 05:41PM
Thursday, December 9, 2021

‘Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook’ to Stream on BroadwayHD (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

BroadwayHD, a streaming service based around live theater, will exclusively show “Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook” starting this month. The show is from Broadway and film composer, Stephe…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Sidney Poitier’s Life Story Inspires Broadway Play From Charles Randolph-Wright, Ruben Santiago-Hudson (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Few stars shone as brightly as Sidney Poitier. In films like “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night,” Poitier turned in powerful performances that electrified…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:38AM
Sunday, November 28, 2021

Geoffrey Johnson, Casting Director of ‘Cats’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ Dies at 91 by Brent Lang

Geoffrey Johnson, the casting director for “Cats” and “Les Miserables,” died Friday in New York City at the age of 91, Variety has confirmed. The cause was respiratory failure. In …

SOURCE: Variety at 12:34PM
Saturday, November 27, 2021

Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ Cancels Saturday Performance Due to Positive COVID Tests by Brent Lang

“Chicago,” the long-running revival of the classic musical about greed and corruption, canceled its Saturday performance on Broadway after two people who work at the Ambassador Theatre t…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:47PM
Wednesday, November 24, 2021

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Tour Suspends James D. Beeks After Actor Is Charged With U.S. Capitol Siege by Brent Lang

The U.S. touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” has suspended James D. Beeks from its ensemble after the musical theater performer was arrested on charges related to the Jan. 6 a…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:59AM

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Finalist Rosé Starring in Musical Comedy ‘Fowl Play’ (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” finalist Rosé will star in “Fowl Play, a new musical comedy about the story of two queer theater writers who are commissioned to write an apology for a fried ch…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:01AM
Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Billy Crystal Reprising Role in Broadway Musical Adaptation of ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ by Brent Lang

Thirty years ago, Billy Crystal brought the story of Buddy Young Jr., a stand-up comic whose talent can’t outrun his self-destructive tendencies, to the big screen with “Mr. Saturday Nig…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM
Monday, November 8, 2021

Mentalist Jason Suran Announces In-Person Residence at Fifty Hotel (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Mentalist Jason Suran will start an in-person residence this month at the Fifty Hotel & Suites by Affinia. Dubbed “One in a Million: An Evening of Extraordinary Events,” the show wil…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:40PM
Tuesday, November 2, 2021

‘Karen Dalton,’ Play About Bob Dylan’s Favorite Singer, Lands Industry Reading (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

“Karen Dalton,” a play with music written by Evan Enderle, will receive an industry reading on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at The Flea’s Siggy Theater. The show centers on …

SOURCE: Variety at 03:01PM
Monday, November 1, 2021

Audra McDonald Returns to Broadway in ‘Ohio State Murders’ by Brent Lang

Audra McDonald, the undisputed queen of live theater, will return to Broadway in “Ohio State Murders,” a new play by Adrienne Kennedy. The show, which will look at the destructiveness an…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM
Friday, October 29, 2021

James McAvoy Bringing Award-Winning ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ to Brooklyn Academy of Music by Brent Lang

James McAvoy will tread the boards in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Academy of Music unveiled new dates on Friday for Jamie Lloyd’s Olivier-winning revival of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” which was …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:03AM
Monday, October 18, 2021

Producers Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Seth A. Goldstein Form Broadway Transmedia Company Hugo Six (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Producers Isaac Robert Hurwitz and Seth A. Goldstein are teaming up to launch Hugo Six, a transmedia production company that will focus on Broadway content and talent. Co-founded by Hurwitz …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:46AM
Friday, October 15, 2021

‘Schitt’s Creek’ Star Noah Reid Replacing Armie Hammer in Broadway’s ‘The Minutes’ by Brent Lang

Noah Reid, best known for causing David Rose to fall madly in love on “Schitt’s Creek,” has joined the cast of “The Minutes,” a new play by Tracy Letts that was in previews in Marc…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:26AM
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway’s Reopening, ‘Cinderella’ and Why the ‘Cats’ Movie Caused Him to Buy a Dog by Brent Lang

Ever since the chandelier first crashed in thunderous fashion, “The Phantom of the Opera” has been a fixture of Broadway, becoming as iconic a symbol of theatergoing as the celebrity car…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM

Ramin Karimloo, Jane Lynch and Jared Grimes Join Beanie Feldstein in ‘Funny Girl’ Revival by Brent Lang

Ramin Karimloo, Jane Lynch and Jared Grimes will join the Broadway revival of “Funny Girl.” The show is already set to star “Booksmart’s” Beanie Feldstein in the role of Fanny Bric…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Monday, September 27, 2021

Michael Cassel Group, Sydney Theatre Company Sign First Look Pact (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Sydney Theatre Company and Michael Cassel Group have signed a commercial first look agreement for all future works produced by the theatre company. As part of the pact, STC’s productions w…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:53PM

‘Slave Play’ Sets Broadway Return Despite Tony Awards Snub by Brent Lang

“Slave Play,” Jeremy O. Harris’ searing look at racism and sexuality, will return to Broadway this fall. The show, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, a record for a non-musical, w…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:12AM
Sunday, September 26, 2021

Tony Awards 2021: ‘Moulin Rouge!’ ‘The Inheritance,’ ‘A Soldier’s Play’ Big Winners in Emotional Show by Brent Lang

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” a stage adaptation of the poplar movie, dominated an unorthodox and highly emotional 74th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, winning ten prizes, including the sta…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:39PM
Thursday, September 9, 2021

‘Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody’ Returning to Off-Broadway (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

“Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody,” a sendup of the beloved Richard Curtis rom-com classic, will return to the stage. The Off-Broadway production, which is produced by Righ…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:00PM
Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Transgender March on Broadway Protests Cameron Mackintosh Casting Comments, Calls For Greater Representation by Brent Lang

Transgender actors and advocates for greater trans inclusion on Broadway gathered in the heart of Manhattan’s theater district on Monday. Called the Trans March on Broadway, the event was …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:14AM
Friday, September 3, 2021

‘Pass Over’ Breakout Namir Smallwood on His Long Road to Broadway by Brent Lang

When Namir Smallwood took the stage for the first preview of his first show on Broadway, the audience gave him and his “Pass Over” co-star Jon Michael Hill a thunderous standing ovation.…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:43PM
Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Tamsen Fadal’s Nationally Syndicated Broadway Show Gets New Name (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Curtains up on a new name for Tamsen Fadal’s nationally syndicated Broadway program. “Broadway Profiles With Tamsen Fadal” will be re-titled “The Broadway Show With Tamsen Fadal.” …

SOURCE: Variety at 03:03PM
Thursday, August 19, 2021

Political Consultant Hank Morris Turns Battles With Andrew Cuomo Into Off-Broadway Musical (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

In 2010, Hank Morris, a big-time political consultant and powerbroker, pleaded guilty to involvement in a pension fraud pay-to-play scandal. Andrew Cuomo, who was then serving as New York’…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM

Jeff Daniels, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Celebrate Broadway’s Return in Short Film (EXCLUSIVE) by Brent Lang

Jeff Daniels is ready to welcome audiences back to Broadway. The producing team behind “Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird,” a box office juggernaut that already ranks as the most succ…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:00AM
Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Beanie Feldstein Starring as Fanny Brice in Broadway Revival of ‘Funny Girl’ by Brent Lang

No one is going to rain on Beanie Feldstein’s parade. The “Booksmart” star will play Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl,” giving the actress an opportunity to put her own spin on a role th…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:00PM

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