All stories by John Semley on BroadwayStars

01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

OLDER >>

Tony Awards News Drama Desk News Outer Critics Circle News

Friday, December 29, 2017

An improv skeptic's serious misgivings on truth in comedy by John Semley

The rise of improv comedy means the joke is most certainly on us all

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail at 02:30PM[SHARE]

Friday, January 27, 2017

How ventriloquist Jeff Dunham wedged himself into mainstream culture by John Semley

The arena-selling American ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has crafted a profitable shtick making slighty edgy, off-colour jokes " with puppets

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail at 03:23PM[SHARE]

OLDER >>

// Recommended  |  viewed  |  Tags

Frank J. Avella: ‘Fallen Angels:’ Kelli O’Hara & Rose Byrne, A Fabulous, Hilarious Theatrical Dream Team

Rachel Sherman: Tony Awards Nominations 2026: Updating List

Michael Paulson And Davaughnia Wilson: Electrical Fire at Broadway Theater Closes ‘Book of Mormon’ Indefinitely

Sophia Rubino: Bess Wohl’s Liberation Wins the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

The New York Times: 5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Belting

Jack Dunn: ‘The Pitt’ Star Isa Briones Calls Out Fans For Screaming at Her During Broadway Show: ‘F—ing Disrespectful’

BroadwayWorld: 2026 Lucille Lortel Awards- Updating Live

Sam Eckmann: 2026 Drama Desk Awards: ‘The Balusters’ scores a pre-Tony bounce, ‘Chess’ and ‘Rocky Horror’ remain in musical revival stalemate

Michael Paulson: ‘Evita,’ Starring Rachel Zegler, Is Heading to Broadway

Carey Purcell: Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney Can't Resist a Doomed Love Story

Frank J. Avella: 2026 Tony Award Nomination Predictions: The Lost Season…For Musicals

Johnny Oleksinski: Brutal Tony Award 2026 nominations kick Adrien Brody and Lea Michele to the curb

Roger Friedman: Broadway Blaze Sends “Book of Mormon” Into Time Out: End of a 15 Year Run for Irreverent Hit Musical Unless “Beaches” Closes

Roger Friedman: Tony Awards Snub Hollywood: No Laurie Metcalf, Adrien Brody, Don Cheadle, Ayo Edibiri, Taraji P. Henson, Cedric, “Dog Day” Actors

Helen Shaw, Jesse Green, Alexis Soloski, Scott Heller, Elisabeth Vincentelli And Laura Collins-Hughes: Tony Nominations Snubs and Surprises: Lea Michele Left Out, ‘Titaníque’ Shines

Clayton Davis: Tony Awards Predictions: 10 Burning Questions, From Scott Rudin’s Return to Record-Breaking Noms for Laurie Metcalf, June Squibb and Danny Burstein

Roger Friedman: Broadway: Drama Critics Skip Best Musical Category in Disappointing Year, Gives Alden Ehrenreich Best Overall Performance

Rachel Sherman: Tony Awards Nominations 2026: Updating List

Suzanna Bowling: Tony Awards Wide Open as Drama Critics’ Circle Sends a Clear Message

BroadwayWorld: NYC Department of Buildings Issues Full Vacate Order at Eugene O'Neill Theatre Following Fire

AUTHORS  |  SITES  

• Adam Feldman
• Adam Hetrick
• Adam Szymkowicz
• Alan Henry
• Alexis Soloski
• Andrew Gans
• Barbara Hoffman
• Ben Brantley
• Beth Stevens
• Bob Cashill
• Brian Scott Lipton
• Caitlin Huston
• Cara Joy David
• Carey Purcell
• Caryn Robbins
• Chad Jones
• Charles Isherwood
• Charles McNulty
• Chris Jones
• Corine Cohen
• Dan Rubins
• Darryl Reilly
• David Cote
• David Dow Bentley III
• David Finkle
• David Gewirtzman
• David Lefkowitz
• David Roberts
• David Rooney
• Deirdre Donovan
• Diep Tran
• Dmitry Zvonkov
• Elisabeth Vincentelli
• Ellis Nassour
• Elysa Gardner
• Elyse Sommer
• Frank Rich
• Frank Rizzo
• Gordon Cox
• Henrik Eger
• Jacob Horn
• James Marino
• Jan Simpson
• Jason Zinoman
• Jeff Lunden
• Jeremy Gerard
• Jesse Oxfeld
• JN Benjamin
• Joe Dziemianowicz
• John Simon
• Jonathan Mandell
• Jordan G. Teicher
• Joseph Cervelli
• Joseph Marzullo
• Josh Ferri
• Justin Chang
• Kathryn Osenlund
• Kathy Henderson
• Ken Davenport
• Ken Levine
• Kenneth Jones
• Laura Axelrod
• Lauren Class Schneider
• Lawrence Bommer
• Lee Seymour
• Leonard Jacobs
• Linda Holt
• Linda Winer
• Lindsay Barenz
• Lisa Kennedy
• Lizzie Loveridge
• Logan Culwell-Block
• Louisa Brady
• Marc Hershberg
• Marcus Crowder
• Margaret Hall
• Mark A. Robinson
• Mark Kennedy
• Mark Robinson
• Mark Shenton
• Mark Swed
• Matt Wolf
• Matthew Blank
• Matthew Murray
• Matthew Wexler
• Melissa Rose Bernardo
• Mia Bonadonna
• Michael Billington
• Michael Dale
• Michael Gioia
• Michael Paulson
• Michael Portantiere
• Michael Riedel
• Michael Roberts
• Michael Sommers
• Milo Shapiro
• Nathan Skethway
• Nicole Rosky
• Nicole Serratore
• Olivia Clement
• Oscar E. Moore
• Pat Cerasaro
• Patrick Healy
• Patrick Hinds
• Paul Wontorek
• Paulanne Simmons
• Penny Landau
• Peter Filichia
• Peter Marks
• Philip Boroff
• Raven Snook
• Richard Ouzounian
• Richard Sasanow
• Richard Seff
• Rob Lester
• Rob Weinert-Kendt
• Robbie Rozelle
• Robert Cashill
• Robert Diamond
• Robert Johnson
• Robert Kahn
• Robert Simonson
• Robert Viagas
• Robin Pogrebin
• Roger Armbrust
• Roger Friedman
• Ron Fassler
• Ronni Reich
• Ruthie Fierberg
• Ryan McPhee
• Sam Thielman
• Samantha Nelson
• Scott Feinberg
• Scott Walters
• Scotty Zacher
• Simon Saltzman
• Steven Suskin
• Susan Davidson
• Susan Grace
• Suzy Evans
• Ted Shen
• Terry Teachout
• Tom Chaits
• Tom Mizer
• Tony Frankel
• Victor Gluck
• Vinnie Costa
• Walter McBride

• American Theatre
• Arts Sarasota
• ArtsJournal
• Associated Press
• Backstage
• Broad Street Review
• Broadway Adjacent
• Broadway Journal
• Broadway News
• Broadway.com
• BroadwayAudience.com
• BroadwayBlack
• BroadwayBox
• BroadwayRadio
• BroadwayShowBiz
• BroadwayWorld
• Chad Jones' Theater Dogs
• Chicago Sun-Times
• Chicago Tribune
• Cititour.com
• Clyde Fitch Report
• CurtainUp
• DC Metro Theater Arts
• DC Theatre Scene
• Deadline
• Denver Post
• Did They Like It
• Entertainment Weekly
• Forbes
• Forward
• Gold Derby
• Grace Notes
• Hartford Courant
• HowlRound
• Huffington Post
• itsdlevy
• Kritzerland
• London Theatre Direct
• Los Angeles Times
• Masterworks Broadway
• Maxamoo
• Mildly Bitter's Musings
• Music Theatre International
• National Public Radio
• New York Daily News
• New York Magazine
• New York Stage Review
• New York Theater
• Newsday
• NewYork.com
• NiteLifeExchange
• NJ.com
• NorthJersey.com
• Phindie
• Playbill
• Popdose
• Reuters
• San Francisco Chronicle
• ShowBiz 411
• ShowTickets.com
• Slant Magazine
• Stage and Cinema
• Talk Entertainment
• TalkinBroadway
• Tams-Witmark
• TDF
• The Front Row Center
• The Guardian
• The Hollywood Reporter
• The Interval
• The New York Observer
• The New York Post
• The New York Times
• The New Yorker
• The Sacramento Bee
• The Seattle Times
• The Stage
• The Theatre Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• Theater Pizzazz
• theaterlife
• TheaterMania
• TheaterScene.net
• Theatre Reviews Limited
• Theatre.com
• Theatrely
• TheatreNerds
• Time Out
• Tony Awards
• Toronto Star
• TotalTheater
• Variety
• Washington Post
• WNYC
• YouTube

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

Broadway Grosses Report: May 6, 2026

Class Notes: Cassia Thompson in “Thornton Wilder’s The Emporium”

Today on Broadway: Nominations announced for 2026 Tony Awards

Last Week on Broadway: Monday, May 4, 2026

This Week on Broadway for May 3, 2026: The Lost Boys

Stagecraft: James Clements playwright of “BEAUTY FREAK”

Broadway Grosses Report: April 29, 2026

Last Week on Broadway: Monday, April 27, 2026

This Week on Broadway for April 26, 2026: Schmigadoon!

Review Recap: ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Broadway revival

MORE...

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON

Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54

Aug 14, 2025: Mamma Mia - Winter Garden Theatre

Aug 18, 2025: Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride - Nederlander Theatre

Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre

Sep 28, 2025: Waiting For Godot - Hudson Theatre

Sep 29, 2025: Punch - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre

Oct 16, 2025: Ragtime - Vivian Beaumont Theater

Oct 28, 2025: Liberation - James Earl Jones Theatre

Oct 30, 2025: Little Bear Ridge Road - Booth Theatre

Nov 09, 2025: The Queen of Versailles - St. James Theatre

Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54

Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre

Nov 20, 2025: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) - Longacre Theatre

Dec 08, 2025: Marjorie Prime - Hayes Theater

Jan 08, 2026: Bug - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Mar 12, 2026: Every Brilliant Thing - Hudson Theatre

Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre

Mar 30, 2026: Dog Day Afternoon - August Wilson Theatre

Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater

Apr 07, 2026: Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Broadhurst Theatre

Apr 09, 2026: Death of a Salesman - Winter Garden Theatre

Apr 12, 2026: Titanique - St. James Theatre

Apr 15, 2026: The Fear of 13 - James Earl Jones Theatre

Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre

Apr 19, 2026: Fallen Angels - Todd Haimes Theatre

Apr 20, 2026: Schmigadoon! - Nederlander Theatre

Apr 21, 2026: The Balusters - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Apr 22, 2026: Beaches A New Musical - Majestic Theatre

Apr 23, 2026: The Rocky Horror Show - Studio 54

Apr 25, 2026: Joe Turner's Come and Gone - Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Apr 26, 2026: The Lost Boys - Palace Theatre

Apr 26, 2026: 2025-2026 Tony Awards Eligibility Cut-Off

Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off

Apr 29, 2026: Drama Desk Nominations

May 05, 2026: 2025-2026 Tony Awards Nominations Announced

May 17, 2026: The 70th Drama Desk Awards - The Town Hall

Jun 02, 2026: The Theatre World Awards

Jun 07, 2026: 79th Annual Tony Awards - Radio City Music Hall

Aladdin

& Juliet

The Balusters

Beaches A New Musical

Becky Shaw

The Book of Mormon

Buena Vista Social Club

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Chess

Chicago

Death Becomes Her

Death of a Salesman

Dog Day Afternoon

Every Brilliant Thing

Fallen Angels

The Fear of 13

Giant

The Great Gatsby

Hadestown

Hamilton

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Just in Time

The Lion King

Maybe Happy Ending

MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Operation Mincemeat

The Outsiders

Proof

Ragtime

The Rocky Horror Show

Schmigadoon!

Six

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

The Lost Boys

Titanique

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Wicked

Aladdin

& Juliet

The Balusters

Beaches A New Musical

Becky Shaw

The Book of Mormon

Buena Vista Social Club

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Chess

What's Playing On Broadway