All stories by Karen Brill on BroadwayStars

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Tom Hanks Remains Extremely Bitter About One Aspect of His Polynesian Vacation With the Obamas, Oprah, and Bruce Springsteen by Karen Brill

As each and every photograph from the experience proves, Barack Obama has enjoyed vacationing tremendously. So it should be easy enough to assume that Tom Hanks, beacon of affability that he…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:39AM
Saturday, April 15, 2017

Kevin Spacey Rocks an Extraordinarily Strong Look to Duet With Billy Joel by Karen Brill

What exactly is Kevin Spacey wearing in footage of his duet with Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden on Friday? Hard to say. There’s a lot of different textures and wavelengths happening, …

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:40PM

Taran Killam Crowns Brian D’Arcy James As Hamilton’s New (Old) King George III, Finally Catching Onto British History’s Monarchical by Karen Brill

Finally, we’re getting some historical accuracy, or at least the feeling of historical accuracy, in Hamilton’s royal-succession ceremonies. Up until now, the so-called Order of the Garte…

SOURCE: Vulture at 11:40AM
Thursday, April 6, 2017

Blessed Be, White Josh Has Rightfully Been Made a Series Regular on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Karen Brill

The best part of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is about to become a bigger part of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. David Hull, who plays the wonderful, if judgmental, White Josh — WhiJo to those of us who know…

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:09AM
Thursday, March 30, 2017

Jon Favreau Reportedly After Beyoncé to Be Live-Action Lion King’s Nala by Karen Brill

Man, if this works out, we certainly won’t need to worry about dubbing. Jon Favreau is heading up Disney’s live-action (ahem, CGI) remake of The Lion King, and, according to Variety, he …

SOURCE: Vulture at 11:02PM
Sunday, March 26, 2017

Aaron Sorkin Reportedly Surprised to Learn That Women and Minorities Have ‘More Difficult Time Getting Their Stuff Read’ in Hollywood by Karen Brill

It’s going to take a lot of walking-and-talking to wrap Aaron Sorkin’s head around this one. The writer participated in a discussion at the Writers Guild Festival this weekend, where he …

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:42PM

Mandy Moore and the Horrified Look on Her Face Do Not Endorse Your Grim Tangled-Frozen Fan Theory by Karen Brill

Fan theories have increasingly become an integral, compulsive facet of the way we enjoy art. Which, whatever rocks your robots’ socks off, you do you, whatever. But if you don’t want to …

SOURCE: Vulture at 01:04PM
Saturday, March 25, 2017

Liam Neeson, Anna Kendrick, and Lin-Manuel Miranda Are Among the Hopeful Candidate Trying Out to Be Stephen Hawking’s New Voice by Karen Brill

Stephen Hawking has used the same voice for over 30 years, and, “occasional sitcom star” that he is, Mr. Hollywood thinks it’s time for a good sprucing. As such, a corral of stars incl…

SOURCE: Vulture at 12:04PM
Thursday, March 16, 2017

Rihanna Won’t Star in That Adam Driver Musical After All by Karen Brill

Alas, a project that seemed to be too good to be true is. According to Pitchfork, Rihanna won’t star in Annette as was first reported. The musical drama was set to showcase the singer and …

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:34PM

Donald Trump Proposes Eliminating National Endowment for the Arts by Karen Brill

Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities, in his administration’s first federal budget plan. The New …

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:26AM

Disney Refuses to Cut Beauty and the Beast ‘Gay Moment’ Despite Malaysia Objection by Karen Brill

Disney has decided against censoring out Beauty and the Beast’s “gay moment” for the film’s Malaysian release. The decision comes after Disney initially made a cut of the film withou…

SOURCE: Vulture at 01:23AM
Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Justin Trudeau Opened a Performance of Broadway’s Canadian Come From Away That Ivanka Trump Also Attended by Karen Brill

Turning regular theater into political theater isn’t just for Americans anymore. Canadian prime minister and all-around babe Justin Trudeau visited the Great White Way on Wednesday, taking…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:53PM
Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Hamilton’s Very First King George III, Brian d’Arcy James, Is Reportedly Coming Back by Karen Brill

He’s baaaaack: Brian d’Arcy James is following through on his threat to return. Per Deadline, Hamilton’s very first King III will reprise his role in the juggernaut, though no timeline…

SOURCE: Vulture at 09:48PM
Sunday, February 26, 2017

Chance the Rapper Bought You a Day’s Worth of Get Out Showings at a Chicago Movie Theater by Karen Brill

Like 100% of anybody who’s anybody, Chance the Rapper loves Jordan Peele’s Get Out. Chance tweeted his review, calling it the “BEST FILM ACROSS ANY GENRE IN A WHILE” (sic). But not c…

SOURCE: Vulture at 04:43PM
Sunday, February 19, 2017

Broadway’s Anastasia Sings ‘Journey to the Past’ by Karen Brill

Anastasia is coming to Broadway, and while the albino bat may have gone the way of Anastasia’s childhood memories, “Journey to the Past” had no problem making the cut. The Oscar-nomina…

SOURCE: Vulture at 01:27PM
Thursday, February 16, 2017

Hillary Clinton Gets Another Warm Broadway Welcome, This Time at Sunset Boulevard by Karen Brill

After being greeted by some very warm welcomes at The Color Purple and In Transit, Hillary Clinton got another Broadway crowd clapping on Wednesday night. The former presidential candidate t…

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:19AM
Saturday, February 4, 2017

Once Upon a Time Is Doing a Musical Episode — Where Ever Will It Find the Inspiration? by Karen Brill

Gather ye the most harmonic birds you can find, because Once Upon a Time is doing a musical episode. Executive producer Adam Horowitz confirmed news of the melodic endeavor, which will air s…

SOURCE: Vulture at 03:59PM
Sunday, January 29, 2017

Two Men Arrested for Propagating Ponzi Scheme Involving Hamilton and Adele Concert Tickets by Karen Brill

Two men were arrested and charged on Friday for propagating a Ponzi scheme involving popular shows and concerts. According to the Associated Press, Joseph Meli and Steven Simmons were arrest…

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:43PM
Sunday, January 22, 2017

Bruce Springsteen on Women's March: 'We Are the New American Resistance' by Karen Brill

Touring with the E Street Band in Australia, Bruce Springsteen couldn't show his support for the Women's March in person. Even from across the world, though, the Boss made it clear that his …

SOURCE: Vulture at 04:08PM

Everything's Coming Up Kellyanne Conway in SNL Musical Number by Karen Brill

The question of what Kellyanne Conway gets out of spinning straw into, er, gold day in, day out is a stumper, so Saturday Night Live attacked the query the best way it knows how: A big, span…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:33AM
Saturday, January 21, 2017

Lin-Manuel Miranda Releases 8 Hamilton Demos So You Can Experience the Boundless Energy of Hamilton With Miranda Playing Every Part by Karen Brill

Care to experience Hamilton as a one-man show? Dizzying neck swivels, potentially lethal breathlessness, and partial mustaches galore? Miranda has gone and made that scenario more or less li…

SOURCE: Vulture at 03:27PM
Friday, January 20, 2017

Monkeys Are Flying Out of Butts Everywhere and Wayne's World Is Returning to Theaters for Its 25th Anniversary by Karen Brill

Summon up all your feelings of worth, because you're about to get another shot at seeing Wayne's World on the big screen. The comedy classic turns 25 this year and, to celebrate the mileston…

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:57AM
Thursday, January 19, 2017

Chrissy Teigen Tweets About Paparazzi's Incredibly Racist John Legend Question by Karen Brill

Stars, they're just like us, give or take an unfathomable reservoir of patience in the face of obvious baiting. Chrissy Teigen took to Twitter to share an incredibly gross paparazzi incident…

SOURCE: Vulture at 11:21PM
Monday, January 16, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Cover Band Quits Inauguration Gig Out of Respect for the Boss by Karen Brill

The B Street Band is backing down. After catching flak for their booking at the Garden State Inaugural Gala, the elite Bruce Springsteen cover band is bailing on the Donald Trump inauguratio…

SOURCE: Vulture at 03:20PM
Sunday, January 15, 2017

Hamilton Coronates Taran Killam, Its Newest King George III, With Some Flashy Tear-Away Pants by Karen Brill

There's a new king in town, and he's got sex appeal, ya hear? Hamilton is currently experiencing its latest regime change, as "King George III the Fifth" Taran Killam steps in for …

SOURCE: Vulture at 12:53PM
Friday, January 13, 2017

Bryan Cranston, Jessica Biel, Giovanni Ribisi, and James Corden Star in a Very Kanye Soap Opera by Karen Brill

Kanye West's oeuvre is a vast and unwieldy expanse, but leave it to The Late Late Show to try to make it linear by applying it to that other unpredictable form, the soap opera. James Corden …

SOURCE: Vulture at 02:23AM
Thursday, January 12, 2017

Girl Meets World Is Eyeing a New Home After Disney Channel Cancellation by Karen Brill

Girl Meets World was canceled by Disney Channel after three seasons, but there's a chance that the show could meet a miraculous resurrection As Girl Meets World (and Boy Meets World) creator…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:47PM
Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Why Worry About A-List Talent When the Premier Bruce Springsteen Cover Band Is Playing an Inauguration Ball? by Karen Brill

There comes a time when all cover bands must rebel against the teaching of their progenitors, and the moment for The B Street Band's angry adolescence is now. The Bruce Springsteen cover ban…

SOURCE: Vulture at 11:16PM
Monday, January 2, 2017

Disney Could Reportedly Receive $50 Million Insurance Payout for Carrie Fisher’s Death by Karen Brill

Disney could potentially receive a $50 million insurance payout for the death of Carrie Fisher, according to a report by Insurance Insider. The policy was reportedly taken out to cover Fishe…

SOURCE: Vulture at 04:47PM

Ariana Grande Will Pack a Compact Punch As a Character in Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius by Karen Brill

Sure, Final Fantasy is one of the best-known, longest-lasting, and most medium-spanning game series of all time, but there is one thing that has eluded the franchise until now, at least acco…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:38AM
Thursday, December 29, 2016

We Finally Have Proof That the Live-Action Remake of Beloved Musical Beauty and the Beast Does Indeed Have Music by Karen Brill

As the trailers for Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast made their debuts, there were a couple of distinct lines of concern. Did the movie  look too much like the origin…

SOURCE: Vulture at 10:48PM

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