All stories by MARK KENNEDY on BroadwayStars

Friday, May 15, 2020

‘Frozen’ musical on Broadway not to reopen by Mark Kennedy

The Disney show opened in March 2018 and placed among the top five Broadway productions for both gross and attendance over both years it ran, often pulling in over $1 million, and even $2 mi…

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 02:16PM
Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Broadway shutdown extended until at least Labor Day by Mark Kennedy

Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:27PM

Broadway shutdown extended until at least Labor Day by Mark Kennedy

It is still not clear when performances will resume.

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 12:14PM
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Broadway considers the path forward for shows to go on by Mark Kennedy and John Carucci

NEW YORK (AP) — When Broadway theaters finally reopen, at least one musical theater fan will show up. But she’ll look a little different. “I would wear a mask and gloves,” said actre…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 12:27PM
Friday, April 24, 2020

A ‘Phantom of the Opera’ contest seeks singer with style by Mark Kennedy

The winning contestant will be introduced onstage by Lloyd Webber at either the home of “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway or London — whichever opens first — and sing after the …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:13PM
Sunday, April 19, 2020

Hamilton-born Broadway star Nick Cordero has leg amputation due to coronavirus by Mark Kennedy

The Canadian actor entered the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on March 31 and has been on a ventilator and unconscious after contracting COVID-19.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:00PM
Thursday, April 9, 2020

How do Broadway stars cope with silent theatres? They sing by Mark Kennedy

Musical theatre stars are taking to social media to sing, offering fans a front seat to a Broadway show and a much needed intermission amid the coronavirus pandemic.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:58PM
Thursday, March 26, 2020

Multiple Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally dies due to coronavirus complications at 81 by Mark Kennedy

The American playwright, known for plays like “Master Class” and musicals such as “Ragtime,” was a lung cancer survivor who lived with chronic inflammatory lung disease.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 09:30AM
Friday, December 27, 2019

‘Mame,’ ‘Hello, Dolly!’ composer Jerry Herman dies at 88 by Mark Kennedy

Tony Award-winning composer Jerry Herman, who wrote the cheerful, good-natured music and lyrics for such classic shows as “Mame,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “La Cage aux Folles,” died T…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 04:28AM
Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Broadway giant Hal Prince dead at 91 by Mark Kennedy

As a producer, he helped created Damn Yankees, West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Fiddler on the Roof. He became a director and helped shape Cabaret, Company…

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:43PM

Towering Broadway director and producer Hal Prince dead by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) — Harold Prince, a Broadway director and producer who pushed the boundaries of musical theater with such groundbreaking shows as “The Phantom of the Opera,” ”Cabaret,�…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 11:38AM
Sunday, June 9, 2019

Tony Awards 2019: “Hadestown” leads awards, nets rare female director trophy by Mark Kennedy

The arty and original "Hadestown" was leading the Tony Awards with six wins, including a rare win for a woman director of a musical, while Ali Stroker made history as the first actor in a wh…

SOURCE: Denver Post at 11:48PM
Friday, June 7, 2019

Tony Awards host James Corden hopes audience will find 'joy' by John Carucci and Mark Kennedy

TV talk show host James Corden steps back into the role of Tony Award host Sunday, not planning anything too political and not worried about any online snark. "I hope people will find joy in…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:10PM

Tony Awards host James Corden hopes audience will find ‘joy’ by Mark Kennedy and John Carucci

NEW YORK (AP) — TV talk show host James Corden steps back into the role of Tony Award host Sunday, not planning anything too political and not worried about any online snark. “I hope peo…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 11:59AM
Tuesday, April 30, 2019

“Hadestown” leads Tony Award nominations with 14 nods by Mark Kennedy

"Hadestown," singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell's Broadway debut, earned a leading 14 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, followed by the jukebox musical "Ain't Too Proud," built around songs by …

SOURCE: Denver Post at 11:54AM

‘Hadestown’ leads Tony Award nominations with 14 nods by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) — “Hadestown,” singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s Broadway debut, earned a leading 14 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, followed by the jukebox musical “Ain’t Too Pr…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 01:04AM
Monday, April 1, 2019

John Leguizamo to tour with his ‘Latin History for Morons’ by Mark Kennedy

John Leguizamo is taking his irreverent one-man comedy show about Latin history on the road for a 12-state tour

SOURCE: Washington Post at 08:04AM
Wednesday, March 13, 2019

‘Ya Got Trouble’ — Hugh Jackman heading back to Broadway by Mark Kennedy

Hugh Jackman is coming back to Broadway as a classic roguish traveling salesman in a revival of ‘The Music Man’

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:07AM
Thursday, February 28, 2019

Why small US theaters have canceled ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Mark Kennedy

Dozens of community and nonprofit theaters across the U.S. have been forced to abandon productions of “To Kill a Mockingbird” under legal threat

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:24PM
Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Historians say smash hit musical Hamilton out of tune with its portrait of U.S. founding father by Mark Kennedy

Many academics argue the portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the star of U.S. $10 bills, is a counterfeit. Now they’re escalating their fight against the musical.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:00AM
Monday, February 4, 2019

Historians irked by musical 'Hamilton' escalate their duel by Mark Kennedy

Ever since the historical musical "Hamilton" began its march to near-universal infatuation, one group has noticeably withheld its applause — historians. Many academics argue the portrait o…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:24PM

Historians irked by musical ‘Hamilton’ escalate their duel by Mark Kennedy

Historians argue that Lin-Manuel Miranda got Alexander Hamilton all wrong — the Founding Father was a slave owner and an anti-immigration elitist who made war on Native Americans. Now, a n…

SOURCE: www.seattletimes.com at 01:18PM
Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Audra McDonald heading back to Broadway to star in romance by Mark Kennedy

Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald is heading back to Broadway to be a waitress — but not in “Waitress.”

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:42PM
Monday, January 7, 2019

Broadway actors’ union strikes over developmental labs by Mark Kennedy

The labor union representing theatrical performers is demanding that its members no longer participate in any developmental stage work with commercial producers

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:24PM
Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Box office records break as Broadway says goodbye to 2018 by Mark Kennedy

Broadway producers had plenty of reasons to pop the bubbly as 2018 wound down, with many shows recorded their most profitable weeks despite some eye-popping ticket prices

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:42PM
Thursday, September 13, 2018

Broadway and West End star Marin Mazzie dies by Mark Kennedy

Actress and soprano Marin Mazzie, a three-time Tony Award nominee known for powerhouse Broadway performances in "Ragtime," ''Passion" and "Kiss Me, Kate," has died following a three-year bat…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:42PM
Sunday, August 26, 2018

Neil Simon dies at 91: Gentle humor was the lifeblood of playwright by Mark Kennedy

When master playwright Neil Simon accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2006, he was visibly nervous. But his gentle humor was evident.

SOURCE: Denver Post at 10:06PM

Neil Simon, Broadway’s master of comedy, dies at 91 by Mark Kennedy

Playwright Neil Simon, a master of comedy whose laugh-filled hits such as “The Odd Couple,” ‘’Barefoot in the Park” and his “Brighton Beach” trilogy dominated Broadway for deca…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:42PM
Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Gary Beach, who won a Tony in ‘The Producers,’ dies at 70 by Mark Kennedy

Gary Beach, a Broadway and TV veteran whose portrayal of a truly terrible theater director in Mel Brooks’ monster hit “The Producers” won him a Tony Award in 2001, has died, according …

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:36PM

Bruce Springsteen's Broadway show to be seen on Netflix by Mark Kennedy

Put away your wallet — you won't have to pay hundreds of dollars to see Bruce Springsteen's Broadway show. Netflix announced Wednesday that it will broadcast The Boss' one-man show on Dec.…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:35PM
Sunday, June 10, 2018

“The Band’s Visit” dances away with a leading 10 Tony Awards by Mark Kennedy

The American, grown-up musical "The Band's Visit" outmuscled the acclaimed and sprawling British import "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" for the most Tony Awards on Sunday, capturing 10 s…

SOURCE: Denver Post at 11:51PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic