All stories by MARK KENNEDY on BroadwayStars

Sunday, March 13, 2016

In a triumph of set design, a theater builds a swimming pool by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Audiences going to New York Theatre Workshop will see something unusual when they enter - a swimming pool. Not a little wading pool or artful images of water. A real …

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:42PM

Mood loose as 'Fiddler on the Roof' cast makes album by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- A nondescript building near Times Square was turned for a day into a small Russian village in 1905 when the cast and orchestra of the Broadway revival of "Fi…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:42PM

'Dead Poets Society,' 'Pacific Overtures' on tap at CSC by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The world premiere stage adaptation of "Dead Poets Society," a David Ives play and a revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Pacifi…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:42PM

Review: Broadway's odd 'Hughie' glows, thanks to Whitaker by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Many stage plays have problems with their second acts. Some plays have issues with bloat and clarity. "Hughie" presents a math problem....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM

Derek Hough coming to Broadway in 'Singin' in the Rain' by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Derek Hough will be stepping into the dancing shoes of Gene Kelly when he tackles a stage musical of the film "Singin' in the Rain" on Broa…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM

'I want a challenge' _ Forest Whitaker on Broadway debut by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Forest Whitaker has not one or two copies of the script he's memorized for his Broadway debut. Not three or four copies, either. Try five....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM

Cast of Broadway hit 'Hamilton' to perform at White House by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The cast of the mega-hit Broadway show "Hamilton" will make a quick trip to the White House on Monday to perform songs from the show for the first f…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM

Revival of 'Falsettos' set for Broadway return this fall by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- "Falsettos," the umbrella title for two one-act musicals about family and love and loss, is coming back to Broadway....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM

Teen son of a Backstreet Boys member makes his Broadway bow by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- A young actor from Atlanta is making his Broadway debut this season. He's only 13 and he's never acted professionally before. But don't wor…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:07PM
Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Big stars to come out to honor off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Vineyard Theatre's annual gala will have a starry lineup including Sally Field, Santino Fontana, Ann Harada, Bill Irwin, John Kander, Bill Pullman, Molly…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 07:39PM
Monday, February 22, 2016

Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Hamilton' wins Kennedy Prize for Drama by Mark Kennedy

Lin-Manuel Miranda's revolutionary stage musical "Hamilton" has won a Grammy, a "genius grant" from the MacArthur Foundation and now another honor — one of the largest prizes given for dra…

SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun Subscription at 07:20PM

Broadway musical 'Nerds' finds its Bill Gates and Steve Jobs by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- "Nerds," a new Broadway musical about the tech giants Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, will star Rory O'Malley and Bryan Fenkart....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 07:15PM

Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Hamilton' wins Kennedy Prize for Drama by Mark Kennedy

Lin-Manuel Miranda's revolutionary stage musical "Hamilton" has won a Grammy, a "genius grant" from the MacArthur Foundation and now another honor — one of the largest prizes given for dra…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:16AM
Sunday, February 21, 2016

Alfie Boe to be next hero in Broadway's 'Finding Neverland' by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Opera and theater star Alfie Boe will go from prisoner to playwright when he trades in "Les Miserables" for "Finding Neverland" la…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 08:27PM
Friday, February 19, 2016

NBC picks some key Broadway creators for its 'Hairspray' by Mark Kennedy

NBC has tapped some deep Broadway talent for its live production of the stage musical "Hairspray." Kenny Leon, who won a Tony for the recent revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," will direct the…

SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun Subscription at 06:52AM
Thursday, February 18, 2016

Joel Grey, now unburdened and emboldened, tells his story by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- At a cafe the other day, Joel Grey was drawn to an item on the menu that was both confusing and intriguing....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 11:52AM
Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Warren Manzi, writer of long-running 'Perfect Crime,' dies by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Playwright and director Warren Manzi, whose cat-and-mouse thriller "Perfect Crime" is the longest-running play in New York history, died Thursday of…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 04:07PM

9/11 musical 'Come From Away' to play Canada, Washington by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- A musical set against the 9/11 terrorist attacks will play Toronto and Washington, D.C., this fall with the hope of arriving on Broadway in spring of 2017....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 04:07PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016

Alan Cumming on sappy songs and 'The Good Wife' ending by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The coolest place to be on Broadway last year was inside the Studio 54 theater. To be more specific, it was in Alan Cumming's dressing room there....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 08:43AM
Thursday, February 11, 2016

Ken Watanabe due to return to 'The King and I' on March 17 by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ken Watanabe will return to his royal robes on Broadway in "The King and I" starting March 17 after he recovers from stomach cancer treatment....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 09:03PM

Actress Sarah Steele juggles 'The Good Wife' and Broadway by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sarah Steele's return to Broadway is good news. Well, maybe not for everyone....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 09:03PM

Stage version of 'Frozen' to be directed by Broadway veteran by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Disney has tapped one of Broadway's freshest talents to direct one of its most anticipated musicals, "Frozen."...

SOURCE: Associated Press at 12:28AM

Tony-nominated actor Ken Watanabe battling stomach cancer by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- A publicist for Ken Watanabe says the Tony Award- and Oscar-nominated actor has been forced to delay his return to Broadway's "The King and I&qu…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 12:28AM

New adaptation of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' heads to Broadway by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" - and its now-somewhat sullied hero Atticus Finch - are heading to Broadway in a new ada…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 12:28AM

Nat Wolff turns to the dark side in 'Buried Child' by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Actor and musician Nat Wolff couldn't resist agreeing to do a darkly weird off-Broadway play about a strange family. After all, he's got a weird fam…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 12:28AM
Wednesday, February 10, 2016

New adaptation of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' heads to Broadway by Mark Kennedy

Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" — and its now-somewhat sullied hero Atticus Finch — are heading to Broadway in a new adaptation written by Aaron Sorkin. Producer Scott…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:01AM

New Aaron Sorkin adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird heads to Broadway by Mark Kennedy

Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird — and its now-somewhat sullied hero Atticus Finch — are heading to Broadway in a new adaptation written by Aaron Sorkin

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail at 09:55AM
Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Playwright Lauren Gunderson is enjoying a wave of interest by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lauren Gunderson is such a rare theatrical talent, you might be tempted to approach her very quietly, so as not to frighten her away....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 04:14AM

Jimmy Buffett musical to premiere at California theater by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Jimmy Buffett musical will make its world premiere next year somewhere nice and warm - the La Jolla Playhouse in California....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 04:12AM

Cast of Broadway's 'Hamilton' to perform at Grammy show by Mark Kennedy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Grammy Awards this year will have a little Broadway sparkle: The cast of "Hamilton" will perform live via satellite from the Richard Rodgers The…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 04:01AM
Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Mary-Louise Parker returning to Broadway this fall by Mark Kennedy

Mary-Louise Parker is returning to Broadway this fall in the quirky, romantic play "Heisenberg." Manhattan Theatre Club said Tuesday it will transfer Simon Stephens' lovely drama to its Samu…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:40AM

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