All stories by Penny Landau on BroadwayStars

Monday, August 6, 2018

Charlotte Rae has died at 92…She had roots in Cabaret as well as Broadway by Penny Landau

Although she was best known for her work on the sitcom “The Facts of Life,” Charlotte Rae had a six-decade career as a singer, Broadway performer and television actress, dating back to t…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 06:18PM
Friday, June 15, 2018

Six Questions for Jimmy James, Set for a Pilgrim House Run, Starting Friday, June 29th in Provincetown by Penny Landau

Has it really been 35 years for you in show biz? Oh, God help me! How did that happen? And I’m only 39? In February 1983, I quit my retail jobs (or was I fired?). The economy was so shitty…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 12:28PM
Sunday, April 1, 2018

Roseanne and the Great American Catharsis… by Penny Landau

I don’t know about you, but I needed an emotional break from “This is Us,” which has ripped my guts out this season. Back in the day (I really hate that term, but it is what it is), my…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 03:07PM
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

TV Worth Watching…”I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” by Penny Landau

For those of you who don’t know, I relocated to South Florida in 2016, just another native New Yorker yearning for a warmer, calmer and quieter existence. I must say, it was the best decis…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 02:58PM
Friday, January 26, 2018

My 2018 Rant… by Penny Landau

It’s all about the ratings, according to the guy in the White House. Nothing else matters to him – not climate change, not DACA, not Puerto Rico, not students being shot in our schools �…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 12:39AM
Friday, January 12, 2018

The Best of 2017 by Penny Landau

“The Good Doctor” is an interesting concept, adapted from the Korean show and produced by Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost” and “Hawaii Five-O”), about a doctor with Autism who sees the pra…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 05:08PM
Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Keely Smith (March 9, 1928 – December 16, 2017) by Penny Landau

Legendary jazz vocalist Keely Smith passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2017, in Palm Springs, California. She was 89 and had been suffering from heart failure. Smith’s son-in-law and lo…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 06:17AM
Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Some winners, some shoulda-beens and some WTF??? by Penny Landau

Stephen Colbert seemed like the perfect choice for host of television’s grandest night and he did not disappoint! From his opening monologue, we all knew that this show was going where no …

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 09:46AM
Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Barbara Cook (October 25, 1927 – August 8, 2017) by Penny Landau

Legendary singer/actress Barbara Cook passed away this morning at the age of 89, of respiratory failure. The favorite of both Broadway, cabaret and concert audiences, Cook died in her Manhat…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 07:04PM
Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The Original Alternative Facts by Penny Landau

“But ya are, Blanche, ya are!” After taking a few months off to bask in the sun of my new abode in South Florida, I simply had to address some issues with a certain TV show and you kn…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 06:46PM
Monday, November 28, 2016

The Story of a “Lovely Lady” by Penny Landau

Sometimes, when a celebrity passes away, we sigh and say RIP and whatever. But sometimes when a celebrity dies, we go to a place of disbelief with a resounding “Oh, NO!!!” That’s what …

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 11:02AM
Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Terri White by Penny Landau

Terri White. Now there’s a name you know well, mostly from cabarets and piano bars from New York City to Key West. But, did you know that Terri began her Broadway career in Barnum in 1980,…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 01:23PM
Thursday, October 6, 2016

Sally Darling Goes Totally Noel at Don’t Tell Mama, October 14 & 16 by Penny Landau

Sally Darling first became acquainted with Noel Coward in the 1970’s, when she created the revue, Noel and Cole. In researching the show, she began to appreciate the complexity and artistr…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 02:34PM
Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Marni Nixon (February 22, 1930 – July 24, 2016) by Penny Landau

Back in the old days, before airplanes, we had things called records. One of my first records as a kid was Toscanini’s “Nutcracker,” followed by the Broadway cast album of My Fair Lady…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 01:55PM
Thursday, May 12, 2016

Sally Kellerman Interview by Penny Landau

NiteLife Exchange is bringing back this Sally Kellerman interview by Penny Landau, for Kellerman’s May 12th performances at Iridium, “A Little Jazz, a Little Blues, a Little Rock & Roll.…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 04:38PM
Thursday, July 2, 2015

"Happy Days" Don Most Sings & Swings: Sinatra, Dino, Darin & More! July 7th @ The Iridium by Penny Landau

Don Most Sings & Swings: Sinatra, Dino, Darin & More! One performance only! Tuesday, July 7th @ 8pmBest known to television audiences as “Ralph Malph” of the long-running show “Happy D…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 07:52AM
Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Anne Meara (September 20, 1929 - May 23, 2015) by Penny Landau

Gallagher. She was by herself and we hit it off like only two girls from Long Island could.

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 04:14PM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Sally Kellerman Interview by Penny Landau

Sally_Kellerman_at_Metropolitan_RoomThis week, Penny Landau, aka: The TV Junkie, interviews actress/singer Sally Kellerman, who brings her new show, Hot Lips to Cool Blues, to Metropolitan R…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 05:58PM

Margaret Whiting (1924-2011) by Penny Landau

As you all know by now, legendary singer Margaret Whiting passed away on January 10th at the age of 86, at the Lillian Booth Nursing Home, which is part of the Actors' Fund Home in Englewoo…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 05:58PM
Wednesday, February 25, 2015

My Pick to Replace Jon Stewart: It’s Not Who You Think by Penny Landau

Who’s my pick to replace on Stewart? Don’t rush me. I remember watching the first Saturday Night Live in 1975. I was in my first year of grad school, drove a spiffy new MG Midget, sti…

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 03:16PM
Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Say It Isn’t So, Joe! A Personal Reminiscence by Penny Landau

I was honored to call him my friend.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 04:09PM
Monday, January 26, 2015

Trail-blazing TV talk show host, Joe Franklin, dies at 88 by Penny Landau

Long before there was Jack Paar or Steve Allen or even Johnny Carson, there was Joe Franklin. From his ground-breaking 1950 talk show in the early days of television to his 30-plus year run …

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 01:24AM
Sunday, October 12, 2014

“Gotham” Goes Goth and Ribeiro Does the Carlton! by Penny Landau

From good judge to "Bad Judge" -- which is just what it sounds like.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 01:48PM
Thursday, September 11, 2014

Joan Rivers Goes Out in Style by Penny Landau

I remember exactly where I was when Judy Garland died. I was backing my '65 Impala convertible out of the driveway when my uber-protective mother ran out of the house to flag me down. "I jus…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 11:20PM
Monday, September 8, 2014

Joan Rivers Goes Out in Style by Penny Landau

I remember exactly where I was when Judy Garland died. I was backing my '65 Impala convertible out of the driveway when my uber-protective mother ran out of the house to flag me down. "I jus…

SOURCE: NiteLifeExchange at 08:44PM

Joan Rivers Would Have Loved Her Funeral by Penny Landau

One last, well-deserved, weepy, standing ovation.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 05:29PM
Sunday, March 30, 2014

Frances Farmer Makes “Resurrection” Come Alive by Penny Landau

I called "The Blacklist" and "Sleepy Hollow" and now I’m calling this one.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 10:01AM
Thursday, December 12, 2013

Kirstie’s Back and We’re Gonna Be in Trouble… by Penny Landau

More cray-cray on one show than I can handle.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 10:24PM
Thursday, November 14, 2013

A Couple of “Steal” Magnolias by Penny Landau

Some supporting actresses who steal the show!

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 10:56PM
Tuesday, August 20, 2013

It’s A Whovian, Whovian World We Live In! by Penny Landau

The 12th Doctor arrives in town, and the sonic screwdriver goes to Peter Capaldi.

SOURCE: Clyde Fitch Report at 01:06PM

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