All stories by Robert Simonson on BroadwayStars

Friday, November 26, 2021

Legendary Composer Stephen Sondheim Dead at 91 by Robert Simonson

Stephen Sondheim, a towering figure in musical theatre, has died.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:17PM
Friday, September 10, 2021

Elizabeth I. McCann, Longtime Tony-Winning Broadway Producer With a Taste for Drama, Dies at 90 by Robert Simonson

Ms. McCann was the recipient of nine Tony Awards throughout her lengthy producing career.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:01AM
Friday, August 6, 2021

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A Brief Encounter With Arthur French by Robert Simonson

Mr. French, honored with an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in 1997, spoke with Playbill in 2006 when he was appearing in the Signature Theatre Company revival of August Wilson's Two Tra…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:05AM
Friday, January 15, 2021

Philip J. Smith, Former Chair and Co-CEO of The Shubert Organization, Dies at 89 by Robert Simonson

Mr. Smith announced his retirement in June 2020, following a 63-year career in the theatre industry.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:35PM
Thursday, July 2, 2020

Revisit Lin-Manuel Miranda's Interview About Performing The Hamilton Mixtape by Robert Simonson

The future Pulitzer Prize winner spoke to Playbill in 2012 about his then song cycle shortly before performing it with a star-studded cast as part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:02PM
Monday, April 27, 2020

Bernard Gersten, Major Player in New York Nonprofit Theatre World, Dies at Age 97 by Robert Simonson

As managing director of The Public Theater and then executive producer at Lincoln Center Theater, Mr. Gersten was at the forefront of two of the most significant non-profit theatre companies…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:13PM
Friday, December 27, 2019

Jerry Herman, Composer of Tuneful Broadway Hits, Dies at 88 by Robert Simonson

Mr. Herman was responsible for such hummable scores as Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:13AM
Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Looking Back at Playbill’s 2014 Interview With Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick for It’s Only a Play by Robert Simonson

The Terrence McNally revival opened October 9, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, co-starring Rupert Grint, Megan Mullally, Stockard Channing, and more.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:56AM
Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Harold Prince, Giant of the Broadway Stage, Dies at 91 by Robert Simonson

The producer and director helped transform the Broadway landscape with shows such as Company, Sweeney Todd, and The Phantom of the Opera.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:29AM
Sunday, July 7, 2019

From the Archives: Tony Winner Paulo Szot on South Pacific by Robert Simonson

Shortly before winning a Tony Award for his performance in Lincoln Center Theater's revival of South Pacific, Szot spoke about how he almost didn't audition for the role at all.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:00AM
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Carol Channing, Broadway's Beloved Dolly, Dies at 97 by Robert Simonson

The Broadway icon originated the roles of Lorelei Lee and Dolly Gallagher Levi.

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:35AM
Friday, September 28, 2018

Joe Masteroff, Librettist of Cabaret, Dies at 98 by Robert Simonson

The Tony winner also wrote the books to She Loves Me and 70, Girls, 70.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:46PM
Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Merle Debuskey, Dean of Theatrical Press Agents, Dies at 95 by Robert Simonson

Mr. Debuskey was one of the most prominent press agents ever to ply his trade on Broadway, and Joe Papp’s right-hand man.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:33AM
Sunday, August 26, 2018

Neil Simon, Comedic Playwright and Commercial Powerhouse, Dies at 91 by Robert Simonson

Mr. Simon, who created numerous hits over his long career, has been called the most successful playwright in American theatre history.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59AM
Thursday, March 1, 2018

Harvey Schmidt, Fantasticks Composer, Dies at 88 by Robert Simonson

The composer of the long-running classic also wrote the scores to 110 in the Shade and I Do! I Do!.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:07PM
Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Legendary Performer Barbara Cook Dead at 89 by Robert Simonson

Barbara Cook, the musical theatre ingénue who became cabaret and concert royalty, has passed away.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:03AM
Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Tony Award Winner Mary Tyler Moore, Television and Cultural Icon, Dies at 80 by Robert Simonson

Through two iconic sitcoms, Moore achieved television immortality.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:46PM

Tony and Emmy Winner Mary Tyler Moore Dies at 80 by Robert Simonson

Through two iconic sitcoms, Moore achieved television immortality.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:46PM
Sunday, November 6, 2016

Why Chazz Palminteri Never Gets Sick of His Bronx Tale by Robert Simonson

One-man show. Feature film. Musical. Palminteri’s story doesn’t get old, it just gets better.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, September 16, 2016

Edward Albee, Towering American Playwright, Dies at 88 by Robert Simonson

Author of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Three Tall Women, A Delicate Balance, is dead.

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:47PM

In Case You Missed It: Sept. 10-16 by Robert Simonson

Midler gets some co-stars, Garland goes to Goodspeed, and The Humans leaves Broadway.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:24PM

Silent Shows: 11 Musicals That Surprisingly Never Got a Cast Recording by Robert Simonson

Some musicals by such notable composers at Alan Menken, Charles Strouse and Kurt Weill were never preserved on wax.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Jack Hofsiss, Tony-Winning Director for The Elephant Man, Dies by Robert Simonson

Hofsiss was the youngest person to win a directing Tony Award at the time.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:33AM
Monday, September 12, 2016

Broadway Box-Office Analysis: September 5-11 by Robert Simonson

Fun Home played to near capacity houses in its clsoing week, but several of the big musicals along Broadway took a hit at the box-office.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:50PM
Sunday, September 11, 2016

A 9/11 Reflection: Broadway Looks Back by Robert Simonson

In reflection on Sept. 11, Playbill.com looks back at our feature 'When the Curtain Came Down on the American Heart.'

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, September 9, 2016

In Case You Missed It: September 3-9 by Robert Simonson

Both Danny DeVito and the play Marvin's Room get their Broadway debuts, and Spamilton, the Hamilton spoof, opens and more.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:01PM
Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Broadway Box-Office Analysis: August 29-September 4 by Robert Simonson

Ticketbuyers rushed to see Les Misérables and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in their final weeks.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:12PM
Friday, September 2, 2016

In Case You Missed It: August 27-September 2 by Robert Simonson

Moulin Rouge is coming to the stage, and #Ham4Ham bids farewell to Broadway.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:26PM

9 Actors Who Got Their Start in Les Misérables? by Robert Simonson

As the latest revival of the Schönberg and Boubil classic prepares for its final performance, we look back at the talent who got their start in the show. Turns out, the long-running musical…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, August 29, 2016

Broadway Box-Office Analysis: August 22-28 by Robert Simonson

Les Misérables continued its strong summer, while Hamilton was the only show to break $2 million.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:59PM
Friday, August 26, 2016

In Case You Missed It: August 20-26 by Robert Simonson

Paula Vogel may finally get to Broadway, and a triple dose of Sondheim news.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:11PM

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