All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Friday, March 28, 2025

Kennedy Center Cancels “Legally Blonde,” Andrew Lloyd Webber Shows Like “Cats” and “Phantom” Unlikely Given History by Roger Friedman

What a crazy load of BS yesterday from the Kennedy Center. Another musical is canceled, this time it’s the musical “Legally Blonde.” It was supposed to run there in mid June. The produ…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:03PM

“Succession” Star Sarah Snook Nails Down Tony Award with Stunning Performance in Broadway’s “Dorian Gray” by Roger Friedman

“Succession” star Sarah Snook picked up a lot of awards for playing complex Shiv Roy on TV. Sje immediately segued to the London stage and an Olivier award for playing 26 roles in the on…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:42AM
Monday, March 24, 2025

Joe Biden Makes First Post-Inauguration Appearance at Denzel Washington’s Broadway “Othello” Opening by Roger Friedman

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are opening tonight on Broadway in “Othello.” A few celebs turned out. But the main one was former President Joe Biden. He was wearing a natty tuxed…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:24AM
Friday, March 21, 2025

Review: Madcap, Genius “Operation Mincemeat” Storms Broadway with A List Opening Night Including Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse Eisenberg by Roger Friedman

We really owe a big thank you to the Brits for helping with World War II and with Broadway. Last night the West End hit, “Operation Mincemeat” opened here and took the stage by storm. Ce…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:54PM
Monday, March 17, 2025

Broadway: New James Taylor Musical Called “Fire & Rain,” But How Will It Cover Dark Times in His Early Career? by Roger Friedman

Carole King and many others have one. Now it’s time for a James Taylor Broadway jukebox musical. “Fire & Rain” is the title, although the way audiences come to the theater these da…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:06PM
Thursday, March 13, 2025

JD Vance and Wife Usha Booed at the Kennedy Center by Audience Before “Riverdance” Performance by Roger Friedman

JD Vance and wife Usha were booed loudly tonight at the Kennedy Center before a performance of “Riverdance.” It serves them right. Not Usha trying to play it off pic.twitter.com/lcP6HsCK…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:36PM

Broadway’s “Gypsy” with Audra McDonald Suddenly Cancels Tonight’s Show After Being Off for Christmas Week by Roger Friedman

Remember when Broadway’s “Gypsy” was cancelled for all of Christmas week? Now they’ve suddenly cancelled tonight’s show. COVID ran rampant last time, taking out star Audra McDonald…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:36PM
Monday, March 10, 2025

“Hacks” Star Jean Smart Will Hit Broadway This Spring But Not for Tony Awards Season by Roger Friedman

There’s a reason that Smart is Jean Smart’s last name. She’s coming to Broadway this spring in a new play but not to get a Tony Award. “Call Me Izzy” will open in May, after Tony A…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12PM
Thursday, March 6, 2025

Whoopi Goldberg May Be First of Kennedy Center Honorees Who Won’t Return Now That Trump is Chairman by Roger Friedman

On “The View” today, Whoopi Goldberg announced that she will not return to the Kennedy Center while Donald Trump is chairman. She was responding to the news that “Hamilton” will not …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:32PM

“Hamilton” Cancels Kennedy Center Run in Pre-emptive Strike Before New Trump Board Can 86 Them by Roger Friedman

A year from now, no one will be in the room where it happened. Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical “Hamilton” has cancelled its March 2026 run at the Kennedy Center. It’s …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:32AM
Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Kennedy Center Cancelled Children’s Show it Commissioned Will Go On in New York With Broadway All-Stars by Roger Friedman

The destruction of the Kennedy Center goes on apace. Two days after Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center on February 12th, the theater cancelled its first show. That would be “FINN,�…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:42PM
Tuesday, February 25, 2025

UPDATING Kennedy Center Cancels Broadway Hit Comedy About Vaccinations 2 Weeks Before Open by Roger Friedman

No one at the Kennedy Center will be shouting “Eureka!” anytime soon. The hit Broadway comedy “Eureka Day” is no longer setting down at the Ken Cen beginning March 7th for two weeks.…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:18PM
Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Tony Winner, Oscar Nominee Cynthia Erivo aka Elphaba to Host the Tony Awards! by Roger Friedman

Cynthia Erivo is hosting this year’s Tony Awards! That’s before she plays Jesus Christ in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” And after the Oscars, where she’s nominated for “Wicked.” An…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:06PM
Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Cynthia Erivo aka Elphaba to Play Title Character This Summer in Hollywood Bowl “Jesus Christ Superstar” by Roger Friedman

Cynthia Erivo, aka Elphaba in “Wicked,” is about to break another barrier. She’ll be playing the title role this summer in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl. The dates…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:36AM
Thursday, February 13, 2025

First Kennedy Center Cancellation: Emmy Winner Issa Rae Says Sold Out Show Will Not Go On by Roger Friedman

The fallout at the Kennedy Center has begun. Popular and respected Emmy winner Issa Rae (Insecure, also Barbie) has cancelled her sold out show at the theater following the firing of the boa…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:02PM
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

UPDATED Kennedy Center Collapse as Everyone Is Out: Chief Officer Ousted, Shonda Rimes and Renee Fleming Exit, Ben Folds Quits National Symphony as Ad by Roger Friedman

UPDATED Shonda Rhimes has officially quit the Kennedy Center board. She was the last holdover from the old regime still on the new list. But now she’s confirmed she’s out, along with eve…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:42PM
Monday, February 10, 2025

Trump Installs Stooge as Head of the Kennedy Center, May Prompt Buy Out of Current Chief’s Contract by Roger Friedman

Well. why not? Donald Trump — on his rampage to destroy everything — has appointed one of his stooges as head of the Kennedy Center. Richard Grenell, who has no experience in the arts, c…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54PM
Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Broadway Box Office Falls $13 Million in First $9 Congestion Price Week, Post-Holiday Season by Roger Friedman

Out of town fans of Broadway shows didn’t like congestion pricing’s first week at all. Receipts were down by $13 million from the previous week, showing steep drop off in attendance. Tot…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:03PM
Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Music Mogul Irving Azoff Sets Jan. 30th for Fire Aid Mega Concert in LA: Eagles, Harry Styles, Earth Wind & Fire Possible by Roger Friedman

The record companies aren’t having their parties, but Grammy weekend just got a jolt. Music mogul Irving Azoff is organizing a mega concert called “Fire Aid” on January 30th at LA’s …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:32PM
Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Broadway Boomed Last Week Even with “Gypsy” Shut Down Because of Cast Illness by Roger Friedman

Except for “Gypsy,” every other show on Broadway boomed during Christmas week. Total receipts were up by $11 million over the previous week to $55 million. That’s a high for the year. …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:32AM
Monday, December 30, 2024

RIP Beloved “Alice” Actress and Broadway MVP Linda Lavin, 87, Tony Award Winner by Roger Friedman

Linda Lavin’s death was announced last night. She was 87 and apparently had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. What a shock. We saw her back in May at Lincoln Center’s fundraising…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:18AM
Friday, December 27, 2024

Broadway: “Gypsy” Cancelled Again, Audra McDonald Musical Misses Vital Christmas Week Box Office by Roger Friedman

Terrible news for the revival of “Gypsy” on Broadway. They’ve cancelled tonight’s show, which means the entire Christmas week was a shut down because of illness. Obviously, star Audr…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:17PM
Monday, December 23, 2024

COVID Redux? Broadway’s New Hit “Gypsy” Revival Cancels Show Because Everyone in the Cast is Sick by Roger Friedman

Everything is not coming up roses for the new production of “Gypsy” on Broadway. The Audra McDonald starring musical opened last Thursday to rave reviews. It’s already been sold out in…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:02PM
Tuesday, December 17, 2024

John Mulaney’s Broadway Comedy, “All In,” Brings Hanks, Letterman, Jon Stewart, Steve Martin, Michael J. Fox to Gala by Roger Friedman

Comedian John Mulaney, whose hosting duties send “Saturday Night Live” into the stratosphere, loves theater, Broadway especially (He should host the Tony Awards!) Now Mulaney and writer …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:36PM
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Broadway Closing of “Swept Away” Postponed for 2 Weeks Despite No Ticket Sales by Roger Friedman

Broadway’s “Swept Away,” musical that addresses cannibalism on the high seas, was supposed to close on Sunday. Instead, this indisgestive examination of life among stranded sailors on …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:32PM
Thursday, December 5, 2024

Broadway: Avett Brothers Musical “Swept Away” Closing: Swept Away by Bad Reviews, No Audience by Roger Friedman

This has not been an easy Broadway season for new shows. Closing on December 15th is “Swept Away,” the really strange musical that combined seafaring, folk music, and cannibalism. Yes, I…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:36PM
Thursday, November 28, 2024

“Wicked” Defies Gravity with Incredible Popularity On iTunes Albums and Singles Charts by Roger Friedman

The movie version of “Wicked” is not just a hit at the box office. On the iTunes Top 100, fans are downloading the songs and the soundtrack album like crazy. “Defying Gravity” and �…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:48PM
Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Ironic Twist: Matt Gaetz Allegedly Took Two 19 Year Old Hookers to See “Pretty Woman” On Broadway by Roger Friedman

The movie and Broadway show, “Pretty Woman,” is about a hooker who gets picked up by a rich guy and is paid $3,000 for a weeks’ worth of work. Allegedly, former congressman Matt Gaetz,…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:36PM
Monday, November 18, 2024

Sinatra at the Apollo: Ol’ Blue Eyes Musical Set for One Night This Week at Famed Theater Before Broadway by Roger Friedman

Frank Sinatra is coming to the famed Apollo Theater on Thursday for a very special evening Producers of “Sinatra, The Musical,” as well as the Chairman of the Board’s estate, are bring…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:12PM
Saturday, November 16, 2024

Review: Elton John’s “Tammy Faye” Musical Brings Out the A List, and A Batch of Terrific New Songs by Roger Friedman

Elton John’s “Tammy Faye” Musical opened on Broadway last night to a an A List audience. It also brought a bunch of terrific new songs from Sir Elton, and high powered performances fro…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:06AM
Thursday, November 14, 2024

Watch George Clooney Trailer for Broadway Debut in “Good Night and Good Luck” by Roger Friedman

Come next March, George Clooney will make his Broadway debut in “Good Night and Good Luck.” (It’s the same thing he said to Joe Biden earlier this summer.) This is a stage adaptation o…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42PM

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
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre