All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

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
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Broadway: “Glee” Star Darren Criss Opens in Charming Original Musical, “Maybe Happy Ending” by Roger Friedman

Honestly, I did not think much would come of an original enw musical starring Darren Criss of “Glee” TV show fame. I was very wrong. “Maybe Happy Ending” is the most charming new sho…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:06PM
Saturday, November 9, 2024

“Gladiator II” Star Paul Mescal Bringing “Streetcar Named Desire” to New York in March 2025 by Roger Friedman

Paul Mescal is going to be very busy in March 2025. His hit London production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” is coming to Brooklyn’s BAM Theater after a run at the Almeida Theater in Is…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:54AM
Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Sting Subs for Missing Actors at Semi-Private 10th Anniversary Show of “The Last Ship” for Project ALS, Actor Aaron Lazar by Roger Friedman

Sting led his Broadway cast of “The Last Ship” through a semi-private show last night at 54Below. The Tony nominated score in concert was supposed to serve as a 10th anniversary tribute …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:36PM
Monday, November 4, 2024

RIP Quincy Jones, 91, Legendary Composer, Conductor,Producer of Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, “We Are the World” (Video) by Roger Friedman

“Q” is what everyone called him. Quincy Jones, the greatest of the great, composer, conductor, producer, has died at age 91. He was a giant. There’s no other word to describe him. He w…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54AM
Friday, October 25, 2024

Broadway: “Romeo and Juliet” for Teens Makes Parting Easy With Mostly Negative Reviews by Roger Friedman

“Romeo and Juliet.” How could you screw it up with hot young people in the leads? Reviews are in from last night’s Broadway opening of the Sam Gold production. Yikes. According to didt…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:18AM
Thursday, October 24, 2024

Broadway: All Star “Our Town” Packs Devastating Punch with Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Richard Thomas by Roger Friedman

Thornton Wilder won a Pulitzer Prize for “Our Town” in 1938, it was one of his three Pulitzers. It went on to become a staple of American theater, but sometimes we forget its powerful gu…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:48PM
Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Al Pacino Reveals in New Book That Teleprompters Are “Greatest Thing I Have Found Late in My Acting Life” by Roger Friedman

Al Pacino’s “Sonny Boy” memoir is the most refreshing celebrity autobiography I’ve read since Keith Richards’ “Life.” Pacino just lets loose on everything like lots of girlfrie…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:32PM
Thursday, October 10, 2024

Broadway League Says Lights Will Be Dimmed at All Theaters for Maggie Smith, Gavin Creel, Adrian Bailey by Roger Friedman

After a contentious social media war, the Broadway League has capitulated. They will dim the lights at all theaters for Maggie Smith. Gavin Creel, and Adrian Bailey. No word yet on Ken Page.…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:06AM
Sunday, October 6, 2024

Broadway Outrage Over Dimming of Theater Lights for Tony Winner Gavin Creel, Longtime “Cats” Star Ken Page by Roger Friedman

Who deserves to have Broadway’s bright lights dimmed when they pass away? There’s now an all out war between the theater community and the Broadway League over decisions concerning two p…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:36PM
Saturday, October 5, 2024

Woody Allen Debuts New Play in Budapest, Says In Video “I’ll Be 89 in a Few Weeks, My Life is Half Over” by Roger Friedman

The indefatigable Woody Allen opened a play Friday night in, of all places, Budapest, Hungary. “Brooklyn Tale” is about a gangster and his family who somehow obtain a painting by Raphael…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:06PM
Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Shiv is Coming to Broadway! Sarah Snook Hits Town in March with Her Award Winning One Woman “Dorian Gray” by Roger Friedman

Sarah Snook is coming to Broadway! The forever Shiv Roy of “Succession” is bringing her one woman “Picture of Dorian Gray” here in March 2025. Get the Tony Award shined up! Snook pla…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:54PM
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Robert Downey Jr Makes A Disappointing Debut on Broadway After Winning an Oscar This Year by Roger Friedman

It’s a good news, bad news year for Robert Downey Jr. The former “Iron Man” won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year for “Oppenheimer.” It was a moment that capped an unusual ca…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:48PM
Monday, September 9, 2024

John Mulaney Coming to Broadway in Comedy Sketches With Rotating All Star Cast Produced by Lorne Michaels by Roger Friedman

This should be an instant sell out. John Mulaney is coming to Broadway in December in a new comedy. “All In: Comedy About love by Simon Rich” will have a rotating cast of all stars perfo…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:42PM
Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Broadway: Alicia Keys Show Stops Before Intermission When Tony Winning Actress Is Injured Mid Song! by Roger Friedman

The audience at Alicia Keys’s Broadway show got a surprise Tuesday night. Before the intermission the show suddenly stopped. The lights went up and the stage manager appeared on stage. Ton…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:48AM
Friday, August 16, 2024

Showbiz Legend Elaine May Makes Rare Appearance at Sardi’s to Plug Famed Producer’s Book, and Check the Menu by Roger Friedman

The great and legendary writer-director-performer Elaine May did something very unusual on Tuesday afternoon. The Tony Award winning actress, two time Oscar nominee, winner of a Lifetime Osc…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:07AM
Wednesday, August 14, 2024

“Snow White” Actress Posts “Free Palestine,” Threatens Success of Broadway Show This Fall, 2025 Movie by Roger Friedman

Actress Rachel Zegler will not keep her opinions to herself, no matter how unpopular. Yesterday, Zegler — who became better known thanks to Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story — Twee…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:35AM
Monday, August 12, 2024

Broadway: Sutton Foster Channels Carol Burnett in Totally Silly, Very Funny “Once Upon a Mattress” by Roger Friedman

Carol Burnett, who’s now 92, starred Off Broadway in 1959 in “Once Upon A Mattress.” Her performance as Princess Winifred, coupled with her regular appearances on “The Garry Moore Sh…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:31PM
Thursday, August 8, 2024

Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Burr to Star on Broadway in “Glengarry Glen Ross” Next Spring by Roger Friedman

Roman Roy and Saul Goodman are coming to Broadway. Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk will top line David Mamet’s short but sour “Glengarry Glen Ross” next spring on the big stage. Comedia…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:21AM

Philippe Petit Walks the High Wire 50 Years Later Inside Cathedral of St John the Divine, Accompanied by No Less than Sting by Roger Friedman

Fifty years ago on Wednesday (last night) Philippe Petit made history walking on a highwire between the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. It was illegal, of course, but it made headline…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:22AM
Friday, August 2, 2024

Broadway: 4 Time Oscar Nominee Marsha Mason Assistant Directing Patti Lupone-Mia Farrow Play by Roger Friedman

The Patti Lupone- Mia Farrow play coming to Broadway this month has some news. Famed director Jack O’Brien, age 86, is getting a young, perky assistant director. Marsha Mason, who’s only…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:40AM
Thursday, August 1, 2024

Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter to Star on Broadway in Vladimir and Estragon’s Big Adventure by Roger Friedman

Um, like, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are really going to star in a Broadway play. The former stars of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” movies will play Estragon and Vladimir in S…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:18PM

Adam Driver Going Off Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan Play at Tiny Theater This Fall, Chaos Declared by Roger Friedman

You want tickets to this off Broadway show? Fuhgeddabout it. Adam Driver will star in Kenneth Lonergan’s new play, “Hold on to Me, Darling” at the Lucille Lortel Theater beginning in S…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:28AM
Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Eddie Redmayne Leaving Broadway “Cabaret” Early, Adam Lambert Coming in September by Roger Friedman

Eddie Redmayne is outta here. The Oscar winner opened in “Cabaret” this past winter with hopes of winning a Tony award. He was signed up for a year. But despite a nomination, Redmayne’…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:06PM
Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Tony Award Winner “Merrily” Final Week Tix Going for Upwards of $5,000: Breaks House Record 9th Time by Roger Friedman

If you want to see “Merrily We Roll Along” on Broadway this week, be prepared to pony up. The revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical is seeing ticket prices up to over $5,200 on StubHub…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:42AM
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Broadway Revival of “Tommy” Closing After Receiving No Tony Awards by Roger Friedman

Another show posts a closing notice. The revival of The Who’s “Tommy” will play its last performance on July 21st. The musical received good reviews and had ecstatic audiences, but was…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:12PM
Thursday, June 20, 2024

Prince Getting a Broadway Show Next Year Based on Hit Film, “Purple Rain,” Written by New Tony Award Winner by Roger Friedman

It was inevitable. Prince is coming to Broadway. The late purple rock star will be the subject of an estate approved musical based on his hit movie, “Purple Rain.” The show will launch i…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:42PM
Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Sir Ian McKellen Says He’s OK After Fall off London Stage, Will Be Back to Work Soon by Roger Friedman

Sir Ian McKellen says he’s ok after his fall off a London stage last night. He tumbled during a performance of “Player Kings,” a Shakespeare mashup. Audience members heard McKellen sho…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:06PM

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