All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Broadway (Almost): New Brilliant “Revolutionary” Musical with Rap, R&B, and Black Actors Playing American Heroes by Roger Friedman

Lin-Manuel Miranda? You may know his name from “In the Heights.” But starting this morning you will know him as the genius Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:45AM
Monday, February 2, 2015

Larry David Makes His Broadway Debut to a Packed House of Faithful Fans by Roger Friedman

There were no celebrities per se in the audience on Monday night, but there were a lot on the stage. Larry David Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:11PM
Friday, January 30, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Phylicia Rashad: Stop Before You Attack Her– Bill Cosby Could Be Anybody by Roger Friedman

I am very dismayed by the attacks I’m seeing on Phylicia Rashad. She spoke to me reluctantly, and did not want to Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:12PM
Monday, January 5, 2015
Monday, December 22, 2014

Broadway: Watch Sting, Last Ship and Jersey Boys Cast Xmas Caroling for Coat Drive by Roger Friedman

Sting, his cast from “The Last Ship” and their across the street neighbors from “Jersey Boys” raised money and received coat donations Categories: Celebrity Featur…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:06AM
Monday, December 15, 2014

Sting Makes “Last Ship” Musical Pop– Box Office Crosses $800K for First Time by Roger Friedman

Adding Sting to his own show has done the trick. “The Last Ship” cleared $817K last week, its highest weekly box office Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:10PM
Saturday, December 13, 2014

Oscar Best Actor Race: Bradley Cooper May Have Edge After Broadway Triumph by Roger Friedman

The Best Actor race is probably the one most talked about some 10 weeks before the Oscars. Everyone has a theory about Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:09PM
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Sting Makes A Sensational ‘Debut’ on Broadway in His “Last Ship” Musical by Roger Friedman

Tuesday night marked Sting’s debut in his own Broadway musical, “The Last Ship.” He was on Broadway over twenty years ago in Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:35AM
Monday, December 8, 2014

Broadway Press Agent Bans WSJ Critic Who Admits to Leaving Shows at Intermission by Roger Friedman

A few days ago Wall Street Journal theater critic wrote in a column that she often ‘Bolted” from shows she didn’t like Categories: business Featured Theater(Read more..…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:16PM
Thursday, November 27, 2014

(Watch) Sting Scores Parade Success with Totally Reworked, Re-staged “Last Ship” Number by Roger Friedman

Sting performed in his first Macys Thanksgiving Parade this morning– showing off a big, reworked number from his Broadway musical “The Last Categories: Featured Theater(Read m…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:55AM
Thursday, November 20, 2014

Broadway: Glenn Close and Cast Strike “A Delicate Balance” on Roughest Critics Night Ever by Roger Friedman

I bought a ticket to see Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Bob Balaban, Martha Plimpton and Lindsay Duncan in ” A Delicate Balance.” Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:55AM
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Broadway Legend Elaine Stritch Gets A List Send Off at Star Studded Memorial by Roger Friedman

If Elaine Stritch had seen the crowd yesterday afternoon at the Al Hirschfeld Theater, she’d have had a whopping good laugh. Her Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:40AM
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Review: Hugh Jackman Comes to “The River,” Drowns in Boredom by Roger Friedman

During the 85 minute bore of a play called “The River,” I thought about a lot of things. None of them was Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:46PM
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014

Theatre: “Billy Elliott” Director Stephen Daldry Will Have 3– Yes 3– Plays This Spring by Roger Friedman

If you want to have lunch with “Billy Elliott” director Stephen Daldry, I’d say do it now. Very shortly he will be Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:12AM
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014

Sting Musical “The Last Ship”: Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Robert DeNiro Make Opening Night by Roger Friedman

First the good news. The New York Times review of “The Last Ship,” Sting’s original musical– the only new original musical this Categories: Featured Theater(Read m…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:43AM
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014

Broadway: New Revival of “On the Town” Scores a Home Run with “Overnight” star Tony Yazbeck by Roger Friedman

New York, New York, the Bronx is up and the Battery’s down. New York, New York, what a wonderful town. Those words Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:19AM
Thursday, October 16, 2014

Bruce Springsteen Leads Standing Ovation for Sting Musical “Last Ship” Preview on Broadway by Roger Friedman

Quite a night, last night, I’m told, at the preview for Sting’s musical The Last Ship” on Broadway. Bruce Springsteen led the Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:19AM
Friday, October 10, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014

Broadway: Sting Makes Slight Tweaks As “The Last Ship” Sets Sail for Previews by Roger Friedman

A few people I know had the same idea last and hied themselves over to the Neil Simon Theater on West 52nd Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:29AM
Monday, October 6, 2014

Broadway Barks: Brit Import “Curious Incident” Opens to Raves with 25 Year First Timer in Lead by Roger Friedman

Alex Sharp is from Devon, England and had no theater training until he was accepted into Juilliard’s acting program. Last March he Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:35PM
Friday, October 3, 2014
Thursday, October 2, 2014

Johnny Carson, the Musical? Joan Rivers, Ed McMahon Among Characters in Broadway Workshop Production by Roger Friedman

Remember that book about Johnny Carson by the late talk show host’s lawyer, Henry Bushkin? Well, Bushkin has decided to turn it Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:43AM
Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Broadway: Helen Mirren vs. Carey Mulligan for Tony Award Best Actress, Different Plays, Same Director by Roger Friedman

I don’t know how this is going to work, exactly. Much awarded and beloved director Stephen Daldry (The Reader, Billy Elliott, etc) Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:20PM