Broadway “Spider Man” Closing in January After Box Office Collapses (As Tipped Here) by Roger Friedman

“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is closing in January. I told you twice. On August 22nd http://www.showbiz411.com/2013/08/22/broadway-spider-man-has-big-drop-from-last-week-while…

“Big Fish,” Third Broadway Bust of Season, Will Close Next Month by Roger Friedman

Broadway: The truly bad musical of the movie “Big Fish” will close on December 29th after 34 previews and 98 performances. How Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read mor…

Hugh Jackman, Darlene Love Celebrate Fantasia “After Midnight” Opening by Roger Friedman

Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra Lee Furness, famed pop singer Darlene Love, Mary Louise Parker, and R&B star Freddie Jackson were just Categories: Theater(Read more...)

“Spider Man” Laid to Rest as Julie Taymor’s Stunning “Midsummer Night’s Dream” Opens by Roger Friedman

Broadway “Spider Man”– Most Expensive Musical Ever– Is Now Officially Struggling by Roger Friedman

“Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is now officially struggling at the box office. While November 28 will mark its third unofficial anniversary on Broadway, the $75 million show is …

True Blood Star Rutina Wesley Headed to Important Off Broadway Play by Roger Friedman

EXCLUSIVE She’s been playing Tara Thornton on “True Blood” since day one. Now I’m told that the intensely talented Rutina Wesley is coming to off Broadway this fall. …

Catherine Zeta Jones Makes A Splash at “Big Fish” Broadway Opening by Roger Friedman

My favorite thing about the Broadway opening of “Big Fish” on Broadway last night–besides Norbert Leo Butz’s magnificent work as the younged down Albert Finney charac…

Gwyneth Paltrow Signs on to Co-Produce Musical About the GoGo’s | Showbiz411 by Roger Friedman

Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar winner, website owner, cookbook author, is launching a new career. Paltrow has agreed to co-produce a Broadway musical. The show is based on the music of the GoGo’s,…

Gwyneth Paltrow Signs on to Co-Produce Musical About the GoGo’s by Roger Friedman

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Exclusive: “Buyer & Cellar” Star Being Replaced as Show Recoups in Record Time by Roger Friedman

I just got a press release saying that the off Broadway hit “Buyer and Cellar” has recouped its investment in record time– nine weeks. But the press release doesn’t m…

Broadway: Michelle Williams, Alan Cumming in All-Star “Cabaret” Revival by Roger Friedman

Circle April 24, 2014: Alan Cumming is returning to Broadway in “Cabaret” directed by Sam Mendes and choreographed by Rob Marshall. His Sally will be movie star Michele Williams,…

Broadway: “Spider Man” Has Big Drop From Last Week, While Producers Plan Marvel Spectacle by Roger Friedman

It’s an interesting turn of events in Marvel land. “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” had the second biggest drop last week. It was down 7.1% from the week before, making just…

Queen Musical “We Will Rock You” Sets US Tour At Last by Roger Friedman

Why should we be left out? Hot on the news that there’s no one to play Freddie Mercury in his own biopic– Sacha Baron Cohen is out–comes news of a Queen musical in the U.S.…

Broadway: Kinky Boots Paying Off, Beatles Blues, Old Jews Turn 500 by Roger Friedman

It’s the mid summer blahs on Broadway, but not for musicals. They are all booming, even “Spider Man” as it hunts for a new lead. (Reeve Carney is finally exiting in Septemb…

Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz on Broadway: Early 1 Week Ticket Sale by Roger Friedman

Get ready to sleep on the sidewalk for tickets to the Mike Nichols-directed “Betrayal” on Broadway. The play starring married couple Daniel Craig (aka James Bond) and Rachel Weis…

Broadway: Diahann Carroll to Play Denzel’s Mother in “Raisin in the Sun” by Roger Friedman

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Listen: Sting — First Song from Coming Broadway “The Last Ship” by Roger Friedman

The first single from Sting’s new album, “The Last Ship,” is released today officially on iTunes. “Practical Arrangement” has been on You Tube for about a week …

Cicely Tyson, 88: Tony Winner Extends Her Broadway Run through October by Roger Friedman

There’s no stopping Cicely Tyson. Winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in June does seem to have energized her even more than was–and that was something. Tyson has agreed to e…

London: “WWZ” Divides Critics; Helen Mirren Queen Forever by Roger Friedman

From London: While Nikki Finke and Sharon Waxman battle it out in Hollywood Hedda vs. Louella style, the movie critics in London are divided over “World War Z.” The Daily Mail cr…

Broadway: $75 Mil “Spider Man” Box Office Fade As New Shows Arrive by Roger Friedman

Is it curtains for “Spider Man” on Broadway? Not yet, but things are looking a little scary for Peter Parker and Mary Jane. For the last several weeks, the Broadway box office fo…

Broadway Smash “Pippin” Will Be A Weinstein Movie by Roger Friedman

“Pippin,” just revived on Broadway after 40 years, and a smash hit, is going to the movies. Harvey Weinstein, unbeknownst to anyone, has owned the right for the last ten years. (…

Broadway: “Vanya,” “Matilda” Win NY Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best Play, Musical by Roger Friedman

I am happy to report that Christopher Durang’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has won Best Play from the New York Drama Critics Circle. They also chose “Matild…

Tony Awards 2013 Nominations: Tom Hanks Is In, But Scarlett, Bette and Alec Are Snubbed by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards nominees have just been announced. Among the Hollywood stars who came to Broadway, Tom Hanks is the sole winner. He was nominated for Best Actor in a play for “Lucky Gu…

Tony Awards Announce Eligibility: They’re Giving the Matilda’s A Special Award by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards committee has met. White smoke has come up out of their tower. And now we know a few things we didn’t before. Namely: the four young actresses who alternate as the main…

“Pippin” Ends Broadway’s Tony Season, And Several Stars Are Born by Roger Friedman

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Bette Midler On Broadway: A List Hollywood Comes East to Support One of Its Own by Roger Friedman

Hollywood came east last night and mixed with Broadway—a not always easy alliance. But they did it for their late pal Sue Mengers, and star Bette Midler who uncannily channels Mengers in a…

How Old Is Cicely Tyson? A Real Mystery Exists. Is She “Benjamin Button”? by Roger Friedman

How old is Cicely Tyson really? Her official age on the imdb.com and other sources puts her at 79. That would seem about right. An article from People magazine’s archives, published in…

Cicely Tyson, Age 79 (or 88), Rocks Broadway, in Return After 30 Years by Roger Friedman

There are a lot of good actors onstage at the Sondheim Theater in the revival of Horton Foote’s “Trip to Bountiful.” Cuba Gooding Jr., Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat, Condola …

First Theater Noms: Tom Hanks is In, Alec Baldwin and Scarlett Johansson Are Not by Roger Friedman

The first important theater nominations are out, from the hard working Outer Critics Circle. They cover Broadway and off Broadway, so it’s pretty comprehensive. The OCC didn’t no…

Alec Baldwn Upstaged in Broadway Return (And He Knows It) by Roger Friedman

Frankly Alec Baldwin knows he’s been upstaged in his Broadway return with Lyle Kessler’s “Orphans.” When I asked him at last night’s after party what he thought…

New Broadway Play Makes Last Minute Changes Because of Boston– Deletes Bomb Reference by Roger Friedman

Playwright Richard Greenberg had an unenviable problem yesterday. Just as his excellent new play “The Assembled Parties” was about to debut, he had to change a bit of it because …