Broadway: Carole King Breaks Record, “Bronx Bombers” is a Solid Triple by Roger Friedman

Broadway is buzzing in the middle of winter, believe it or not. The Carole King-Gery Goffin-Barry Mann-Cynthia Weil musical “Beautiful” broke a Categories: Celebrity Featured …

Carole King Won’t Come See Her Broadway Musical, But She Should by Roger Friedman

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Anna Crouse, Grandmother of “Girls” star Zosia Mamet, Creator of TKTS Booth, Dies at 97 by Roger Friedman

Anna Crouse, widow of playwright Russel Crouse and mother of actress Lindsay Crouse, has died at age 99. So far only a Categories: Celebrity Theater(Read more...)

A “Knots Landing” Reunion and All Star Send Off for 6 Time Tony Winner Julie Harris by Roger Friedman

Six time Tony Award winner Julie Harris, first lady of the American theater, got an all-star send off this afternoon from a Categories: Celebrity Featured Theater(Read more...)

Broadway: Kinky Boots Breaks Record, Popular Press Agent Leaves, Pippin Recoups by Roger Friedman

A big Broadway day: over the weekend Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s “Kinky Boots” broke a house record at the Hirschfield Theater. Categories: Featured Theater(Read…

Broadway: “Spider Man” — Closing Soon– Celebrates 3rd Anniversary Tonight by Roger Friedman

Not every show on Broadway will be remembered for something. But tonight “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” marks three years since Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

Monty Python Reunion Now 5 Shows (Remember My 100 Show Scoop, Kids) by Roger Friedman

The Monty Python reunion has been extended to five shows from its original one. Please do remember my scoop about 100 shows Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

“X Men” on Broadway: Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart Score a Huge Success in Pair of Plays by Roger Friedman

Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom (Arwen, and Legolas Greenleaf to you) came to celebrate Gandalf. Others came to cheer on the “X Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

Review: Sarah Jessica Parker, Blythe Danner Sizzle in Off Broadway Play about “The Madoffs” by Roger Friedman

Bernie and Ruth Madoff probably never imagined they’d become the stuff of celebrity drama. First Woody Allen reinvented them for “Blue Jasmine” Categories: Featured Thea…

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…