All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Broadway News: Sondheim’s Hot Summer Continues with “Into the Woods” All Star Revival Coming Next Month by Roger Friedman

Stephen Sondheim is smiling in heaven. “Company,” as I told you yesterday, is booming right now with Patti Lupone, Katrina Lenk and

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:48PM
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Dead Show Walking: Broadway’s “Paradise Square” Scored 10 Tony Nominations But No One Is Going to See It by Roger Friedman

No one knows why “Paradise Square” received 10 Tony nominations. No one except Tony nominators who were clearly not in touch with

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:33PM

Broadway: “Company” Box Office Jumps by $100K After Star Patti Lupone Curses Out Audience Member by Roger Friedman

Give Patti Lupone her Tony Award — and a raise. Before May 11th, the box office at the much praised revival of

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:33PM
Monday, May 16, 2022

Theater: Drama Desk Noms So Weird They Actually Gave One to the Star of “Diana, the Musical” by Roger Friedman

I really don;’t understand what the Drama Desk is, except their nominations make for a lot of drama. They kind of ignore

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:18PM
Saturday, May 14, 2022

“ER” Star Anthony Edwards Isn’t in “Top Gun,” But Last Night He Sang Bob Dylan Songs on Broadway by Roger Friedman

“ER” star Anthony Edwards can’t be in “Top Gun Maverick” because his character, Goose, died in the first movie, Spoiler alert! But

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:18PM
Friday, May 13, 2022

Broadway Downs and Ups: “Mrs. Doubtfire” Musical Closing Before Tonys, Two Plays Extend Runs by Roger Friedman

Broadway is not for the faint of heart even in a good economy. But with inflation soaring and COVID lurking, keeping a

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:54PM
Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Watch “Company” Star Patti Lupone Curse Out A Mask-Abuser at After Show Talk Back by Roger Friedman

Tony nominee Patti Lupone gets my vote for this eviscerating of a fan at the after show talk back for “Company.” Patti,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:03PM
Monday, May 9, 2022

Tony Awards Headscratcher: 10 Noms for “Paradise Square” Even Though Criminal Produced It, Critics Hated It by Roger Friedman

Here’s a mystery. The Tony Awards gave 10 nominations including Best Musical to “Paradise Square.” The critics hated it. The producer is

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:12PM

Tony Nominations Snub Big Stars Daniel Craig, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, All of “Funny Girl” by Roger Friedman

The 2022 Tony Awards nominations are out, and so are most of the big stars bringing people to Broadway. There is ONE

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:12PM
Friday, May 6, 2022

Broadway: Pam Anderson’s 2nd Week in “Chicago” a Bust So Jennifer Holliday’s the Next Big Name Coming to the Show by Roger Friedman

Pamela Anderson in “Chicago” got a lot of press for a few minutes. Adding the sexy siren to Broadway’s longest running show

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:03AM
Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Broadway: Ariana DeBose to Host Tony Awards, “Plaza Suite” Books 3rd Extension with Broderick, Parker by Roger Friedman

Some good Broadway news for a change. Ariana DeBost is having a great year. She won the Oscar for “West Side Story”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:18PM
Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Andrew Lloyd Webber No Prince Charming as He Decides to Shut Down London “Cinderella” Without Telling Cast or Director by Roger Friedman

If you think we have problems… In London, Andrew Lloyd Webber who functions as a “composer” and “producer” is in hot water.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:06PM

Broadway Box Office Falls by $5 Mil Even With Tony-Buzzed Shows Opening Last Week by Roger Friedman

The final week of the Tony award season was not so good at the Broadway box office. The total gross fell by

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:06PM
Monday, May 2, 2022

Broadway: Acclaimed Production of “Death of a Salesman” Starring Wendell Pierce Coming in Fall by Roger Friedman

This is exciting news. This fall Broadway will get to see the Olivier winning West End production of “Death of a Salesman”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:36PM
Saturday, April 30, 2022

Broadway: No One’s Laughing at “Funny Girl” as Both Lead Stars Are Out Less Than a Week After Premiere by Roger Friedman

If you’re going to “Funny Girl” this weekend, this joke’s on you. Star Beanie Feldstein, who plays Fanny Brice. is out of

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:54PM
Friday, April 29, 2022

Macbeth, The Name is…Macbeth: Daniel Craig, Ruth Negga Get An A Plus Crowd for Opening Night, Standing O’s, and Champagne by Roger Friedman

The big final opening night for the 2022 Broadway season was a sensation. James Bond actor Daniel Craig opened in a new

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:33PM
Thursday, April 28, 2022

Review: Billy Crystal Gets Vindication for “Mr. Saturday Night” After 30 Years by Roger Friedman

Buddy Young Jr. is back. Three decades ago, Billy Crystal’s character, a 70ish comic who was over the hill, was not so

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:54AM
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Broadway Booms: Brilliant Billy Crystal Tonight, Daniel Craig Bows in “Macbeth” Tomorrow, Bob Dylan Musical is Back! by Roger Friedman

It’s a booming week on Broadway. Sunday brought “Funny Girl” and last night “A Strange Loop” made for cutting edge material. Tonight,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:48PM
Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Broadway: Outer Critics Snub “Funny Girl,” Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster and Most Anyone Famous by Roger Friedman

Well, the Outer Critics Circle nominations are really Out There. The group made itself unimportant instantly by snubbing everyone famous on Broadway,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:18PM
Monday, April 25, 2022

Library of Congress Acquires the Papers of Neil Simon, Broadway’s Most Successful Playwright by Roger Friedman

For several decades there wasn’t a Broadway without a Neil Simon play, or two, lighting up the Great White Way. Now the

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:54PM

Broadway: Beanie Feldstein Makes a Terrific Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” Revival, Plus Barbra Streisand Ain’t Coming Back by Roger Friedman

I’m just back from the opening night of the first ever revival of “Funny Girl” on Broadway in 58 years. What I’m

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42AM
Thursday, April 21, 2022

Bobby Morse Succeeded in Show Business: RIP at 90, Emmy and Tony Winner by Roger Friedman

Robert Morse is gone at age 90. His impish charm, noted everywhere this morning, served him well. His big early moment came

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:24AM
Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Some Like It VERY Hot: Cool New Musical of Famed Movie Coming to Broadway This Fall by Roger Friedman

Sounds like a drag: “Some Like it Hot” is coming to Broadway this fall in a very cool production. The book is

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:06PM
Thursday, April 14, 2022

Barry Manilow Tests Positive for COVID, Won’t Be Able to Attend Premiere of “Harmony” Musical by Roger Friedman

Barry Manilow has tested positive for COVID. He won’t be at tonight’s premiere of his new musical. Manilow writes: “I am heartbroken

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:33AM
Thursday, April 7, 2022

COVID Updates: “Plaza Suite” Pauses as SJP Tests Positive, “Macbeth” Still Off, Patti Scialfa Rocks at Home by Roger Friedman

I am so sorry for all these performers testing positive for COVID. Last night, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa couldn’t make Clive

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:06PM
Wednesday, April 6, 2022

On Monday. Matthew Broderick was on “Kelly & Ryan,” Then He Tested Positive for COVID, Now He’s Home and Not in “Plaza Suite” by Roger Friedman

COVID is still everywhere. Especially in showbiz. On Monday morning, Matthew Broderick appeared on “Live with Kelly & Ryan” to promote his

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:33AM
Saturday, April 2, 2022

Broadway: Daniel Craig Tests Positive for COVID, “Macbeth” Cancels Today’s Shows, Waits for Monday by Roger Friedman

Even James Bond can get COVID. Daniel Craig has tested positive for the virus, thus shutting down “Macbeth” on Broadway today. The

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:12PM
Thursday, March 31, 2022

Broadway: Aaron Sorkin to Write New Book for Fall “Camelot,” Will “New Version” Replace Old? by Roger Friedman

Uh oh. “Camelot” is being revived by Lincoln Center for the fall on Broadway. Aaron Sorkin and Bartlett Sher ar reuniting from

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:12PM
Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Broadway Gives Grosses 1st Time in 2 Years: “Music Man,” “Michael Jackson” Booming, “Company” Needs Some, “Tina” Rolling on a River by Roger Friedman

Broadway is back, and so are the grosses. For the first time in 2 years we have the actual numbers for the

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:48PM
Thursday, March 17, 2022

Broadway League Says It Will Return to Reporting Weekly Box Office Per Show Starting Next Week by Roger Friedman

Broadway is back. And soon we’ll know what the heck is going on. Starting next week, the Broadway League will return to

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:33PM

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