All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Broadway: “Avenue Q” Creator Jeff Whitty Writes Scathing Screed About Gwyneth Paltrow and Other Collaborators of Flop Musical “Head over Heels� by Roger Friedman

Jeff Whitty is a seasoned Broadway pro. But on Monday night (Tuesday morning) Whitty let loose on Facebook against his collaborators on

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:18AM
Monday, April 13, 2020

Nick Cordero’s Wife, Amanda, Asks Everyone to Blast Elvis Presley Song, It Helped His Blood Pressure Over Face Time by Roger Friedman

Broadway star Nick Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, posted this this afternoon: “I just got to FaceTime with Nick and I played him

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:48AM
Saturday, April 11, 2020

Broadway Star Nick Cordero’s Wife Says He’s “Fighting for His Life Right Now,” Still in ICU After 11 Days by Roger Friedman

Amanda Kloots, wife of Broadway star Nick Cordero, issued a dire warning this morning about her husband. Nick has been unconscious and

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:24PM

Listen to the First Song from the Hilarious Parody “Tiger King: The Musical” from Composer Andrew Lippa and Kristen Chenoweth by Roger Friedman

As much as I loathe all the people from “The Tiger King,” a parody is just the right thing. So here’s “Little

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:24PM
Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Broadway Shutdown Will Continue Until June 7th, “Diana” Musical Producer Vows “We Shall Return,” Famed Eatery Tweets “Oy” by Roger Friedman

The Broadway shutdown will continue past April 12th until June 7th. That’s the same day the Tony Awards would have been presented.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:12PM
Friday, April 3, 2020

William Wolf, Esteemed Theater Critic, Former Head of the Drama Desk, Dies from Corona Virus by Roger Friedman

The great theater critic William Wolf passed away over the weekend. He was in his late 80s. He was a real presence

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:12AM

Tony Nominated Broadway Star Nick Cordero Unconscious in the ICU from Coronavirus, Wife Asks for Prayers by Roger Friedman

Tony nominated Broadway star Nick Cordero is fighting for his life in a Manhattan hospital. His wife, Amanda Kloots, posted to Instagram

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:12AM
Friday, March 27, 2020

Tony Awards 2020 Are Postponed Indefinitely from June 7th, Theater Season Is Probably Over for this Year by Roger Friedman

update: The Outer Critics Circle has also postponed their nominations and awards indefinitely. The season is over. The 2019-2020 theater season is

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:48AM
Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Terrence McNally, Four Time Tony Winning Playwright, Author of “Master Class,” Has Died at Age 81 from Coronavirus by Roger Friedman

This is really tragic: Terrence McNally is dead at age 81. Four time Tony winner, Pulitzer Prize nominee, recipient of a 2019

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:36PM
Monday, March 23, 2020

Broadway: Tony Winner Gavin Creel Tells Rosie O’Donnell He’s “Pretty Sure” He Has Coronavirus After London Castmate Tests Positive by Roger Friedman

Gavin Creel, Tony winner for “Hello, Dolly!” told Rosie O’Donnell last night on her YouTube special that he’s “pretty sure” he has

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:03AM
Sunday, March 22, 2020

Broadway’s Tony Winner Ruthie Ann Miles Expecting a Child After Losing Daughter and Unborn Baby in Horrific Disaster by Roger Friedman

Some good news for a change, make that great news. Ruthie Ann Miles, the great Broadway musical performer and Tony winner, is

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:36AM
Saturday, March 21, 2020

Two Broadway Productions Close Before They Open Because of Corona Virus: “The Hangmen,” Revival of “Virginia Woolf” by Roger Friedman

Trump Virus has laid claim to two Broadway productions that would have opened for this season but now never will. The worst

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:18AM
Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Rosie O’Donnell Plans Streaming Spectacle for One Night, this Sunday, with Tons of Broadway Stars Performing from Home! by Roger Friedman

Let’s hear it for Rosie  O’Donnell! She’s bringing back her TV show for one night, this Sunday, live on Broadway.com and also

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:24PM
Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Sting’s Musical, “The Last Ship” Postponed til Later This Year in Washington, DC, Likely in Other Cities for Now by Roger Friedman

Sting’s hit musical, “The Last Ship,” is going into dry dock for a bit. Washington DC’s National Theater just announced the run

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:02PM
Thursday, March 12, 2020

Can Broadway Stay Open Through the Crisis? Usher at “Virginia Woolf” Tests Positive, Also Throws “Six” Premiere into Turmoil by Roger Friedman

Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? We all should be, as it turns out. An usher who worked at that Broadway show from

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:48PM

Broadway Closing Until April 13th Throws Tony Award Season Into Jeopardy with Some Shows Finished by Roger Friedman

The 2020 Tony Award season is now in jeopardy of being cancelled. There will be no performances until April 13th. Tonight’s premiere

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:48PM

CBS Moves Upfronts to Digital, Cancels Events, Other Networks to Follow; Broadway Considering Shutdown by Roger Friedman

More, more, more. CBS will move its advertising upfront presentations to online and digital for May 13th. No events in New York.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:48PM
Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Broadway: Hello? Producer Scott Rudin Will Shore Up Empty Theaters with Fifty Dollar Seats for Next 2 Weeks by Roger Friedman

Hello, hello, hello? Starting Thursday at noon you’ll be able to buy tickets to “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway for just

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:18PM
Friday, March 6, 2020

Bob Dylan Is a Broadway Star, Someone Tell Him A List Stars Crowded Opening Night of Knockout New Musical by Roger Friedman

Bob Dylan wakes up this morning a Broadway star. Unlike Bruce Springsteen, he didn’t have to set foot on stage. Unlike Cher,

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:48PM

Like it Or Not, Britney Spears Broadway Musical Set for Chicago Tryout Featuring “American Idol” Star Justin Guarini (Not as Britney) by Roger Friedman

Like it or not, a Britney Spears jukebox musical is coming toward us like a meteorite set to destroy the world. “Once

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:18AM
Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Broadway: Virus Fear or Cold Weather Cause “Book of Mormon,” “Jagged Little Pill” to Fall Below $900,000, “Mockingbird” 50% Down by Roger Friedman

Is it virus panic or lack of interest? Former Broadway blockbuster “The Book of Mormon” is in distress. Last week the receipts

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:42AM
Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Broadway: “Dear Evan Hanson” Star Ben Platt Has An Older Brother, Jonah, Warming Up in a New Musical by Roger Friedman

Ben Platt has the Tony Award for “Dear Evan Hanson” and a load of other awards and starred already in Netflix’s “The

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12PM
Monday, February 24, 2020

Greta Gerwig, Oscar Isaac, Steve Buscemi to Headline Production of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” Off Broadway This Spring by Roger Friedman

Chekhov– that is, Anton, not the guy on “Star Trek” –`is getting the star treatment this spring. His “Three Sisters” will have

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:54PM

Broadway UPDATE: Beetlejuice Star Sophia Ann Caruso Breaks Her Silence About Exit from Show: “One of the greatest experiences of my life” by Roger Friedman

Actress Sophia Ann Caruso has broken her silence about her abrupt departure from “Beetlejuice”: “Thank you to my Beetlejuice family! I love

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:03PM
Sunday, February 23, 2020

Broadway Mystery: 18 Year Old Star of “Beetlejuice” Sophia Anne Caruso Exits Show Abruptly, Rumors Abound by Roger Friedman

It’s been a long, cold winter on Broadway. Not much has been happening besides “West Side Story” opening to vicious reviews. (The

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:36AM
Friday, February 21, 2020

Review: No Snap in New “West Side Story,” A Convoluted Mess That May Be a Rare Failure for Some Top Producers by Roger Friedman

Producer Scott Rudin has joined forces with two Hollywood powerhouses, David Geffen and Barry Diller, to produce the new “West Side Story,”

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:32PM
Sunday, February 16, 2020

The New “West Side Story” is a Convoluted Mess if You Don’t Know Better, “60 Minutes” and CBS’s Bill Whitaker Did an Accurate Report by Roger Friedman

Tonight, CBS’s Bill Whitaker did an excellent report on the mess that is Ivo von Hove’s “West Side Story.” The musical revival

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:12PM
Saturday, February 15, 2020

Lynn Cohen, 86, A Great Actress Whose Name You Didn’t Know, Famous for “Sex and the City,” “Hunger Games: Catching Fire”” by Roger Friedman

Lynn Cohen died yesterday at age 86 according to friends on social media. She was not famous in the movie star sense

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:48PM
Thursday, February 13, 2020

In Tough Winter Broadway Hopes for a Hot Holiday Weekend with Total Box Office Down, Lowest Since September by Roger Friedman

It’s been a tough winter for Broadway at the box office. This past weekend’s take was $27.9 million, the lowest since last

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:36PM
Friday, February 7, 2020

Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Lynn Nottage Rescued After Locking Herself into Lincoln Center Bathroom by Roger Friedman

The call for help went out at 2:42pm on Thursday, just while Donald Trump was having a nervous breakdown on national TV.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:54AM

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