All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Thursday, September 28, 2017
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Broadway: "Pretty Woman" with Songs from Bryan Adams, Sets Openings for Chicago, New York by Roger Friedman

“Pretty Woman” is finally in place to be a Broadway musical. The Garry Marshall-directed hit film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere Categories: Featured Theater(Read mor…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12PM[SHARE]
Friday, September 15, 2017

Sunday: 50th Anniversary of The Doors Defying Ed Sullivan And Singing Their Lyrics to "Light My Fire" by Roger Friedman

This Sunday is the 50th anniversary of The Doors’ one and only appearance on CBS’s “Ed Sullivan Show.” They defied Ed and Categories: Featured Music Theater(Read …

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:48PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Broadway: Tony Winner Bernadette Peters Tapped to Succeed Bette Midler in "Hello, Dolly!" by Roger Friedman

This is Part 2 to my story from this morning. Bernadette Peters is taking over as the title character in “Hello, Dolly!” Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:48PM[SHARE]

Bette Midler Takes Another Week off from "Hello, Dolly!" and Sets January 14, 2018 as End Date of Relatively Short Run by Roger Friedman

Goodbye, Dolly, once again. Starting tomorrow Bette Midler takes her second full week off from “Hello, Dolly!” The first back at the Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:18AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Bruce Springsteen Broadway Run Extended by 10 Weeks After Tickets Sell Out Instantly by Roger Friedman

Bruce Springsteen may be on Broadway forever. Today tickets went on sale to his limited run one man show on Broadway beginning Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 06:12PM[SHARE]
Friday, August 25, 2017

Broadway Gets A Late Summer Gift with "Prince of Broadway" And An A List Premiere by Roger Friedman

There is much to love in “Prince of Broadway,” legendary producer-director Hal Prince’s tribute to himself. I mean it: the show is Categories: Featured Theater(Read more…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:42AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, August 22, 2017

RIP: Three-Time Tony Winner Tom Meehan, Wrote "The Producers," "Annie," "Hairspray" by Roger Friedman

Tom Meehan has died at age 88. My friend and neighbor, who I was lucky to know, was a Broadway superstar when Categories: Broadway Reviews Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:24PM[SHARE]
Monday, August 21, 2017
Saturday, August 19, 2017

UPDATE Michael Moore Heading to Prime Time This Winter with "Live from Apocalypse" (Plus Review of His Broadway Show Here) by Roger Friedman

Michael Moore announced on Twitter tonight he’s returning to prime time TV. “Live from the Apocalypse’ will air on TNT.   YES! Categories: Featured Television Thea…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:48AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Broadway: Bill Murray's Visits Didn't Help, "Groundhog Day" Will Close Anyway Next Month by Roger Friedman

It’s all over for “Groundhog Day.” I told you on Monday that Bill Murray’s two visits last week to the Broadway show Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:12AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 14, 2017
Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Broadway: "The Great Comet" Killed by Political Correctness, Bad Producing and Really Bad Handling of Public Relations by Roger Friedman

“The Great Comet” aka “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” is closing on September 3rd, the victim of stupidity. It Categories: Featured Theater(Read more…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:54AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 7, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Told Ya: Uma Thurman Coming to Broadway This Fall in Play by "House of Cards" Writer by Roger Friedman

Well, this was our scoop from April: today it was announced that Uma Thurman is coming to Broadway in the fall. She’ll Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:32PM[SHARE]
Monday, July 10, 2017

Broadway: With Bette Midler Out for a 2nd Week, "Hello, Dolly!" Does Worse Than Revivals of "Cats" and "Miss Saigon" by Roger Friedman

Goodbye, Dolly. Without Bette Midler in the title role, the musical “Hello, Dolly!” fell to unheard of lows last week. The show Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:54PM[SHARE]
Friday, July 7, 2017

Broadway: "Hello, Dolly!" Without Bette Midler Crashes at Box Office, Falls Below $1 Mil for Week by Roger Friedman

Well, now we know what Bette Midler’s contribution to “Hello, Dolly!” is financially. Last week, with Midler gone and the great Donna Categories: Featured Theater(Read m…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:49PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Broadway: Bette Midler Goes on 2 Week Vacation and Tickets Are Suddenly Available Like Crazy by Roger Friedman

Goodbye, Dolly. Hello, Donna. Last night Donna Murphy stepped into the role of Dolly Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” and I’m sure she Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:24PM[SHARE]

Michael Moore Donates $10,000 to Public Theater After Sponsors Cancel Because of "Julius Caesar" Trump Scandal by Roger Friedman

Michael Moore has donated $10,000 to the New York Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park festival. Moore says it’s to make up Categories: Featured Movies Theater(Read more.…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:18AM[SHARE]
Thursday, June 22, 2017

A Broadway First: "1984," Looking for Publicity, Bans Children Under 13 Years of Age by Roger Friedman

It’s a first, but it’s a bit of a canard. The new play, “1984,” will not allow children under the age of Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:42AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017

Goodbye, Dolly: Tony Winner Bette Midler Taking Her First Two Week Vacation by Roger Friedman

Bette Midler? She's outta here. She promised Dolly would never go away again. But Dolly Levi, matchmaker, is taking a two week vacation

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 11:42AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 12, 2017

Tony Awards Ratings Take HUGE Tumble as Bette Midler Non-Performance Costs CBS and Show Plenty by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards ratings were very very bad. Of course last year was a high because of “Hamilton.” Total viewers were 8.73 Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:36PM[SHARE]

Star Wars Exclusive: Mark Hamill Says Carrie Fisher Was "Huge Part" of Chapter 9, He Has Large Role in "The Last Jedi" by Roger Friedman

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Mark Hamill last night at the Plaza Hotel after party for the Grammys. Categories: Featured Movies Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:36PM[SHARE]

Broadway: Bette Midler Snubs the Tony Awards But They Give her Best Actress Anyway by Roger Friedman

Bette Midler didnt perform on the Tony Awards but they gave her Best Actress in a Musical for Hello Dolly tonight. Ben Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:04AM[SHARE]
Thursday, June 8, 2017

Tony Awards Show Snubs, Plus Weird Twist: Christian Borle Will Perform from Closed Show" "Falsettos"" and Not Current One, "Charlie and the by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards are upon us Sunday and we can’t wait. But there’s always drama. This drama is not about Bette Midler Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:18PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Broadway: Jason Alexander Will Star in New Play by "Moonstruck" Writer John Patrick Shanley by Roger Friedman

Jason Alexander is finally coming to Broadway in something new by someone great. The once and for all time George Costanza will Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:48PM[SHARE]

Tony Awards Are Sunday: Who Should Win, Plus Nominee Sally Field is Staying Put in New York by Roger Friedman

The Tony Awards are Sunday on CBS. Even if Bette Midler doesn’t perform (doesn’t look like she will) there will be plenty Categories: Featured Theater(Read more...)

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 5, 2017

Jimmy Buffet Musical "Escape to Margaritaville" Coming to Broadway Next March by Roger Friedman

Broadway news– we’re wasting away again in Margaritaville. Jimmy Buffet’s classic pop song is becoming a whole Broadway show. Expect a lot Categories: Featured Theater(R…

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:05PM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off