All stories by Sam Eckmann on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Instant Tony odds: ‘Schmigadoon!’ and ‘Liberation’ are early front-runners for the top awards by Sam Eckmann

Here's what the Gold Derby leaderboards are saying about this year's most competitive Tony races.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, May 1, 2026

From ‘Spidermusical’ to ‘Schmigadoon!’ Alex Brightman and Sara Chase are musical comedy buddies for life by Sam Eckmann

The Tony-contending Broadway version of the Apple TV musical comedy marks the duo's latest collaboration in their nearly 20-year friendship.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 30, 2026

‘An incredible reminder of history’: Aya Cash and Elliot Levey discuss the resonance of ‘Giant’ by Sam Eckmann

The actors embody the two sides of the Jewish perspective on Isreal and antisemitism in the Tony-contending play starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, April 29, 2026

2026 Tony eligibility: ‘Schmigadoon!’ scores in Original Score, ‘Rocky Horror’ gains 2 lead acting contenders by Sam Eckmann

Tessa Thompson, Don Cheadle and Taraji P. Henson jump to the featured actor races, while Anika Noni Rose gets promoted to lead.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:55PM[SHARE]

2026 Drama Desk Awards: ‘The Balusters’ scores a pre-Tony bounce, ‘Chess’ and ‘Rocky Horror’ remain in musical revival stalemate by Sam Eckmann

The off-Broadway productions Beau the Musical and Mexodus led all contenders with 10 nominations apiece.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:55PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 28, 2026

How Jessica Vosk makes ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ soar every night on Broadway by Sam Eckmann

The star of the Tony-contending Beaches musical reveres Bette Midler's performance in the beloved 1988 movie.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:05AM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 23, 2026

‘Don’t stop’: How June Squibb keeps winning accolades — and awards — at age 96 by Sam Eckmann

The Oscar-nominated star of Marjorie Prime could become the oldest actor ever nominated for a Tony.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards: ‘The Lost Boys’ sinks its teeth into 11 nominations, the most of any production by Sam Eckmann

The Rocky Horror Show is snubbed for Musical Revival, while Becky Shaw, Death of a Salesman, and Joe Turner's Come and Gone are showing their strength as Play Revival contenders.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:55PM[SHARE]
Monday, April 20, 2026

2026 Drama League Awards: ‘Ragtime’ leads nominations, ‘Oedipus’ snubbed by Sam Eckmann

The precursor ceremony could have big implications for the 2026 Tony race.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:15PM[SHARE]
Saturday, April 18, 2026

Why Danny Strong calls 'Chess' the 'weirdest thing I've ever done' by Sam Eckmann

The Emmy-winning writer was able to put his passion for musical theater into practice by writing an all-new book for the famously troubled show.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM[SHARE]
Thursday, April 9, 2026

2026 Tony eligibility: Ebon Moss-Bachrach jumps to Featured Actor race for 'Dog Day Afternoon' by Sam Eckmann

Every Brilliant Thing and Giant were also discussed at the third eligibility meeting of the 2025-26 Broadway season.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:15PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Tony Awards releases calendar of events for 2025-26 season by Sam Eckmann

The 79th Annual Tony Awards will be held June 7 at Radio City Music Hall.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:55PM[SHARE]
Thursday, February 19, 2026

2026 Tony eligibility: June Squibb goes featured, Best Play category shrinks by Sam Eckmann

Oedipus and Bug were also discussed at the second eligibility meeting of the 2025-26 Broadway season.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:50PM[SHARE]
Thursday, November 20, 2025

2026 Tony Awards: 'Mamma Mia!' revival could make voters say 'Here we go again' after 1st eligibility meeting by Sam Eckmann

The Tony Awards Administration Committee held its first eligibility meeting of the 2025-26 Broadway season.

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:45PM[SHARE]
Sunday, June 8, 2025

2025 Tony Awards first-timers club: Half of this year's acting winners triumphed for their Broadway debuts by Sam Eckmann

The 2025 Tony Awards gave a warm welcome to first-timers tonight by awarding four actors for their Broadway debut. This accounts for half of the ceremony's acting categories " one of the bes…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:46PM[SHARE]
Monday, June 2, 2025

'Maybe Happy Ending' dominates the 2025 Drama Desk Awards with 6 wins, 'Boop!' and 'Gypsy' stage upsets by Sam Eckmann

Winners of the 2025 Drama Desk Awards were announced at a ceremony on June 1, hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess. These awards are unique in that Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:34PM[SHARE]
Friday, May 30, 2025

'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' by Sam Eckmann

"I'm just, at a very base level, always so grateful to be getting to do this " that is the true win," confesses newly minted Tony nominee Darren Criss. The actor is recognized for his perfor…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:45PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 29, 2025

'Death Becomes Her' costume designer Paul Tazewell on creating show's spectacular outfits: 'Theater-making is about the impossible' (exclusi by Sam Eckmann

"Theater-making is about the impossible," says Paul Tazewell. The legendary costume designer " who earlier this year made history as the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Des…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM[SHARE]

'Gypsy' and 'Just in Time' producer Tom Kirdahy on serving a 'social and cultural need' through creative work by Sam Eckmann

"Anything I produce, I believe, needs to be serving a kind of social and cultural need. I want to produce works that in some way meet a moment," Broadway producer Tom Kirdahy tells Gold Derb…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 28, 2025

'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' by Sam Eckmann

Playwright Jonathan Spector describes his arrival on Broadway as a "wild" and "out of body" experience. Not only did he make his mainstream debut with Eureka Day, a comedy about vaccine mand…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM[SHARE]

How 'Gypsy' choreographer Camille A. Brown brings a fresh perspective to the classic musical by treating dance 'as a language' by Sam Eckmann

Camille A. Brown had the musical Gypsy in her bones from a young age. So when director George C. Wolfe needed a choreographer who could bring a new perspective to the show, instead of the of…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, May 27, 2025

How designer Marg Horwell transforms Sarah Snook in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' through quick costume changes (exclusive images) by Sam Eckmann

"She had a lot of physical offers, which is so great as a designer to be able to respond to," Marg Horwell tells Gold Derby about working with Sarah Snook on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Horw…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, May 23, 2025

'The Hills of California' star Laura Donnelly on having to revamp her character in 10 days: 'I had a minor panic attack' by Sam Eckmann

"I will admit, on the first day of the read-through of the new Act 3, I had a minor panic attack," recounts Laura Donnelly of bringing the play The Hills of California to New York. Donnelly …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Scenic designer Derek McLane on his dual Tony nominations for 'Death Becomes Her' and 'Just in Time': 'They have completely different person by Sam Eckmann

"They have completely different personalities, like you're talking to different people," says Derek McLane of the musicals Death Becomes Her and Just in Time. The scenic designer is a two-ti…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:05PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 21, 2025

'Oh, Mary!' Tony nominee Conrad Ricamora on getting laughs as Abraham Lincoln: 'I've got to take the stakes deadly seriously' by Sam Eckmann

"The jokes are always so strong, but the surprising thing is that people have been so moved by the show as well," says Conrad Ricamora of the hit new play Oh, Mary! The actor stars opposite …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:30PM[SHARE]

'Maybe Happy Ending' director Michael Arden taps into the 'universal heartbreak and joy' of his robot love story by Sam Eckmann

"I think it's all about making sure that you're building a world for an audience ... and that you're making sure they're on the emotional ride that you want them to be on," explains Maybe Ha…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM[SHARE]

'Smash' Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas looks back on his 30-year Broadway career of high-energy comedy: 'I still enjoy it, which is crazy' by Sam Eckmann

"I'm just enjoying it as much as possible," says Brooks Ashmanskas of his third career Tony nomination. "I think it's a huge deal … this doesn't happen all the time and it's wonderful." Th…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM[SHARE]
Friday, May 16, 2025

2025 Drama League Awards winners announced: Nicole Scherzinger takes Distinguished Performance by Sam Eckmann

Winners of the 2025 Drama League Awards were announced today in a ceremony hosted by Emmy-winning NY1 reporter Frank DiLella at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. In a competitive year for theater award…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:22PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 15, 2025

Creating a world for Helperbots: Dane Laffrey on the scenic design of 'Maybe Happy Ending' (exclusive images) by Sam Eckmann

"Making theater, especially musicals, can feel super mysterious and alchemical. You're looking for energy and you're trying to get lightning in a bottle," says Dane Laffrey of the process of…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

'Gypsy' Tony nominee Joy Woods takes Louise from 'apologetic' to 'powerful' by Sam Eckmann

"I'm new to this," says an excited Joy Woods when asked about what she's looking forward to at the upcoming Tony Awards ceremony. "I will just be taking in everything." The actress earned…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM[SHARE]
Thursday, May 1, 2025

'Gypsy' couple Audra McDonald and Danny Burstein are the most Tony-nominated actress and actor in history by Sam Eckmann

Together, wherever they go! Broadway favorites Audra McDonald and Danny Burstein both earned Tony nominations for their performances in the latest revival of Gypsy. In doing so, they have ea…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:13PM[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