All stories by Sam Eckmann on BroadwayStars

Thursday, March 23, 2023

‘KPOP’ composer Helen Park poised to make Tony Awards history by Sam Eckmann

The lifespan of the new Broadway musical “KPOP” was cut dramatically short, but that doesn’t mean the show is out of the running at the upcoming Tony Awards. “KPOP” pulls back the…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:00PM
Tuesday, March 21, 2023

2023 Tony Awards slugfest: 22 productions vie for places in Play races [WATCH] by Sam Eckmann

When surveying the outstanding crop of plays this Broadway season and attempting to make early guesses as to which ones will snag Tony nominations, I can only sum it up as “absolutely insa…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Thursday, March 16, 2023

‘Room’ indefinitely postpones Broadway outing, Tony races in flux by Sam Eckmann

The stage adaptation of “Room,” one of the most anticipated new plays of the spring Broadway season, is postponed indefinitely. The show was scheduled to begin performances on April 3, 2…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM
Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Brian d’Arcy James (‘Into the Woods’) hoping to break decades-old Tonys curse by Sam Eckmann

You wish to have the curse reversed? You’ll need to win a Tony first! Brian d’Arcy James gave an impressive performance as the Baker in the recent revival of Stephen Sondheim and James L…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Friday, March 3, 2023

2023 Tony Awards nominations prediction center is active! 23 plays jockey for Broadway’s top honors by Sam Eckmann

Friends, Romans, theater lovers, lend me your ears! The 2023 Tony Awards nominations prediction center is now open, with 23 plays competing for Broadway’s top honors. Be sure to log your e…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:00PM
Thursday, March 2, 2023

2023 Tony Awards nominations prediction center is open! 15 musicals vie for voters’ attention by Sam Eckmann

Strap on your LaDucas and warm up your best 16 bars. The 2023 Tony Awards nominations prediction center is open for business, and a medley of musicals are vying for a spot in this year’s c…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00PM
Friday, February 3, 2023

As nonbinary performers gain recognition, will the Tony Awards nix gendered acting categories? by Sam Eckmann

The Tony Awards Administration committee unveiled their first round of eligibility determinations on February 2 for the 2023 Tony Awards. Pundits eagerly anticipate these determinations beca…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:30PM
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

2023 Tony Awards eligibility rulings (round 1): ‘Kimberly Akimbo,’ ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘1776’ and a change in voting procedure by Sam Eckmann

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the first time during the 2022-2023 Broadway season on January 31 to discuss eligibility of 20 productions for the 76th Annual Tony Awards in…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:30PM
Thursday, December 22, 2022

Will Jefferson Mays’ solo ‘A Christmas Carol’ continue the recent good will for Charles Dickens at the Tony Awards? by Sam Eckmann

The Christmas season brings scores of ticket buyers to Broadway as tourists flood Times Square and locals bring visiting family to the theater. Many of those audiences should catch the bold …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

2023 Tony Awards: Get your MetroCard ready, new venue is 6 miles from Broadway by Sam Eckmann

The Tony Awards have a 2023 date, and they are moving way uptown! The 76th edition of these kudos honoring the best of Broadway will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 11, 2023 on CBS and str…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM
Monday, November 21, 2022

Victoria Clark (‘Kimberly Akimbo’) could be the 12th actress in this elite club of Tony winners by Sam Eckmann

Amid a stacked fall season on Broadway, “Kimberly Akimbo” has emerged as an early Best Musical frontrunner for next spring’s Tony Awards. The new show from Jeanine Tesori and David Lin…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM
Thursday, November 3, 2022

Tom Stoppard could break his own Tony Awards record with ‘Leopoldstadt’ by Sam Eckmann

Tom Stoppard’s haunting drama “Leopoldstadt” is the rare non-musical play to become a smash hit on Broadway. After critics fell in love with the gripping historical piece, the show bro…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM
Wednesday, June 15, 2022

What is it like to watch the Tony Awards from inside Radio City Music Hall? Excitement, glamour and sweat by Sam Eckmann

I’ve been covering the Tony Awards for years but I had never stepped foot inside of Broadway’s biggest celebration until this year. When offered the last minute opportunity to attend the…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:30AM
Monday, June 13, 2022

That’s a wrap! Our Tony Awards pundits dish their favorite moments and key takeaways from 2022 ceremony [WATCH] by Sam Eckmann

Another Tony Awards season has come to a close! My colleagues Susan Haskins-Doloff and David Buchanan rubbed open our weary eyes after a long night celebrating the best of Broadway to recap …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:15PM

Second Stage Theater (‘Take Me Out’) earns 1st Tony Award since purchasing a Broadway house by Sam Eckmann

Thanks to a Tony Award win for “Take Me Out” in the Best Revival of a Play category, Second Stage Theater can finally join the ranks of the other nonprofit theater organizations on Broad…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:24AM

Marianne Elliott (‘Company’) makes Tony Awards history with 3rd directing win by Sam Eckmann

Marianne Elliott prevailed in a tough Tony race — Best Director of a Musical — winning for her gender-swapped update to Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” This victory means far more th…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:12AM

‘The Lehman Trilogy’ is rare closed production to win the Tony Award for Best Play by Sam Eckmann

“The Lehman Trilogy” proved to be unbeatable in the Tony race for Best Play, as many pundits predicted all season long. Written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, this epic dra…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:05AM
Sunday, June 12, 2022

‘A Strange Loop’ becomes 7th musical to win at Pulitzers and Tony Awards by Sam Eckmann

“A Strange Loop” won the much-coveted Tony Award for Best Musical at the 2022 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12. The tuner from Michael R. Jackson claimed a total of two Tonys at the ceremo…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:52PM
Thursday, June 9, 2022

2022 Tony Awards: Watch in-depth interviews with 21 nominees from plays and musicals by Sam Eckmann

We are just days away from the 2022 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12 and voters are making their final decisions on who will emerge victorious on Broadway’s biggest night. Before you lock in…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM

Final 2022 Tony Awards predictions slugfest: ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ leads, but a small voter pool throws many play categories into chaos [Watch] by Sam Eckmann

With just days to go before the 75th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12, Gold Derby’s trio of Broadway pundits gathered together to dish which shows are ahead in the race. Susan Haskins…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM
Monday, June 6, 2022

Gabby Beans (‘The Skin of Our Teeth’) on breaking the fourth wall as Sabina: ‘It’s me on my most diva-ish and confident day’ [Exclusive Vide by Sam Eckmann

“I had an intuition,” reveals Gabby Beans on her approach to playing Sabina in “The Skin of Our Teeth.” The “very meta” role in the revival of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:30PM

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (‘Take Me Out’) on the ‘gift’ of glorious monologues and earning his first Tony nomination [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“My job was to find out who my Mason was and carve a new path for him,” explains Jesse Tyler Ferguson of his character in “Take Me Out.” The actor portrays an accountant who discover…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:30PM
Saturday, June 4, 2022

Julie White (‘POTUS’) on being the ‘engine’ of a new farce and fighting tears with comedy [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“I read the play and laughed so hard I was sweating,” exclaims actress Julie White of the new play “POTUS.” The Broadway veteran portrays Harriet, the White House Chief of Staff task…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM
Friday, June 3, 2022

Warren Carlyle (‘The Music Man’ choreographer) on ‘truly joyous’ collaboration with Hugh Jackman [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“We had the chance to make something truly joyous,” explains Tony nominee Warren Carlyle of “The Music Man.” With Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster as the stars in this revival, the sta…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:30PM

Joaquina Kalukango (‘Paradise Square’) on earning standing ovations and ‘honoring lost voices’ [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“It’s a New York story that not a lot of people knew about,” explains Tony nominee Joaquina Kalukango of the musical “Paradise Square.” The actress plays Nelly, a born-free Black w…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:30PM
Thursday, June 2, 2022

Barrie Gower (‘Stranger Things’ special makeup effects designer) on villain Vecna: ‘I always wanted to be a monster maker’ [Exclusive Video In by Sam Eckmann

“I always wanted to be a monster maker,” reveals special makeup effects designer Barrie Gower. “It was my childhood dream.” The Emmy-winner has made that dream a reality with his imp…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:30PM
Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Deirdre O’Connell (‘Dana H.’) discusses her unprecedented lip synced role: ‘I’m using myself as a science experiment’ [Exclusive Video Int by Sam Eckmann

“I had no idea if I could do it,” admits Deirdre O’Connell of her entirely lip synced role in “Dana H.” When playwright Lucas Hnath presented her with the text, the uniqueness of t…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:30PM
Monday, May 30, 2022

John-Andrew Morrison (‘A Strange Loop’) on bringing ‘all of my authentic self’ to his Tony-nominated performance [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“It fulfilled my queer artist soul,” claims John-Andrew Morrison of getting to perform in “A Strange Loop” on Broadway. The actor admits that he didn’t believe the show would find …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM
Saturday, May 28, 2022

Christopher Wheeldon (‘MJ’ director and choreographer) on exploring the ‘anatomy of Michael as a dancer’ [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“The goal from the very beginning was to capture the essence of Michael, but also make a new piece of art,” describes director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon of his work on “MJ…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

A.J. Shively (‘Paradise Square’) isn’t a dancer by trade, but he’s hoofed his way to his 1st Tony nomination [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“It still really hasn’t sunk in. It’s wild,” exclaims A.J. Shively of his first ever Tony nomination. The performer was recognized for his work in the new musical “Paradise Square.…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM
Monday, May 23, 2022

Can Sutton Foster (‘The Music Man’) parlay her Drama League upset into Tony Award #3? by Sam Eckmann

The Drama League Awards set themselves apart from other theater industry kudos thanks to their Distinguished Performance Award. The category generally features forty to fifty performers from…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:00PM

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