All stories by Meredith Blake on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Craig Zadan sparked a renewed interest in live musicals with his TV productions by Meredith Blake

Before there was “Hamilton” or “Dear Evan Hansen,” there was Craig Zadan. In a decades-long career that spanned film, theater and television, the producer, who died Monday at age 69 …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:40PM
Sunday, March 13, 2016

'Walking Dead' star Danai Gurira also breaks out in the New York theater community with two plays by Meredith Blake

The 18 million or so viewers who tune in to "The Walking Dead" each week on AMC know Danai Gurira as Michonne, the dreadlocked fan favorite whose skills with a katana have made her indispens…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:34PM
Tuesday, December 8, 2015

'The Bridges of Madison County' crosses into lush terrains, composer promises by Meredith Blake

For a guy who's never had much success on Broadway, Jason Robert Brown is, well, pretty successful. "Parade," a musical about the lynching of a Jewish factory worker, closed after barely two…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05PM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Two Yentas Walk Into a Bar... by Meredith Blake

Old Jews Make Us Laugh With ‘Not-So-Kosher' Jokes

SOURCE: forward.com at 05:58PM
Monday, June 9, 2014

Tony Awards 2014: The Tonys show doesn't always tap along by Meredith Blake

Nice song-and-dance work, Hugh Jackman. The jokes, though, left a lot to be desired. But, hey, Neil Patrick Harris is here to steal the show yet again.Nice song-and-dance work, Hugh Jackman.…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Wednesday, May 7, 2014

'Matilda' cast stricken with lice outbreak by Meredith Blake

Talk about lousy press: According to a report from the New York Post's Page Six, the Broadway musical "Matilda" has been stricken with a lice outbreak, with at least six of the show's young …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:04PM
Friday, March 7, 2014

Bryan Cranston goes 'All the Way' from meth lab to Oval Office by Meredith Blake

Emmy-winning 'Breaking Bad' actor Bryan Cranston plays another expert manipulator, Lyndon Johnson, in a play on Broadway. NEW YORK — In the new Broadway play "All the Way," President L…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:00PM
Saturday, February 8, 2014

Bartlett Sher roots around in America's moral character by Meredith Blake

Director Bartlett Sher is drawn to socially and psychologically complex tales. Is the weepy 'Bridges of Madison County' such a story? Yes, says Sher, who is staging it as a musical for Broad…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:00AM
Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Laura Benanti enjoys the spotlight with 'Sound of Music' TV splash by Meredith Blake

Theater star Laura Benanti moves closer to mainstream fame with the NBC hit 'The Sound of Music Live!,' mixing it up with concert shows and guest spots."The Sound of Music" has been sweet to…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Friday, January 3, 2014

A 'Beautiful' tapestry of Carole King's life by Meredith Blake

The Broadway musical 'Beautiful' uses hits to tell the life story of Carole King, her troubled marriage to songwriting partner Gerry Goffin and their songwriting rivalry with Cynthia Mann an…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:00PM
Sunday, November 17, 2013

Matthew Bourne reawakens 'Sleeping Beauty' with audience in mind by Meredith Blake

The choreographer (and so much more) is bringing to the Ahmanson Theatre a reimagining of the Tchaikovsky ballet that reflects his crowd-pleasing sensibility.NEW YORK — Matthew Bourne …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00PM
Monday, June 10, 2013

Tony Awards: Big year for women as Lauper, MacKinnon, Paulus win by Meredith Blake

Kathryn Bigelow famously became the first woman to win an Academy Award for directing for her 2009 Iraq war drama, “The Hurt Locker.”

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Wednesday, January 23, 2013

'One Night Stand' shows the creative process on the clock by Meredith Blake

The documentary 'One Night Stand: Creating a Play in a Day' follows four creative teams given 24 hours to conceive, rehearse and stage a 15-minute show.NEW YORK — As the continued popu…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:20AM
Monday, December 24, 2012

Mandy Patinkin leaves Stephen Colbert speechless by Meredith Blake

The famously intense actor, nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as CIA operative Saul Berenson on the Showtime drama “Homeland,” paid a visit to “The Colbert Report” on Wednesd…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:45PM
Friday, November 30, 2012

Carrie Underwood will play Maria in NBC's 'Sound of Music' remake by Meredith Blake

If you’ve been wondering how Carrie Underwood looks in a nun’s habit, you’ll find out soon enough: The “American Idol” winner, five-time Grammy winner and coun…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:07PM
Wednesday, October 31, 2012

With Sandy fading, Broadway storms back by Meredith Blake and Mike Boehm, Los Angeles Times

As the weakening super storm moves west, the lights are blazing again on the Great White Way after several days of closures and perhaps $5 million in lost revenue.NEW YORK – Sandy dimm…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:05PM
Monday, October 29, 2012

Kristin Chenoweth warms up for California concerts by Meredith Blake

Less than four months after an injury on a television location, the singer-actress heads to Orange County to begin a string of California performances.NEW YORK — At Ripley-Grier Studio…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards