All stories by David Buchanan on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Tony Awards history in the making: 3 Pulitzer Prize winners up for Best Play? by David Buchanan

The Tony Awards contest for the top honor of Best Play is the most crowded it has been in at least a decade. A whopping 17 new dramatic works will vie for only five slots that recognize the …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM
Monday, March 27, 2023

‘Sweeney Todd’ reviews: ‘Irresistible’ revival of Stephen Sondheim masterpiece by David Buchanan

First “Company,” then “Into the Woods,” and now the demon barber of Fleet Street. In the year or so since legendary composer Stephen Sondheim’s death, Broadway has seen an increasi…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Wednesday, March 22, 2023

2023 Tony Awards slugfest: 15 productions vie for places in Musical races [WATCH] by David Buchanan

In the lead-up to Tony nominations being announced on May 2, Sam Eckmann and I are predicting 10 of the Musical categories, where new breakout shows like “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Some Li…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Friday, March 10, 2023

‘A Doll’s House’ reviews: An ‘impeccable’ production brings Jessica Chastain and Nora Helmer back to Broadway by David Buchanan

Henrik Ibsen’s world-(in)famous play “A Doll’s House” has not been seen on Broadway in over 25 years, when Janet McTeer led a production under the direction of Anthony Page. Now, int…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Wednesday, March 1, 2023

2023 Olivier Awards nominations: ‘My Neighbour Toroto,’ ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’ lead by David Buchanan

Two new works based on existing material dominated the nominations for the 2023 Olivier Awards, the top theatre honor in Britain. “My Neighbour Toroto” and “Standing at the Sky’s Edg…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:30PM
Friday, December 9, 2022

‘Ohio State Murders’: ‘Sublime’ Audra McDonald returns to the stage in ‘bracing’ Adrienne Kennedy play by David Buchanan

Fans of the extraordinary Audra McDonald have had a long wait for her return to the Broadway stage. Yes, she did host the 2021 Tony Awards that were previously postponed by the pandemic, and…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:30PM
Wednesday, November 16, 2022

‘A Doll’s House’: Jessica Chastain returning to Broadway in a Tony Awards favorite by David Buchanan

Eight months after winning the Oscar for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” Jessica Chastain has set her return to the Broadway stage in one of the greatest roles in the theatre. Under the direct…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Tuesday, November 1, 2022

‘The Kite Runner’ closes on Broadway: Will this ‘heartbreaker’ of a play be remembered by Tonys? by David Buchanan

The first new play of the current Broadway season, a stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s novel “The Kite Runner,” has closed on Broadway. A memory play that toggles back and forth be…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Tuesday, October 25, 2022

‘Death of a Salesman’ revival reviews: ‘Sensational’ Wendell Pierce, Sharon D Clarke and André De Shields by David Buchanan

Attention must be paid to the latest revival of Arthur Miller’s classic American family drama “Death of a Salesman,” which opened on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre on Oct. 9. Wendell P…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Monday, October 24, 2022

‘Leopoldstadt’ reviews: New Tom Stoppard play is ‘remarkable,’ ‘harrowing’ by David Buchanan

One of the world’s greatest living playwrights has returned to Broadway. Over a decade since his last effort, Tom Stoppard has come back with epic play “Leopoldstadt,” a sprawling fami…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Wednesday, July 13, 2022

‘Into the Woods’ revival is ‘radiant’ and ‘superb,’ but will it compete at the 2023 Tony Awards? by David Buchanan

Just shy of one month ago, a revival of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company” took home five Tony Awards, including the top prize for Best Revival. Now a remounting o…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Sunday, June 12, 2022

Jennifer Hudson gets EGOT after winning at Tonys for producing ‘A Strange Loop’ by David Buchanan

For just the 17th time in awards history, someone has just won the EGOT. Moments ago, Jennifer Hudson received her first Tony Award as a producer of the Best Musical champ “A Strange Loop,…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:05PM

Tony Awards: 75th ceremony celebrates best of 2021-2022 Broadway season [LIVE BLOG] by David Buchanan

The 75th Tony Awards was held on Sunday, June 12 in a two-part telecast staged at Radio City Music Hall. Nominations were announced on May 9, 2022. Of the 34 eligible productions from the 20…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:00PM

2022 Tony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories [UPDATING LIVE] by David Buchanan

Tony Awards nominations were announced on Monday, May 9 by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry. While the nominations for the 75th annual Tony Awards were determined by a few dozen theater pr…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM

Patti LuPone (‘Company’) wins 3rd Tony Award of her nearly 50-year Broadway career by David Buchanan

After almost five decades on the Broadway stage, Patti LuPone has won her third Tony Award for her featured performance in director Marianne Elliott’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Co…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:53AM
Saturday, June 11, 2022

Are we underestimating Phylicia Rashad’s (‘Skeleton Crew’) chances of taking home her second Tony Award? by David Buchanan

In the last few days of every Tony Awards season, prognosticators have the tendency to overthink some races that are likely done deals. That could be the case this year with the Featured Act…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 07:00PM
Friday, June 10, 2022

How often do the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Score split? by David Buchanan

The Best Original Score prize is always one of the most coveted prizes at the Tony Awards. This year, the race is also one of the most competitive, pitting Michael R. Jackson’s music and l…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM

2022 Tony Awards predictions by show: ‘Company’ will lead with 6, ‘A Strange Loop’ and ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ to take 5 by David Buchanan

Director Marianne Elliott’s reimagining of Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical “Company” will win the most Tony Awards, according to our official odds in all 26 categories. The cont…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM

2022 Tony Awards predictions: Complete odds for every category at the 75th annual ceremony by David Buchanan

After an extraordinary season boasting 34 musicals, plays, and revivals, Broadway will toast its nominees and crown new winners at the upcoming 75th annual Tony Awards. If predicting the win…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Thursday, June 9, 2022

Patti LuPone (‘Company’) could win her third Tony for ‘magnificent’ turn 42 years after her first victory by David Buchanan

“Nothing is impossible,” remarked Patti LuPone in 1980 just moments after receiving the Tony Award for her performance in “Evita.” The role transformed the actress into a Broadway se…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM

Final 2022 Tony Awards predictions slugfest: Are ‘A Strange Loop’ and ‘Company’ unbeatable in the top musical categories? [WATCH] by David Buchanan

The curtain will soon rise on the 75th annual Tony Awards, so naturally Gold Derby has taken its cue to reassemble its Broadway prognosticators to break down what shows will win big on June …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Sutton Foster (‘The Music Man’) could win her third Tony for ‘miracle’ turn exactly 20 years after her first victory by David Buchanan

“To say that this is a dream come true is an understatement,” marveled Sutton Foster in 2002 when Jerry Orbach and Doris Roberts called her name as the winner of the Tony Award for her p…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Mary-Louise Parker (‘How I Learned to Drive’) could win her third Tony for ‘extraordinary’ performance more than two decades after first victo by David Buchanan

“Thank you for this work that’s just so magic and so worth it,” expressed Mary-Louise Parker when she accepted the Tony Award from presenter Gwyneth Paltrow in 2001 for her unforgettab…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM
Monday, May 16, 2022

2022 Tony Awards predictions: Who will win on June 12? by David Buchanan

The 2022 Tony Award nominations have been unveiled and, per usual, we have opinions!  Susan Haskins joined us in a lively discussion to dissect this crop of nominees. We reveal what we thin…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Mary-Louise Parker (‘How I Learned to Drive’) poised to make Tony Awards history by David Buchanan

Fresh off of her second Tony Award victory last year for “The Sound Inside,” Mary-Louise Parker has earned a follow-up nomination in the same category for her work in the revival of Paul…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM

The curious case of ‘Company’ at the Tony Awards: Never any love for the star by David Buchanan

Bobby, bubi, we need to talk about the Tony Awards! This season’s revival of the late Stephen Sondheim’s landmark musical “Company” earned nine nominations, the highest for any music…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:00PM
Monday, May 9, 2022

2022 Tony Awards nominations snubs: Daniel Craig, ‘Flying Over Sunset,’ Katrina Lenk … by David Buchanan

With 34 productions eligible for this year’s Tony Awards, there were plenty of names missing when nominations were announced on Monday morning. Among the most surprising 2022 Tony Awards n…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:15AM

2022 Tony Awards nominations surprises: Supersized Best Actor category, Jesse Williams, ‘Paradise Square’ … by David Buchanan

In a Broadway season so crowded with exceptional productions – 34 musicals, plays, and revivals opened during the 2021-2022 eligibility window – it is no surprise that the 29 Tony Awards…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:45AM

2022 Tony Awards nominations: ‘A Strange Loop’ leads with 11, ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ at 8 by David Buchanan

With the announcement of the Tony Awards nominations on May 9, we now know the shows and performers in contention for the 75th annual ceremony. The 29 members of the Tony nominating committe…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Sunday, May 8, 2022

2022 Tony Awards: Read our review recaps, analyses for all 34 eligible productions of the 2021-2022 season by David Buchanan

Ever since the current Tony Awards season kicked off on August 22, 2021 with the opening of new play “Pass Over,” Gold Derby has been recapping the critical response to each of the 34 el…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Saturday, May 7, 2022

‘Macbeth’ reviews: Sam Gold’s ‘overthought’ production led by Daniel Craig, Ruth Negga by David Buchanan

The final production of the historic 2021-2022 Broadway season reaches back to the early modern era for inspiration with a remounting of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Tony-winner Sa…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM

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