All stories by Richard Sandomir on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Roger Hirson, Who Wrote the Book for ‘Pippin,’ Dies at 93 by Richard Sandomir

For more than a decade, Mr. Hirson was known for writing for television, but meeting the composer Stephen Schwartz led to the hit musical “Pippin.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:48PM
Friday, May 3, 2019

David Winters, Energetic Dancer Turned Choreographer, Dies at 80 by Richard Sandomir

Inspired by Jerome Robbins, who cast him in the stage and film versions of “West Side Story,” he went on to create dances for Ann-Margret and others.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:24PM
Friday, March 22, 2019

Maya Turovskaya, Russian Critic and Documentarian, Dies at 94 by Richard Sandomir

Called “the Susan Sontag of Soviet aesthetic thought,” she wrote about film and theater and helped make a film that drew parallels between Nazism and Stalin.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:36PM
Friday, January 11, 2019

Verna Bloom, 80, Amorous Dean’s Wife in ‘Animal House,’ Dies by Richard Sandomir

She was best known for wildly different roles, in a frat house comedy and in the 1960s drama “Medium Cool.” She was also in films by Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:32PM
Friday, December 21, 2018

Peter Masterson, 84, a ‘Best Little Whorehouse’ Creator, Is Dead by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Masterson helped turn a magazine article about a bordello into a hit Broadway musical. He later directed the movie “The Trip to Bountiful.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:32PM
Wednesday, December 19, 2018

David Shepherd, 94, Dies; Nurtured Improvisational Theater by Richard Sandomir

As a founder of the Compass Players in Chicago, he helped create the world of improvisational comedy that is best known in the work of Second City

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:54PM
Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Jerry Frankel, Prolific Broadway Producer, Is Dead at 88 by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Frankel, a former dress manufacturer, produced more than 50 plays and musicals with various partners and won nine Tony Awards.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:18PM
Friday, October 26, 2018

Cicely Berry, Who Taught Actors Shakespeare’s Sound, Is Dead at 92 by Richard Sandomir

Using unorthodox methods (walk around a room, speak it together), she helped actors find their voices by feeling the weight and rhythms of the words.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:18PM
Friday, September 14, 2018

Peter Donat, Actor Who Played a Panoply of Roles, Dead at 90 by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Donat acted often on the screen and had a recurring role on “The X Files.” But he said he was most gratified by theatrical work.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:18PM
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Craig Zadan, 69, Dies; Produced Musicals for Stage, Screen and TV by Richard Sandomir

A showman who helped put “The Sound of Music” on television, “Chicago” on movie screens and “How to Succeed in Business” back on Broadway.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:18PM
Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Barbara Harris, Stage, Screen and Improv Actress, Dies at 83 by Richard Sandomir

Ms. Harris got her start with the Second City and went on to win a Tony Award and to appear in films like “A Thousand Clowns” and “Nashville.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:18PM
Sunday, August 5, 2018

Winston Ntshona, Tony-Winning South African Actor, Dies at 76 by Richard Sandomir

After a Broadway run, Mr. Ntshona was jailed in his home country for performing in a play he had written with Athol Fugard and the actor John Kani.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:48PM
Thursday, July 12, 2018

Alan Johnson, 81, ‘Springtime for Hitler’ Choreographer, Dies by Richard Sandomir

A former dancer, Mr. Johnson collaborated with Mel Brooks on several movies and once asked him, “‘Oh my God, are we allowed to show this?”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:32PM
Monday, July 2, 2018

Gillian Lynne, Choreographer of ‘Cats,’ Is Dead at 92 by Richard Sandomir

After a long and successful career as a ballerina, Ms. Lynne found greater fame creating dances for Andrew Lloyd Webber and others.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:12PM
Thursday, May 17, 2018

Joseph Campanella, 93, Ubiquitous Character Actor, Dies by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Campanella found his stride on television as a frequent guest star, playing doctors, lawyers, criminals, cops and judges.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:18PM
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Harold Guskin, Acting Coach Who Nurtured Stars, Dies at 76 by Richard Sandomir

Find the character in the words on the page, he instructed Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, James Gandolfini, Rachel Weisz and others.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:18PM
Friday, March 30, 2018

Mel Gordon, 71, Drama Scholar of the Fringe, Is Dead at 71 by Richard Sandomir

An insatiable curiosity led him to contemplate Jewish superheroes, bad acting, the sexualized worlds of Weimer Berlin and Risqué Paris, and more.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:29PM
Friday, March 2, 2018

Harvey Schmidt, Co-Creator of ‘The Fantasticks,’ Is Dead at 88 by Richard Sandomir

He wrote the music. A former college friend, Tom Jones, wrote the words. What resulted was the world’s longest-running musical (and a lasting partnership).

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:42PM
Thursday, September 7, 2017

Novella Nelson, 78, Dies; Brought Authority to Myriad Roles by Richard Sandomir

An actress whose face was more familiar than her name, Ms. Nelson was seen onstage, in movies and on television for a half-century.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:24PM
Friday, June 9, 2017

Glenne Headly, a Versatile and Scene-Stealing Actress, Dies at 62 by Richard Sandomir

After Ms. Headly‘s career took shape with the Steppenwolf theater group, she appeared in Hollywood films like “Dick Tracy” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:24PM
Friday, May 19, 2017

William Brohn, Who Made Broadway Orchestras Sing, Dies at 84 by Richard Sandomir

“The central focus for you is to help the composer say what he wants to say,” Mr. Brohn said of his work as an orchestrator.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:24PM
Monday, April 24, 2017

Michael Bogdanov, Shakespearean Stage Director, Dies at 78 by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Bogdanov also directed plays by Molière, Goethe, Chekhov, Gogol and Dylan Thomas, as well as musicals and operas. But a contemporary play nearly put him in jail.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:24PM
Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Max Ferrá, a Trailblazer for Latino Theater, Dies at 79 by Richard Sandomir

The Cuban-born Mr. Ferrá was the first artistic director of the Intar Hispanic American Arts Center, an Off Broadway theater company that nurtures Latino playwrights.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:03PM
Friday, December 30, 2016

George S. Irving, Tony Winner and Voice of Heat Miser, Dies at 94 by Richard Sandomir

The actor appeared in many musicals and plays, and was a spokesman for White Owl cigars.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:54AM
Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Dick Latessa, Winner of a Tony for ‘Hairspray,’ Dies at 87 by Richard Sandomir

Mr. Latessa appeared in several Broadway shows — like “Follies,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Damn Yankees” — as well as on television and in films.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:04PM
Monday, January 18, 2016

Eddie George Leaps to ‘Chicago’ From the N.F.L. by Richard Sandomir

Mr. George’s turn as Billy Flynn is a major step in his second act far from pro football.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:51PM
Tuesday, October 20, 2015

ArtsBeat: Tough, Ribald Anne Meara Is Recalled at Tribute by Richard Sandomir

Family members Jerry, Amy and Ben Stiller recall Anne Meara, who died in May.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:13PM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Calling Plays on a Broadway Gridiron by RICHARD SANDOMIR

Dan Lauria plays a legendary football coach in “Lombardi,” a play coming to Broadway. The N.F.L. is one of its producers.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

Calling Plays on a Broadway Gridiron by RICHARD SANDOMIR

Dan Lauria plays a legendary football coach in “Lombardi,” a play coming to Broadway. The N.F.L. is one of its producers.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

Hoop Dreams Next for 'Lombardi' Producers: A Larry Bird-Magic Johnson Play by Richard Sandomir

"Lombardi" producers aim to create a play about rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM
Thursday, November 15, 2012

New Broadway Play to Focus on Yankees - NYTimes.com by Richard Sandomir

Harry H. Frazee, the Broadway producer and Boston Red Sox owner who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, might have appreciated this: a play about the Yankees is headed to Broadway, perhap…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:06PM

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 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic