All stories by Sam Eckmann on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 10, 2023

Stephen McKinley Henderson (‘Between Riverside and Crazy’) on ‘how precious family is’ [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“It was a family type of thing,” says Stephen McKinley Henderson of working on “Between Riverside and Crazy.” The play reunited him with a longtime collaborator and friend, playwrigh…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:30PM
Friday, April 7, 2023

Robert Horn (‘Shucked’ book writer) on creating a new comedy that’s funny and empathetic: ‘I always start with the heart’ [Exclusive Video I by Sam Eckmann

“What I wanted to do was redefine what I think is an American classic kind of comedy for a new generation,” reveals Robert Horn. This mission has resulted in the riotous new show “Shuc…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:30PM
Thursday, April 6, 2023

Kevin Cahoon (‘Shucked’) channels Dust Bowl comedians to play a hysterical ‘simple philosopher’ [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“It’s hilarious, sweet, universal,” declares Kevin Cahoon of the new Broadway musical “Schucked.” Original works spend years in development before they make it to the rialto, and t…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:30PM
Tuesday, April 4, 2023

‘The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window’ crashes Tonys race by Sam Eckmann

Apparently, it’s never too late to open a show on Broadway. With just 23 days left until the eligibility cutoff for the 2023 Tony Awards, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” has j…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM

Wayne Cilento (‘Dancin’ director) honors the true ‘eclectic’ scope of Bob Fosse [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

“I tried to reference all of the stimulus in his head that led him to create amazing pieces of theater,” details director Wayne Cilento on honoring the legendary choreography of Bob Foss…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:30PM
Monday, April 3, 2023

JoAnn M. Hunter (‘Bad Cinderella’ choreographer) loves to ‘dance on the precipice’ [Exclusive Video Interview] by Sam Eckmann

JoAnn M. Hunter didn’t plan on becoming a choreographer. She built a successful life as a dancer with a dozen Broadway credits before ever having idea to make a career shift. She admits th…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:30PM
Monday, March 27, 2023

‘Good Night, Oscar’: Tony nomination #3 for playwright Doug Wright? by Sam Eckmann

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) announced that “Good Night, Oscar” by Doug Wright is a finalist for their 2023 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award. This prize h…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:00PM
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

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