All stories by Ben Rayner - Pop Music Critic on BroadwayStars

01020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

OLDER >>

Friday, October 4, 2019

Here’s what the creators of the Bob Dylan stage musical learned about his songs along the way by Ben Rayner - Pop Music Critic

Conor McPherson and Simon Hale, the men behind Girl from the North Country, now in Toronto, came to appreciate his songs’ musical sturdiness — they’re ‘built like tanks’ — and th…

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:37PM

Friday, February 22, 2019

Do you like Foreigner? You’re better off listening to the original songs than attending Jukebox Hero: The Musical by Ben Rayner - Pop Music Critic

The plot is linear and predictable, and most of the cast sang flat a good 60 or 70 per cent of the time during the musical’s world premiere, writes Ben Rayner.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:51PM

OLDER >>

Recommended  |  viewed  |  Tags

Logan Culwell-Block: The Tony Awards Are Back at Radio City Music Hall in 2026

Brent Lang: Tony Awards Winners 2025 (Updating Live)

Andrew Gans: Performances Tony Awards 2025: Watch the Broadway Numbers Here

Rachel Sherman: Tony Award Winners 2025: Updating List

Eugene Sun: Bring a Towel: Jonathan Groff’s Getting You Wet Again

Michael Schulman: Patti LuPone Is Done with Broadway—and Almost Everything Else

Margaret Hall: Video: Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda's Ham4Ham With Floyd Collins, Death Becomes Her, Dead Outlaw, More

Meg Masseron: SpotCo Founder Drew Hodges Returns to Agency as Executive Creative Consultant

Meg Masseron: Disney Launches Online Program to Expand Musical Theatre Access in Schools Across U.S.

Michael Paulson: James Corden, Neil Patrick Harris and Bobby Cannavale Lead Broadway ‘Art’

Johnny Oleksinski: These celebs have been the biggest hits — and flops — in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

Maya Phillips: ‘The Wild Party’ Is a Vivacious Play That Started as a Scandalous Poem

BroadwayWorld: Amber Riley Says She Won't Perform on Broadway Until 'the Culture Changes'

American Theatre Editors: Netflix to Offer New Live Theatre Service

BroadwayWorld: Review Roundup: DOG DAY AFTERNOON, Starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach

JK: Review: The Wild Party

Joshua Barone And Lila Barth: ‘Death of a Salesman’ on Broadway Has Help From Something Old

BroadwayWorld: Photos: Matthew Morrison, Debbie Gravitte and Isa Briones Take First Bows in JUST IN TIME

Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block: Photos: Julie Halston, Stephanie Pope, Jay Armstrong Johnson Attend Opening of Gotta Dance Off-Broadway

Masterworks Broadway: IT’S GOOD TO BE THE QUEEN

Show: Company (10)

Show: Cats (6)

Show: Six (6)

Show: Cats: The Jellicle Ball (6)

Show: Maybe Happy Ending (5)

Show: Home (4)

Show: Chess (4)

Show: Just in Time (3)

Show: Chicago (3)

Show: Moulin Rouge (3)

Show: Ragtime (3)

Show: Hamilton (3)

Show: The Queen of Versailles (3)

Show: The Outsiders (3)

Show: Art (3)

Show: What We Did Before Our Moth Days (3)

AUTHORS  |  SITES  

• Adam Feldman
• Adam Hetrick
• Adam Szymkowicz
• Alan Henry
• Alexis Soloski
• Andrew Gans
• Barbara Hoffman
• Ben Brantley
• Beth Stevens
• Bob Cashill
• Brian Scott Lipton
• Caitlin Huston
• Cara Joy David
• Carey Purcell
• Caryn Robbins
• Chad Jones
• Charles Isherwood
• Charles McNulty
• Chris Jones
• Corine Cohen
• Dan Rubins
• Darryl Reilly
• David Cote
• David Dow Bentley III
• David Finkle
• David Gewirtzman
• David Lefkowitz
• David Roberts
• David Rooney
• Deirdre Donovan
• Diep Tran
• Dmitry Zvonkov
• Elisabeth Vincentelli
• Ellis Nassour
• Elysa Gardner
• Elyse Sommer
• Frank Rich
• Frank Rizzo
• Gordon Cox
• Henrik Eger
• Jacob Horn
• James Marino
• Jan Simpson
• Jason Zinoman
• Jeff Lunden
• Jeremy Gerard
• Jesse Oxfeld
• JN Benjamin
• Joe Dziemianowicz
• John Simon
• Jonathan Mandell
• Jordan G. Teicher
• Joseph Cervelli
• Joseph Marzullo
• Josh Ferri
• Justin Chang
• Kathryn Osenlund
• Kathy Henderson
• Ken Davenport
• Ken Levine
• Kenneth Jones
• Laura Axelrod
• Lauren Class Schneider
• Lawrence Bommer
• Lee Seymour
• Leonard Jacobs
• Linda Holt
• Linda Winer
• Lindsay Barenz
• Lisa Kennedy
• Lizzie Loveridge
• Logan Culwell-Block
• Louisa Brady
• Marc Hershberg
• Marcus Crowder
• Margaret Hall
• Mark A. Robinson
• Mark Kennedy
• Mark Robinson
• Mark Shenton
• Mark Swed
• Matt Wolf
• Matthew Blank
• Matthew Murray
• Matthew Wexler
• Melissa Rose Bernardo
• Mia Bonadonna
• Michael Billington
• Michael Dale
• Michael Gioia
• Michael Paulson
• Michael Portantiere
• Michael Riedel
• Michael Roberts
• Michael Sommers
• Milo Shapiro
• Nathan Skethway
• Nicole Rosky
• Nicole Serratore
• Olivia Clement
• Oscar E. Moore
• Pat Cerasaro
• Patrick Healy
• Patrick Hinds
• Paul Wontorek
• Paulanne Simmons
• Penny Landau
• Peter Filichia
• Peter Marks
• Philip Boroff
• Raven Snook
• Richard Ouzounian
• Richard Sasanow
• Richard Seff
• Rob Lester
• Rob Weinert-Kendt
• Robbie Rozelle
• Robert Cashill
• Robert Diamond
• Robert Johnson
• Robert Kahn
• Robert Simonson
• Robert Viagas
• Robin Pogrebin
• Roger Armbrust
• Roger Friedman
• Ron Fassler
• Ronni Reich
• Ruthie Fierberg
• Ryan McPhee
• Sam Thielman
• Samantha Nelson
• Scott Feinberg
• Scott Walters
• Scotty Zacher
• Simon Saltzman
• Steven Suskin
• Susan Davidson
• Susan Grace
• Suzy Evans
• Ted Shen
• Terry Teachout
• Tom Chaits
• Tom Mizer
• Tony Frankel
• Victor Gluck
• Vinnie Costa
• Walter McBride

• American Theatre
• Arts Sarasota
• ArtsJournal
• Associated Press
• Backstage
• Broad Street Review
• Broadway Adjacent
• Broadway Journal
• Broadway News
• Broadway.com
• BroadwayAudience.com
• BroadwayBlack
• BroadwayBox
• BroadwayRadio
• BroadwayShowBiz
• BroadwayWorld
• Chad Jones' Theater Dogs
• Chicago Sun-Times
• Chicago Tribune
• Cititour.com
• Clyde Fitch Report
• CurtainUp
• DC Metro Theater Arts
• DC Theatre Scene
• Deadline
• Denver Post
• Did They Like It
• Entertainment Weekly
• Forbes
• Forward
• Gold Derby
• Grace Notes
• Hartford Courant
• HowlRound
• Huffington Post
• itsdlevy
• Kritzerland
• London Theatre Direct
• Los Angeles Times
• Masterworks Broadway
• Maxamoo
• Mildly Bitter's Musings
• Music Theatre International
• National Public Radio
• New York Daily News
• New York Magazine
• New York Stage Review
• New York Theater
• Newsday
• NewYork.com
• NiteLifeExchange
• NJ.com
• NorthJersey.com
• Phindie
• Playbill
• Popdose
• Reuters
• San Francisco Chronicle
• ShowBiz 411
• ShowTickets.com
• Slant Magazine
• Stage and Cinema
• Talk Entertainment
• TalkinBroadway
• Tams-Witmark
• TDF
• The Front Row Center
• The Guardian
• The Hollywood Reporter
• The Interval
• The New York Observer
• The New York Post
• The New York Times
• The New Yorker
• The Sacramento Bee
• The Seattle Times
• The Stage
• The Theatre Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• Theater Pizzazz
• theaterlife
• TheaterMania
• TheaterScene.net
• Theatre Reviews Limited
• Theatre.com
• Theatrely
• TheatreNerds
• Time Out
• Tony Awards
• Toronto Star
• TotalTheater
• Variety
• Washington Post
• WNYC
• YouTube

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

Broadway Grosses Report: April 1, 2026; Megan Thee Stallion hospitalized

Review Recap: ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ original Broadway production

Last Week on Broadway: Monday, March 30, 2026

This Week on Broadway for March 29, 2026: Giant

Spotlight: Michael John LaChiusa

Class Notes: Stephanie Jae Park in Monte Cristo

Broadway Grosses Report: March 25, 2026; Jojo to join ‘Chess’

Review Recap: Broadway premiere of ‘Giant’ starring John Lithgow

Last Week on Broadway: Tuesday, March 23, 2026

This Week on Broadway for March 22, 2026: The Wild Party (Michael John LaChiusa) @ New York City Center

MORE...

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON

Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54

Aug 14, 2025: Mamma Mia - Winter Garden Theatre

Aug 18, 2025: Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride - Nederlander Theatre

Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre

Sep 28, 2025: Waiting For Godot - Hudson Theatre

Sep 29, 2025: Punch - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre

Oct 16, 2025: Ragtime - Vivian Beaumont Theater

Oct 28, 2025: Liberation - James Earl Jones Theatre

Oct 30, 2025: Little Bear Ridge Road - Booth Theatre

Nov 09, 2025: The Queen of Versailles - St. James Theatre

Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54

Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre

Nov 20, 2025: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) - Longacre Theatre

Dec 08, 2025: Marjorie Prime - Hayes Theater

Jan 08, 2026: Bug - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Mar 12, 2026: Every Brilliant Thing - Hudson Theatre

Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre

Mar 30, 2026: Dog Day Afternoon - August Wilson Theatre

Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater

Apr 07, 2026: Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Broadhurst Theatre

Apr 09, 2026: Death of a Salesman - Winter Garden Theatre

Apr 12, 2026: Titanique - St. James Theatre

Apr 15, 2026: The Fear of 13 - James Earl Jones Theatre

Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre

Apr 19, 2026: Fallen Angels - Todd Haimes Theatre

Apr 20, 2026: Schmigadoon! - Nederlander Theatre

Apr 21, 2026: The Balusters - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Apr 22, 2026: Beaches A New Musical - Majestic Theatre

Apr 23, 2026: The Rocky Horror Show - Studio 54

Apr 25, 2026: Joe Turner's Come and Gone - Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Apr 26, 2026: The Lost Boys - Palace Theatre

Apr 26, 2026: 2025-2026 Tony Awards Eligibility Cut-Off

Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off

Apr 29, 2026: Drama Desk Nominations

May 05, 2026: 2025-2026 Tony Awards Nominations Announced

May 17, 2026: The 70th Drama Desk Awards - The Town Hall

Jun 02, 2026: The Theatre World Awards

Jun 07, 2026: 79th Annual Tony Awards - Radio City Music Hall

Aladdin

& Juliet

Becky Shaw

The Book of Mormon

Buena Vista Social Club

Chess

Chicago

Death Becomes Her

Death of a Salesman

Dog Day Afternoon

Every Brilliant Thing

The Fear of 13

Giant

The Great Gatsby

Hadestown

Hamilton

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Just in Time

The Lion King

Maybe Happy Ending

MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Operation Mincemeat

The Outsiders

Proof

Ragtime

Six

Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Wicked

Aladdin

& Juliet

Becky Shaw

The Book of Mormon

Buena Vista Social Club

Chess

Chicago

Death Becomes Her

Death of a Salesman

What's Playing On Broadway