All stories by Cynthia Littleton on BroadwayStars

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Marvel ‘What If’ Animated Show, ‘Frozen II’ Docu-Series Headed to Disney+ by Cynthia Littleton

Disney+ is planning a number of behind-the-scenes production documentary series, making the most of its investment in content for the upcoming streaming services. Disney+ is also planning a …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:54PM
Friday, April 5, 2019

Variety’s Power of Women NY Celebrates ‘Powerhouse’ Honorees Fighting Against ‘Social Injustice’ by Cynthia Littleton

The honorees at Variety’s sixth annual Power of Women New York luncheon presented by Lifetime shared deeply personal stories that were variations on a powerful theme: Women overcoming obst…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:50PM
Sunday, March 31, 2019

WGA Outplays Talent Agencies as Precursor to Next Year’s Tough Studio Talks (Column) by Cynthia Littleton

The 95%-vote majority in the WGA’s referendum on imposing a tough new code of conduct for talent agents sends a clear signal to the industry. The WGA is gearing up for tough negotiations i…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:00PM
Wednesday, March 20, 2019

WGA Leaders to Meet With Showrunners on Agency Packaging Fight (EXCLUSIVE) by Cynthia Littleton

WGA leaders are set to meet tonight with a group of showrunners who are raising concerns about the guild’s handling of negotiations with talent agents over the issue of packaging fees and …

SOURCE: Variety at 07:52PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Disney Completes 21st Century Fox Acquisition by Cynthia Littleton

Before the East Coast airing of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” ends tonight, Disney will formally seal the deal on its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox. “This is an extraordinary and …

SOURCE: Variety at 06:27PM
Monday, March 18, 2019

Wall Street Applauds as Disney Nears Finish Line on Fox Acquisition by Cynthia Littleton

Wall Street is rooting for Disney as the media giant reaches the finish line this week in its 15-month quest to acquire most of Rupert Murdoch’s film and TV empire. Fox shareholders, on th…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:00AM
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Disney Sets March 20 Closing Date for 21st Century Fox Acquisition by Cynthia Littleton

Disney has set March 20 as the closing date for its acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Disney announced the formal closing process Tuesday morning, indicating that the company has received the…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:18AM
Thursday, March 7, 2019

Paley Center for Media Launches PaleyFest Live Streaming Service by Cynthia Littleton

The Paley Center for Media will launch a subscription service to live stream the upcoming PaleyFest LA panels and offer on-demand access to older Paley Center events. The service dubbed Pale…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:15PM

Bob Iger Says Disney-Fox Deal Will Close ‘Soon,’ Updates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening Date by Cynthia Littleton

Disney chairman-CEO Bob Iger told shareholders Thursday the company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox will close “soon” and that the enlarged company is ready to “hit the ground runn…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:48AM
Monday, March 4, 2019

Bob Greenblatt Talks WarnerMedia Mandate, Streaming Wars and HBO’s Future by Cynthia Littleton

AT&T has just handed the keys to WarnerMedia’s most high-profile business initiative to Bob Greenblatt, the seasoned TV executive whose resume includes helping to build the Fox network…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:31AM
Friday, February 8, 2019

BBC America Sets ‘Planet Earth III,’ ‘Frozen Planet II’ in Natural History Programming Pact by Cynthia Littleton

BBC America will serve up a third installment of its popular “Planet Earth” series in 2022 after setting a five-year extension with BBC Studios for high-end natural history progr…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:02PM
Tuesday, December 11, 2018

‘Detroiters’ Canceled at Comedy Central After Two Seasons by Cynthia Littleton

Comedy Central has canceled its Motor City series “Detroiters” after two seasons. The scripted half-hour from Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video and Comedy Central Productions …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:48PM
Sunday, December 2, 2018

Meryl Streep Talks Trump, ‘A Star Is Born’ for ‘An Evening With Stephen Colbert’ by Cynthia Littleton

On a rainy Saturday in New Jersey, Meryl Streep expressed her admiration for “A Star is Born” and “The Rider” as well as “First Reformed” and her aversion to Pres…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:25AM
Friday, October 26, 2018

‘The Americans’ Alum Joel Fields Joins FX’s Bob Fosse-Gwen Verdon Limited Series as Executive Producer by Cynthia Littleton

Joel Fields has joined the production team on FX’s limited series revolving around the creative partnership between stage legend Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon. Fields is serving as …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:33PM
Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Ariana Grande Share ‘Wicked’ Memories for NBC by Cynthia Littleton

Kristin Chenoweth remembers the day Ariana Grande came to see the original Broadway production of “Wicked.” Adam Lambert fondly recalls playing the role of Fiyero in the touring …

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM
Monday, October 1, 2018

Producers Talk Passion, Persistence and Progress at Variety’s Power of Broadway Gathering by Cynthia Littleton

In the age of streaming — and with studios like Disney and Warner Bros. taking over more theater turf — it’s clear that the landscape of American theater is changing. At Variety’s i…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:48PM
Thursday, August 30, 2018

Broadway Friends and Family Remember Neil Simon: ‘We Will Not See His Like Again’ by Cynthia Littleton

Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski, Elizabeth Ashley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stockard Channing, and Marsha Mason were among the friends and family members who turned out Thurs…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:42PM
Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Craig Zadan Tribute Set for November at Educational Theatre Foundation Gala by Cynthia Littleton

The life and work of prolific producer Craig Zadan will be celebrated Nov. 11 at a tribute that will be part of a fundraising gala for the Educational Theatre Foundation. Zadan and his longt…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:00PM
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Bryan Cranston, ‘Ray Donovan,’ ‘Shark Tank’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Set for Tribeca TV Fest by Cynthia Littleton

Conversations with Bryan Cranston, Tracey Ullman, and Rosario Dawson and the world premieres of Nat Geo TV’s “Valley of the Boom” and YouTube’s “Wayne” ar…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:00AM
Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Ariana Grande and James Corden Perform ‘Titanic’ Musical Number on ‘Late Late Show’ by Cynthia Littleton

Ariana Grande worked overtime Monday during her appearance on CBS’ “The Late Late Show,” performing an elaborate “Titanic”-themed musical number with host James…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:57AM
Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Bruce Springsteen’s Broadway Show Set as Netflix Special by Cynthia Littleton

Bruce Springsteen’s one-man show “Springsteen on Broadway” is coming to Netflix as a special to bow Dec. 15, the final night of the rock legend’s run on the Great Whi…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:04PM
Monday, June 25, 2018

‘Burden,’ ‘Bathtubs Over Broadway’ Take Top Honors at Nantucket Film Festival by Cynthia Littleton

NANTUCKET, Mass. — Andrew Heckler’s “Burden” and the documentary “Bathtubs Over Broadway” took top film honors at the 23rd annual Nantucket Film Festival.…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:42AM
Monday, June 11, 2018

Netflix Pacts With Barbra Streisand for Six Vintage Specials, Expanded Edition of ‘A Star is Born’ by Cynthia Littleton

Barbra Streisand is getting deeper into business with Netflix, setting a licensing pact with the streaming giant for six vintage music specials and an expanded edition of 1976’s “…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:33AM

CBS Deletes Robert De Niro’s ‘Offensive Language’ From Tony Awards Live Telecast by Cynthia Littleton

Robert De Niro got a standing ovation at the Tony Awards for shouting “F— Trump” from the stage to the crowd at Radio City Music Hall. But viewers at home didn’t hear…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:08AM
Friday, May 18, 2018

Remote Controlled: Stars Tell Backstage Tales of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live’ by Cynthia Littleton

Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera. In  this week’s episode, Variety‘s …

SOURCE: Variety at 01:27PM
Sunday, April 1, 2018

‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live’: John Legend, Brandon Victor Dixon Score on Social Media by Cynthia Littleton

NBC’s Easter night telecast of “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” sparked more than a few hosannas on social media. Reaction to the live staging of the 1970-vintage r…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:58PM
Sunday, March 25, 2018

‘Billions’ Season 3 Hums Behind the Scenes as Characters Grapple With Political ‘Earthquake’ by Cynthia Littleton

When “Billions” begins its third season tonight on Showtime, viewers will find Chuck Rhoades, Bobby Axelrod and the rest of the gang digging out from the upheaval inflicted by Rhoades’…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:54AM
Monday, March 19, 2018

Cynthia Nixon Unveils Candidacy for Governor of New York by Cynthia Littleton

Former “Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon has unveiled her candidacy for governor in her home state of New York. Nixon’s bid could create a significant primary challenge…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:20PM
Friday, March 2, 2018

NBC’s Production of ‘Bye Bye Birdie Live’ With Jennifer Lopez Pushed Again (EXCLUSIVE) by Cynthia Littleton

“Bye Bye Birdie Live” won’t be taking flight on NBC until 2019 at the earliest. NBC’s planned live event production of the classic musical with Jennifer Lopez in the …

SOURCE: Variety at 12:30PM
Sunday, February 11, 2018

Tina Fey at WGA Awards: ‘We Never Made Anyone Who Worked for Us Look at Our Genitals’ by Cynthia Littleton

Tina Fey and Robert Carlock were feted Sunday night at the East Coast edition of the Writers Guild Awards. True to form, Fey went right to the heart of why the longtime collaborators, who fi…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:20PM
Monday, February 5, 2018

Ben Platt to Star in Netflix Musical Series ‘The Politician’ From Ryan Murphy by Cynthia Littleton

Netflix has given a big commitment to a music-driven series from the “Glee” team of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan that is set to star Ben Platt. The project, first r…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:41AM

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