All stories by David Buchanan on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Final 2025 Tony nominations predictions by show: ‘Death Becomes Her’ and ‘Oh, Mary!’ will lead by David Buchanan

A new musical and two original plays will lead the 2025 Tony Awards nominations, according to Gold Derby's official odds in 17 categories ahead of Thursday's announcement. Death Becomes Her,…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:30AM

Final 2025 Tony nominations odds in 17 categories, including musicals, plays, and acting by David Buchanan

The 2024-25 Broadway season, which kicked off last June with a revival of the play Home and concluded with the openings of musicals Dead Outlaw and Real Women Have Curves this past Sunday, f…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Sadie Sink on her character’s ’emotional rage’ in ‘John Proctor Is the Villain’ and her reaction to ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ by David Buchanan

“When I first read The Crucible, I think it was in high school, and I was just trying to make it through the year, honestly” shares Sadie Sink with a laugh. The actress stars in the new …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 06:30PM

Tony Talk: Our final 2025 nominations predictions in the top 12 categories by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. This week we discuss our (almost) final 2025 nominations pred…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:00PM
Monday, April 28, 2025

Julia Knitel describes tackling triple roles in ‘Dead Outlaw’ and performing ‘a perfect musical theater song’ in the ‘weirdest’ show by David Buchanan

“I became completely obsessed with this show as soon as I read the script,” shares Julia Knitel about the new Broadway musical Dead Outlaw. The show centers on the shocking, unbelievably…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM

Susan Stroman on delivering a ‘big punch’ of musical comedy in ‘Smash,’ and the biggest onstage mishap of her career by David Buchanan

“It feels wonderful because you invest so much of yourself in every individual show,” reflects Susan Stroman on the recognition she has received for directing the new Broadway musical Sm…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Sunday, April 27, 2025

Bernadette Peters could break a Tonys record with a nomination for ‘Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends’ by David Buchanan

Bernadette Peters has long been heralded as one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim’s greatest interpreters. The actress originated roles in Sunday in the Park with George and Into the …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM
Thursday, April 24, 2025

Beth Leavel unpacks her ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ performance in ‘Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends’ and reveals the ‘most difficult’ song to by David Buchanan

“I’m real late to the Sondheim game, sadly,” Beth Leavel tells Gold Derby as she thinks back to her first memory of a Stephen Sondheim song or show. Part of her tardiness stemmed from …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:50PM
Wednesday, April 23, 2025

‘It should be illegal how much fun I’m having’: Lea Salonga on playing Mrs. Lovett and more in ‘Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends’ by David Buchanan

“It boggles my mind that this is actually happening,” admits Lea Salonga about the recognition she has been receiving for her performance in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. Hours befor…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:00PM
Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Kara Young could make Tony Awards history — again — with a nomination for ‘Purpose’ by David Buchanan

Last year, Broadway shining star Kara Young made Tony Awards history. Her nomination for the play Purlie Victorious was her third in as many years, as she previously received recognition for…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:00AM
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Kit Connor, Jake Gyllenhaal, Denzel Washington could make Tonys history for ‘Othello’ and ‘Romeo + Juliet’ by David Buchanan

In all of Tony Awards history, there has never once been a season in which three performers have been nominated for Best Actor in a Play for Shakespearean roles. That could very well change …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:27PM
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tony Talk: How will ‘Boop! The Musical’ and ‘Smash’ affect the Best Musical race? by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. This week, we regroup to discuss how the Broadway arrivals of…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 02:00PM

‘John Proctor Is the Villain’ reviews tout ‘explosive’ play and Sadie Sink’s ‘body blow of a performance’ by David Buchanan

Seventy-two years after its debut and Tony Award win for Best Play, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible has received new life on Broadway. No, not in the form of a revival — the last one in 201…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:24PM
Monday, April 14, 2025

Gabby Beans discusses the ‘oppressive and violent’ world of ‘Romeo + Juliet’ and starring opposite the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Kit Connor by David Buchanan

“Romeo and Juliet has featured in my life at these pivotal moments in a really funny way,” Gabby Beans smiles as she considers all the times she has crossed paths with one of Shakespeare…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:30PM

‘Beyond a blessing’: Natalie Venetia Belcon on starring as Omara Portuondo in ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ by David Buchanan

Natalie Venetia Belcon’s journey with Buena Vista Social Club started long before she starred in the off-Broadway production of the new musical in 2023. Her parents, both professional musi…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Friday, April 11, 2025

‘Smash’ reviews: Long-awaited Broadway musical ‘undeniably thrilling,’ but lost in ‘flat sitcom rhythms’ by David Buchanan

More than a decade after it debuted on NBC, Smash has finally arrived on Broadway. Fans of the ill-fated television series that ran for two seasons may not recognize the plot of this new mus…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:52AM
Tuesday, April 8, 2025

‘Boop! The Musical’ reviews applaud ‘sensational’ Jasmine Amy Rogers in a ‘colorful,’ ‘delightful’ new show by David Buchanan

At 95 years of age, an incredibly spry Betty Boop has made her Broadway debut. The iconic cartoon character introduced in 1930 has made the leap from page to stage featuring newcomer Jasmine…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 03:57PM

Tony Talk: Will George Clooney land his first nomination for ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’? by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Following the opening of Good Night, and Good Luck last week,…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 01:00PM
Monday, April 7, 2025

Tony Talk: Olivier Award winners ‘Benjamin Button,’ ‘Giant,’ and ‘Oedipus’ could make a splash at the 2026 Tonys by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. No, your eyes do not deceive you! We are in fact discussing t…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:15PM
Friday, April 4, 2025

‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ reviews praise an ‘ideal’ George Clooney in a ‘powerful’ but too-faithful adaptation of his film by David Buchanan

Twenty years after bringing the story of newsman Edward R. Murrow and his efforts to thwart Sen. Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare to the screen in Good Night, and Good Luck — a work that …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:04AM
Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Tony Talk: Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, and Bill Burr could all earn nominations for ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Join us as we take you inside the Palace Theatre to discuss t…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 04:19PM

2025 Tony Awards predictions: ‘Dead Outlaw,’ ‘Purpose’ are up, ‘Our Town,’ ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ are down in odds by David Buchanan

Six new Broadway productions opened in March, inaugurating the spring season and foreshadowing the 12 additional openings to come before Tony Awards nominations are announced. See below for …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 11:00AM
Monday, March 31, 2025

Tony Talk: Does Sarah Snook have Best Actress all sewn up for ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’? by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. On the heels of The Picture of Dorian Gray's opening night, we rec…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Tony Talk: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ ‘Purpose’ comes storming into the race by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors David Buchanan and Sam Eckmann offer Tony Awards analysis. This week we take you inside the Hayes Theatre to discuss one of …

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Friday, March 14, 2025

Tony Talk: Our first Best Musical picks anticipate a showdown between ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ and ‘Dead Outlaw’ by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Now that more than 700 users have weighed in with their first T…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Friday, March 7, 2025

Tony Talk: Idina Menzel may secure fourth nom for ‘Redwood,’ while Pulitzer winner ‘English’ aims for Best Play by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Before the deluge of plays and musicals set to open ahead of To…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 08:00AM
Thursday, March 6, 2025

2025 Tony Awards predictions: Earliest odds favor ‘Death Becomes Her’ and ‘Oh, Mary!’ while Best Actress heats up by David Buchanan

Since Gold Derby started taking predictions for the 2025 Tony Awards nominations, hundreds of users have made their preliminary picks. This season 21 musicals and musical revivals and 21 pla…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:17PM
Thursday, February 6, 2025

Tony Talk: Plays ‘Oh, Mary!’ and ‘The Hills of California,’ actor Kit Connor are on track for nominations by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. With only three months to go until the 2025 nominations are anno…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 09:00AM
Sunday, January 19, 2025

Tony Talk: Musicals ‘Gypsy,’ ‘Maybe Happy Ending,’ and ‘Sunset Blvd’ look strong at midpoint of Broadway season by David Buchanan

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. With only four months to go until the 2025 nominations are announ…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 12:00PM
Monday, December 30, 2024

‘It was like a dream’: Linda Lavin reflects on iconic roles in ‘Alice,’ ‘Broadway Bound,’ and more by David Buchanan

In her final interview with Gold Derby just months before her death, the stage and screen star looked back at her storied career. Linda Lavin, best known for playing the title role in Alice,…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 10:26PM
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Elton John’s ‘Tammy Faye’ closed early on Broadway: Does religious musical have a prayer at the Tonys? by David Buchanan

This week, Elton John’s “Tammy Faye” musical closed on Broadway after only 24 previews and 29 regular performances. Although the show, about the rise and fall of televangelist Tammy Fa…

SOURCE: Gold Derby at 05:06PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre