All stories by Gene Maddaus on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 9, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Trial Can Start Within Four Months, Los Angeles D.A. Says by Gene Maddaus

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told a judge on Wednesday that it is ready to bring Harvey Weinstein to trial within four months on charges of rape and sexual assault. We…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:32AM
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

AMC Close to Taking Over Pacific’s Grove and Americana Theaters in L.A. by Gene Maddaus

AMC is close to taking over the Pacific Theatres locations at two popular Los Angeles shopping malls, a source confirmed to Variety on Tuesday. Pacific Theatres, founded in 1946, announced i…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:40PM

Why Did the ArcLight Fade Away? Inside the Sad Final Chapter of the Pacific Theatres Chain by Gene Maddaus

On April 12, Pacific Theatres issued a terse, five-sentence statement announcing that it would not reopen its theaters, which include the much-loved ArcLight Cinemas chain. On one level, it …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:05PM
Wednesday, June 2, 2021

California Senate Approves Film Credit Boost for Diverse Hiring by Gene Maddaus

The California Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that encourages film and TV productions to diversify the entertainment workforce. The bill creates an incentive for productions to hire the g…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:23AM
Wednesday, May 26, 2021

SAG-AFTRA Names Duncan Crabtree-Ireland New Executive Director by Gene Maddaus

SAG-AFTRA made it official on Wednesday, appointing longtime general counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland as the group’s new national executive director. Crabtree-Ireland takes over for David W…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:37PM
Monday, May 24, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Raises Paperwork Issue Again to Delay Extradition by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein is still fighting his extradition to Los Angeles to face rape and sexual assault charges, as his attorney filed a second motion on Monday claiming that the paperwork is out …

SOURCE: Variety at 08:59PM
Thursday, May 6, 2021

Harvey Weinstein Seeks to Recoup $1 Million From Ex-Lawyer Jose Baez by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein wants his money back. The imprisoned producer — who is awaiting extradition to Los Angeles — filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Jose Baez, one of several lawyers who b…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:11AM
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Movie Theaters Don’t Have to Disinfect Anymore. Many Are Still Doing It Anyway by Gene Maddaus

Since reopening at the end of 2020, movie theaters have been trying to keep patrons safe from COVID-19 by disinfecting after every screening. They bought up misters and foggers, along with u…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:41PM
Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Michael Jackson’s Image Was Worth Just $4 Million at His Death, Tax Court Rules by Gene Maddaus

Michael Jackson’s image was worth just $4 million at the time of his death in 2009, a U.S. tax court judge ruled on Monday, far below the $161 million valuation sought by the IRS. The ruli…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:36PM
Saturday, May 1, 2021

Santa Monica Mall Owner Moves to Evict ArcLight Theater by Gene Maddaus

The owner of the Santa Monica Place mall has filed a lawsuit seeking to evict the ArcLight Theatre for non-payment of rent. Macerich, the real estate investment trust that owns the mall, ser…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:30AM
Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Endeavor Sets Share Price of $24 Ahead of Thursday’s IPO by Gene Maddaus

Endeavor has set a share price of $24, the final step before the media conglomerate goes public on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. The company had previously announced that it would…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:03PM
Friday, April 23, 2021

Michael Chabon Apologizes for Staying Silent on Scott Rudin’s Abuse by Gene Maddaus

Novelist Michael Chabon has issued a lengthy apology for not speaking up sooner about producer Scott Rudin’s abuses, saying that he witnessed Rudin mistreat his staff but kept quiet about …

SOURCE: Variety at 09:20PM
Thursday, April 22, 2021

Scott Rudin Scandal Could Spur Efforts to Make Workplace Bullying Illegal by Gene Maddaus

Scott Rudin has had a public reputation as an abusive boss for decades. But this week, for the first time, he began to experience some consequences for it. A24 let it be known that it was c…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:00PM
Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Friends of Scott Rudin’s Late Assistant Speak Out on Producer’s Abuses: ‘He Was So Terrified of That Man’ by Gene Maddaus

In the wake of Kevin Graham-Caso’s suicide last October, his friends pored over his old emails, looking for answers. Klodiana Alia found one from 2009, when Graham-Caso was working as an a…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:16AM
Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Pacific Theatres Shutters: Who Will Rescue the Cinerama Dome? by Gene Maddaus

The workers at the ArcLight Hollywood have been on furlough for more than a year, and have been waiting eagerly for the venue to reopen. On Monday, they got word that the theater would remai…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:23PM
Monday, April 12, 2021

Weinstein Attorneys Object to Paperwork in Los Angeles Extradition by Gene Maddaus

Harvey Weinstein’s attorneys objected on Monday to the paperwork submitted to seek his extradition to face sex assault and rape charges in Los Angeles. A judge in Buffalo, N.Y., set an Apr…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:13PM
Friday, February 5, 2021

Donald Trump Resigns From SAG-AFTRA After Union Moves to Expel Him by Gene Maddaus

Former president Donald Trump has resigned from SAG-AFTRA, after the union announced last month that it would move to expel him for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. SAG-AFTRA anno…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:21PM
Monday, January 25, 2021

Court Approves $17 Million Payout to Harvey Weinstein’s Victims by Gene Maddaus

Nearly three years after the Weinstein Co. declared bankruptcy, a judge on Monday confirmed a liquidation plan that provides a $17.1 million fund for Weinstein’s sexual misconduct victims.…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:40PM
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

SAG-AFTRA to Hold Hearing on Expelling Trump Over Capitol Attack by Gene Maddaus

SAG-AFTRA said Tuesday that it will consider expelling President Donald Trump from membership over his role in inciting the attack on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago. Union president Gabriell…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:53PM
Monday, December 14, 2020

Michael Jackson Estate Wins Appeal in HBO ‘Leaving Neverland’ Suit by Gene Maddaus

An appeals court on Monday handed a victory to the estate of Michael Jackson in its battle over the 2019 HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which accused the late singer of sexually ab…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:47PM
Saturday, May 18, 2019

Harvey Weinstein Trial Documents to Remain Sealed by Gene Maddaus

A New York State appeals court on Thursday unanimously upheld a judge’s decision to bar the public from a critical hearing in the Harvey Weinstein rape case. On April 26, Justice James Bur…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:15AM
Friday, April 5, 2019

‘Amazing Grace’ Producer Says She Was Not Paid for Years of Work (EXCLUSIVE) by Gene Maddaus

After 47 years, the Aretha Franklin concert documentary “Amazing Grace” finally arrives in theaters Friday. Alan Elliott has told the story of how he rescued the unreleased footage from …

SOURCE: Variety at 04:54PM
Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Los Angeles to Consider Vegan Food Mandate at Theaters by Gene Maddaus

A Los Angeles city councilman proposed on Wednesday that the city require movie theaters and sports venues to serve vegan food. The law would make Los Angeles the first city in the nation to…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:38PM
Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Howard Kagan on Weinstein Bid: ‘We Were Shut Down and the Victims Were Shut Down’ by Gene Maddaus

Howard Kagan, the Broadway producer who placed a Hail Mary bid for the Weinstein Co. on Tuesday, told Variety that he was shut out of the process because the company refused to turn over inf…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:57PM

Weinstein Co. Announces Sale to Lantern Capital by Gene Maddaus

The Weinstein Co. declared Tuesday afternoon that Lantern Capital was the winning bidder in its bankruptcy sale, turning away a late bid from Broadway producer Howard Kagan. The company anno…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:45PM

Weinstein Co. Sale Not Over Yet, as Dark Horse Submits Late Bid by Gene Maddaus

The Weinstein Co. sale is not settled yet, as a second buyer submitted a late bid for the company on Tuesday. A source told Variety that the bidder is Howard Kagan, a former partner at Harbi…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:42PM
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

‘Shape of Water’ Ripped Off 1969 Play, Lawsuit Alleges by Gene Maddaus

The son of playwright Paul Zindel filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging that “The Shape of Water” was based on Zindel’s 1969 play, “Let Me Hear You Whisper.” Da…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:08PM
Friday, February 16, 2018

Weinstein Co. Board Fires COO David Glasser for Cause by Gene Maddaus

The board of the Weinstein Company voted on Friday to fire David Glasser, the company’s chief operating officer. Glasser was set to become CEO of the company under a new ownership grou…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:05PM
Friday, January 26, 2018

Disney Accused of Cutthroat Tactics in Redbox Dispute by Gene Maddaus

Redbox went on offense against Disney on Friday, filing a federal suit accusing the world’s leading movie studio of engaging in anti-competitive behavior. Disney sued Redbox back in De…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:58PM
Thursday, January 25, 2018

Disney Star Adam Hicks Arrested for String of Armed Robberies by Gene Maddaus

Adam Hicks, the former star of Disney’s “Zeke and Luther,” was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of a string of armed robberies. According to the Burbank Police Department…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:43PM
Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Redbox Claims Disney Suit Is a Bid to Block Digital Competition by Gene Maddaus

Redbox has fired back against Disney’s efforts to block it from selling download codes, alleging that Disney’s copyright lawsuit is simply an effort to thwart a competitor. Disne…

SOURCE: Variety at 03:12PM

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