All stories by Jan Simpson on BroadwayStars

Saturday, November 9, 2024

All the Drama: Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire on ‘Rabbit Hole,’ 2007 Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “Rabbit Hole”2007 Pulitzer w…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01AM
Saturday, November 2, 2024

"Sunset Blvd." Glows in All the Wrong Ways by Jan Simpson

You're unlikely to find anyone who doesn't have a strong opinion about Sunset Blvd., the latest revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s musical adaptation of Bi…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 02:31PM
Saturday, October 26, 2024

Gay Hijinks and Lots of Good Fun in "Drag: the Musical" and "The Big Gay Jamboree" by Jan Simpson

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is now in its 16th season and its Emmy-winning celebration of gay and trans culture has spawned a half dozen spin-offs and scores of international versions. And no…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 11:42AM
Sunday, October 20, 2024

An Insanely Busy Fall Season for Broadway & Me—and For Other Theater Fanatics Too by Jan Simpson

This October has turned out to be a crazy time for those of us trying to keep up with all the fall show openings. I’m currently scheduled to see more than a dozen of them over just the nex…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 03:24AM
Saturday, October 12, 2024

All the Drama: “The Shadow Box,” 1977 Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “The Shadow Box”1977 Pulitze…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 06:00AM
Sunday, October 6, 2024

The Splendors of "The Hills of California" by Jan Simpson

It kind of makes sense that so many people are drawing comparisons betweenThe Hills of California, the new Jez Butterworth play that opened this week at the Broadhurst Theatre; and Gypsy, th…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 09:48AM
Monday, September 30, 2024

Stagecraft: Luis Quintero on “Medea: Re-Versed” by Jan Simpson

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway. Luis Quintero website…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:00PM
Saturday, September 21, 2024

"Our Class" is Still Teaching Valuable Lessons by Jan Simpson

It somehow slipped my mind that Tuesday night was the opening night for CSC’s presentation of Our Class, the searing saga of a group of Poles and Jews who grew up together in a rural Polis…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 10:12AM
Saturday, September 14, 2024

All the Drama: “A Streetcar Named Desire,” 1948 Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “A Streetcar Named Desire”19…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01AM
Saturday, August 31, 2024

A Labor Day Salute to Set Designers by Jan Simpson

It’s been a lazy summer.  Only a few shows have opened. I took no trips. No out-of-town guests came to visit. My husband K and I just spent most of our time lolling around on our terrace …

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 02:32PM
Saturday, August 10, 2024

Introducing Broadway & Me Quickies by Jan Simpson

Nearly a month has gone by since I’ve posted here. Summer has a lot to do with that. There are fewer shows opening. And to be honest, the warmer weather makes me lazy.  But that doesn’t…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 09:47AM

All the Drama: “Men in White,” 1934 Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “Men in White”1934 Pulitzer …

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 06:00AM
Saturday, July 20, 2024

Stagecraft: Mario Correa on “N/A” by Jan Simpson

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway. NAThePlay.com @nathep…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01AM
Sunday, July 14, 2024

Happy Fourth of July by Jan Simpson

 Wishing you a thoroughly festive holiday

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 03:12AM

Why "Empire" Failed to Win My Allegiance by Jan Simpson

Those of us who love musicals root hard for each new one that comes along. And we root extra hard when we know that a new creative team is getting its first big break or that the show is bas…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 03:12AM
Saturday, June 29, 2024

Theater Books for Summer Reading 2024 by Jan Simpson

Summer has come roaring in this year. Temperatures seem to be setting records everywhere, making many of us (O.K., me) want to kick back and chill out with a cold drink and a cool book. The …

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 09:42AM
Saturday, June 22, 2024

In Concert with "Titanic" and "Follies" by Jan Simpson

As the most devoted fans of musicals will tell you, the best way to appreciate a musical is probably to listen to its cast album (click here to check out my BroadwayRadio colleague Michael …

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 01:06PM
Saturday, June 15, 2024

My Nostalgic Trip Back to "Home" by Jan Simpson

It can be hard to recapture the magic of the first time you saw a show.  And the first times I saw Samm-Art Williams’ Home were nearly perfect. The Negro Ensemble Company was in its heyda…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 10:24AM

All the Drama: Playwright Beth Henley on “Crimes of the Heart,” 1981 Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Drama by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “Crimes of the Heart”1981 Pu…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01AM
Sunday, June 9, 2024

Following a Paper Trail to this Year's Tonys by Jan Simpson

We’re in the homestretch now, with just a week to go before next Sunday’s Tony Awards. And it's a particularly exciting time because there are virtually no sure winners this year and eve…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 02:12AM
Sunday, June 2, 2024

Bar Hopping with "The Keep Going Songs," "The Lonely Few" and "Three Houses" by Jan Simpson

All of a sudden everybody doing a musical in this brand new 2024-25 season seems to be bellying up to a bar. Already this month, I’ve seen three shows—The Keep Going Songs, The Lonely Fe…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 05:42AM
Thursday, May 16, 2024

Stagecraft: Adam Rapp for “The Outsiders” by Jan Simpson

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway. The Outsiders – The…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01PM
Saturday, May 4, 2024

A Few Thoughts on an Awards Season Full of News-Worthy and Prize-Worthy Nominations by Jan Simpson

We’re officially in awards season.  The Outer Critics Circle, on whose nominating committee I sit, announced its choices for the best in the 2023-2024 season last week (click here to see …

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 06:18PM
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Stagecraft: Lia Romeo on “Still” by Jan Simpson

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway. APRIL 13-MAY 23, 2024…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 01:00PM
Saturday, April 27, 2024

"Mother Play" is a Work of True Compassion by Jan Simpson

After seeing Mother Play, Paula Vogel’s semi-autobiographical three-hander which opened at the Hayes Theater on the very last day of the 2023-2024 theater season, my friends and I went nex…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 09:32AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Stagecraft: Jonathan Abrams for “The Heart of Rock and Roll” by Jan Simpson

The Stagecraft podcast is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of interviews with playwrights (and musical book writers) of shows opening on Broadway and off-Broadway. Corey Cott and McKenz…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 06:00PM
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

HAPPY SHAKESPEARE DAY by Jan Simpson

The Bard was born 460 years ago today—and died exactly 52 years later in 1616. But of course his works live on even though debates about whether or not he actually wrote them do too (click…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 02:12PM
Saturday, April 20, 2024

Their Wobbly Books Cause "Lempicka" and "Suffs" to Stumble More Than They Should by Jan Simpson

What’s the hardest job in show business?  There are obviously lots of contenders but right now as one musical after another is opening on Broadway, I’ve been thinking that the answer to…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 01:06PM
Saturday, April 13, 2024

An Uplifting Visit to "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Jan Simpson

It’s being an unusually busy theater season this spring with a baker’s dozen of Broadway shows still scheduled to open between now and the end of the month. So it’s no surprise that sm…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 10:24AM

All The Drama: “Strange Interlude” by Eugene O’Neill, 1928 Pulitzer Prize Winner by Jan Simpson

All The Drama is hosted by Jan Simpson. It is a series of deep dives into the plays that have won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama: “Strange Interlude”1928 Puli…

SOURCE: BroadwayRadio at 12:01AM
Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Happy World Theatre Day 2024 by Jan Simpson

Wishing you all the joy and drama and empathy that good theater always brings  

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 04:36PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic