All stories by Marc Malkin on BroadwayStars

Saturday, March 9, 2024

‘Imaginary’ Star Betty Buckley on Embracing Playing Another ‘White-Haired Weirdo’ and Why She’s Unsure About a Return to Broadway by Marc Malkin

Talk about loyalty. Betty Buckley has been staying at the Chateau Marmont for about 50 years. She first checked in when she landed the role of Abby Bradford, Dick Van Patten’s new wife and…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:00PM
Monday, March 4, 2024

Despite Retiring From Touring, Elton John Isn’t Slowing Down: Recording New Music, Opening Two Stage Musicals and Performing at His Annual Oscar Par by Marc Malkin

Elton John’s touring life may have come to an end last year with his five-year, 330-concert worldwide Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, but the work continues, including recording new music…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:10PM
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

‘Heartstopper’ Star Joe Locke on ‘Sweeney Todd’ Broadway Debut and Screaming at Kathryn Hahn While Filming Marvel’s ‘Agatha’ Series by Marc Malkin

Joe Locke, the breakout star of “Heartstopper,” has always had dreams of being on Broadway. Now, at just 20 years old, the British actor has made his Broadway debut as Tobias Ragg in the…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:29AM
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Met Gala 2024 Theme Revealed With Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth as Co-Chairs by Marc Malkin

This year’s Met Gala will be a garden party. Vogue announced Thursday that the 2024 gala — taking place May 6 — will coincide with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute�…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:07PM
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Jenna Ushkowitz and Merle Dandridge to Host Harvest Home Benefit Concert With Performances by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kevin McHale and More (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Broadway is coming to Santa Monica. Jenna Ushkowitz (“Glee”) and Merle Dandridge (“The Last of Us,” “Station 19”) are teaming up and gathering their singer friends to raise money…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:09PM
Saturday, February 10, 2024

Riley Keough, Bob Odenkirk and Danny Ramirez to Star in ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Live Reading, Plus Movie’s Dog Messi (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Riley Keough, Bob Odenkirk and Danny Ramirez will star in a live reading of the Oscar-nominated drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” as will Jay Ellis, Kate Berlant, Quincy Isaiah and Olivia Wilde…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:08PM
Thursday, February 8, 2024

New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre Returns to ‘Drag: The Musical’ (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre is returning to the award-winning “Drag: The Musical.” McIntyre reprises the role of Tom Hutchinson, which he originated in the 2022 launch of the…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:58AM
Thursday, January 4, 2024

‘Smash’ Broadway Musical to Mount Six-Week Workshop (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

“Smash” is about to take another major step in its march to Broadway. The cast and crew will gather for six weeks starting this month to mount a full stage and choreographed workshop, wi…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:30AM
Monday, July 24, 2023

‘Tina Turner Musical’ Star Zurin Villanueva on Performing After Music Icon’s Death: ‘I Was a Wreck’ by Marc Malkin

Zurin Villanueva was starring in the national tour of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” when news broke in May that the music icon had died at age 83. A week later, while performing the sc…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:23PM
Friday, July 21, 2023

Publicist Alla Plotkin Partners With Jillian Roscoe at Birch Public Relations (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Power publicist Alla Plotkin is teaming up with Jillian Roscoe, becoming a partner in Birch Public Relations. Roscoe launched the firm in March 2023 after leaving ID PR. Plotkin also departe…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:15AM
Thursday, July 13, 2023

Engaged ‘Theater Camp’ Stars Ben Platt and Noah Galvin Call Movie ‘Our First Child Together’ by Marc Malkin

It’s good to know that Ben Platt and Molly Gordon’s failed childhood romance didn’t keep them from remaining life-long friends. The actors star in “Theater Camp,” a mockumentary ab…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:26PM
Tuesday, June 13, 2023

‘Some Like It Hot’ Star J. Harrison Ghee Received Flowers and a Cheeky Note From Billy Porter After Tony Win by Marc Malkin

I’m on the phone with J. Harrison Ghee when they walk into their dressing room at the Shubert Theatre before Tuesday night’s performance of “Some Like It Hot.” It’s their first sho…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:54PM
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

‘Some Like It Hot’ Tony Nominees Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Tease Possible ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Musical Episode in Season 3 (EXC by Marc Malkin

Is there going be a musical episode of “Only Murders in the Building” in Season 3?! While it hasn’t been officially confirmed that Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez will be s…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:50PM
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Sterling K. Brown and Laura Benanti to Star in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Reading, With Eye Toward Broadway Run (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Sterling K. Brown could be on his way to Broadway. The three-time Emmy winner will star in a reading of a new stage production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” on May 18 in New Yor…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:46PM

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Peppermint Talks ‘Transparent’ Musical, Anti-LGBTQ Legislation and Wanting to Compete on ‘All Stars’ by Marc Malkin

Peppermint wants back on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She famously was runner-up in Season 9 when Sasha Velour took the crown after her iconic rose petal-filled finale lip sync. “I would lo…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:20PM
Friday, May 12, 2023

Tonys Ask WGA for Waiver to Go Ahead With Awards Show by Marc Malkin

The Tonys has asked the Writers Guild of America for a waiver in order to go ahead with plans for Broadway’s biggest night of the year. A source confirms that the request was filed with th…

SOURCE: Variety at 02:52PM
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Lea Michele Teases Next Broadway Show After ‘Funny Girl’ Closes: ‘It’s Very Different Musically’ by Marc Malkin

Lea Michele’s run in “Funny Girl” doesn’t end until Sept. 3, but she’s already plotting her return to Broadway. In fact, the actor-singer tells me she has her next gig lined up. �…

SOURCE: Variety at 04:18PM
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Jake Gyllenhaal Would ‘Love’ to Star in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ on Broadway by Marc Malkin

Jake Gyllenhaal is determined to star in another Broadway musical. “There are so many musicals I love so deeply,” Gyllenhaal, who starred in a revival of “Sunday in the Park With Georg…

SOURCE: Variety at 12:19AM
Saturday, April 15, 2023

‘Schmigadoon!’ Stars Name Their Dream Guests for Musical Apple TV+ Series: Billy Porter, Bernadette Peters and More by Marc Malkin

A veteran of stage and screen, Tony winner Jane Krakowski returns to “Schmigadoon!” In the second season of Apple TV+’s musical series, Krakowski plays Bobbie, a trial lawyer who sings…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:57AM
Saturday, April 8, 2023

‘Squid Game’ Star Hoyeon Says Fame Includes ‘Many Unbelievable Experiences,’ But Also ‘Moments of Self-Doubt’ by Marc Malkin

Hoyeon and Donald Glover were among the honorees at the inaugural GQ Global Creativity Awards on Thursday at the WSA, a new cultural center in downtown Manhattan. Hosted by musical artist Ia…

SOURCE: Variety at 10:30AM
Friday, March 3, 2023

Publicists Rachel Karten and Lindsay Krug Launch Origin Public Relations (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Former ID PR publicists Rachel Karten and Lindsay Krug have launched their own firm, Origin Public Relations. Their client roster already includes Kathy Bates, Hannah Einbinder, Tracee Ellis…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:37PM
Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Michelle Yeoh Worried About Being Recast in ‘Wicked’ Movies After Producers Heard Her Sing by Marc Malkin

Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Ever since I broke the news that Michelle Yeoh is playing Madame Morrible in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” movies, she has been saying that the…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:13PM
Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Bette Midler on Wanting to Star in ‘The White Lotus,’ Why She Turned Down ‘Sister Act’ and Being Honored at the CDGAs by Marc Malkin

Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Bette Midler had her first professional wardrobe fitting when she made her Broadway debut in 1967 playing Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof.�…

SOURCE: Variety at 01:56PM
Thursday, January 12, 2023

Idina Menzel to Star in New Stage Musical ‘Redwood’ (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Idina Menzel is making her way back to the stage. The Tony winner will star in “Redwood,” a musical she first began developing almost 20 years ago, which will premiere as the final produ…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:59AM
Thursday, January 5, 2023

Kris Jenner Musical Parody Poster Revealed (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Ryan Raftery has written and starred in stage musical parodies about Martha Stewart, Anna Wintour, Andy Cohen and Andy Warhol. The actor is now taking on Kris Jenner.  “Just for Variety�…

SOURCE: Variety at 11:18AM
Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Stephen Curry Hosts the ESPYS and Neil Patrick Harris Premieres ‘Uncoupled’: Must Attend Calendar Listings by Marc Malkin

July 20 Wednesday Journalist Nicole Pasulka and photographer Santiago Felipe discuss their new book about the rebirth of New York’s drag scene, “How You Get Famous: Ten Years of Drag Mad…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:12PM
Thursday, July 14, 2022

‘Euphoria’ Star Colman Domingo on Singing for Oprah Winfrey and Zooming With the Obamas by Marc Malkin

Colman Domingo says his younger brother gave him the best compliment about his new autobiographical animated short, “New Moon.” “He was overcome,” Domingo tells me on this week’s e…

SOURCE: Variety at 06:34PM
Sunday, May 8, 2022

Neil Patrick Harris, Heather Headley and Sara Bareilles Star in ‘Into the Woods’ at New York City Center by Marc Malkin

Three or four times a year, something special happens in New York City: A rare opportunity—and precious luxury in theater these days—to pay $35 for the hottest ticket in town (if you can…

SOURCE: Variety at 07:00PM
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Openly Gay ‘Bridgerton’ Star Golda Rosheuvel Was Told by a Lesbian Director to Stay in the Closet by Marc Malkin

When openly gay “Bridgerton” star Golda Rosheuvel —who plays the wigtastic gossip-loving Queen Charlotte on the Netflix series — was starting her acting career, she was told by a les…

SOURCE: Variety at 08:18PM
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Stephen Sondheim to Be Saluted at Grammys by Rachel Zegler, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt, Leslie Odom Jr. (EXCLUSIVE) by Marc Malkin

Send in the tears: Stephen Sondheim is due to be remembered in song at the upcoming Grammy Awards by Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler, sources tell Variety. The pe…

SOURCE: Variety at 09:22PM
Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Renée Zellweger’s ‘Miraculous’ Transformation for ‘The Thing About Pam’ Was ‘Surreal and a Little Scary’ by Marc Malkin

Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” From “Bridget Jones’ Diary” to “Judy,” Renée Zellweger knows a thing or two about transformation. The two-time Oscar winner’s la…

SOURCE: Variety at 05:17PM

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