All stories by Roger Friedman on BroadwayStars

Friday, February 4, 2022

“American Idol” Star Fantasia Chosen to Lead “The Color Purple” Movie Musical with Taraji P. Henson by Roger Friedman

In Hollywood terms, Fantasia should be over 50 years old by now. But she is only still just 37! One the great

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:36AM
Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Broadway: Michael Jackson’s Kids, Prince and Paris, Came to Opening Night of “MJ The Musical” by Roger Friedman

Broadway is not the same these days. You can’t go backstage after a premiere, and there are no parties. It’s all COVID

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:03PM

Broadway: “MJ” Michael Jackson Musical Opens to 3 Standing Ovations, Happy Audiences, and Cranky Critics by Roger Friedman

The Michael Jackson musical, “MJ,” opened on Broadway last night to standing ovations and cheering during the show, an extremely enthusiastic, and

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:48AM
Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Stephen Sondheim’s All-Star Off Broadway “Assassins” Assassinated by COVID, Show Closes Early by Roger Friedman

That’s it for the off Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins.” The musical about famous assassins has been killed early thanks to

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:06AM
Monday, January 24, 2022

Exclusive: Adele Was Using Non-Union Musicians in Las Vegas Gig, Opposite of Pro-Union Lady Gaga by Roger Friedman

The difference between Adele and Lady Gaga, at least in Las Vegas. Gaga has been using union musicians since she started performing

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:18AM

Harry Potter and the Cursed Play: Actor Playing Adult Title Character Fired for Sexual Misbehavior by Roger Friedman

It’s not just COVID causing trouble on Broadway. Over at “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” there are other issues of substance.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:18AM
Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Adele’s First Las Vegas Weekend: (Pricey) Tickets are Still Available, Fans Might Get Upgrades by Roger Friedman

Adele hits Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas this weekend and there will be plenty of publicity. But her first two shows still

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:12PM

Broadway: “Mockingbird” Pauses til June, Star Greg Kinnear Got COVID, Only Performed in 2 Shows by Roger Friedman

“To Kill a Mockingbird” concluded its run on Broadway Sunday. But not with the star who was supposed to be there. Greg

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:12PM
Monday, January 17, 2022

Broadway Fans: Watch the PBS Special Tuesday Night “Reopening” Featuring Adrienne Warren, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Aaron Tveit, More by Roger Friedman

Tomorrow night– Tuesday January 18th PBS 9pm– the best revelation in Frank Di Lella’s “Reopening: The Broadway Revival” comes around 18 minutes

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 04:48PM
Saturday, January 15, 2022

Review: Cecily Strong Won’t Be on “SNL” Tonight But You Can Catch Her Triumph Off Broadway All Month by Roger Friedman

Unless she’s a superwoman, you won’t be seeing Cecily Strong on “Saturday Night Live” tonight. From now through February 6th she’s performing

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:06PM
Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Billy Crystal Can’t Host the Oscars, He’s Opening “Mr. Saturday Night” on Broadway with Oscar Nominated Co-Star by Roger Friedman

Scratch Billy Crystal from the list of potential Oscar hosts. He’s got other things to do. Crystal is opening the musical based

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54PM

Broadway: “To Kill a Mockingbird” Hibernating, Will Return in Smaller Nest, “Girl of the North Country” Shutting Down by Roger Friedman

Broadway is suffering. The theaters are half full. Last week’s total gross was $18 million. It’s supposed to be $32 million. At

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:54PM
Friday, January 7, 2022

First Look: “MJ,” The Michael Jackson Musical, Poised to Be a Major Hit if the Pandemic Doesn’t Do It In by Roger Friedman

I took myself over to the Neil Simon Theater last night to see “MJ,” The Michael Jackson musical. It opens February 1st

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:03PM
Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Broadway: Lincoln Center Theater Will Close “Flying Over Sunset” Three Weeks Early by Roger Friedman

Lincoln Center Theater — an enigmatic deal to begin with — is closing its main play three weeks early. Now “Flying Over

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:03AM

RIP Famed Actress Joan Copeland, 99, Sister of Playwright Arthur Miller, Won Drama Desk Award, Star of Stage and Soaps by Roger Friedman

Joan Copeland was one of my favorite people I ran into over the years. The famed actress sister of legendary playwright Arthur

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 12:03AM
Monday, January 3, 2022

Broadway Bust: “Mrs. Doubtfire” Musical Going on 9 Week Hiatus, Michael Jackson Musical in Financial Danger by Roger Friedman

Broadway is reeling from the Omicron disaster. The new musical “Mrs. Doubtfire,” based on the film, is going on a 9 week

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 05:18AM
Thursday, December 30, 2021

Broadway Beat: COVID Stops “Come From Away” Again, Michael Jackson Actor Replaced at Intermission by Roger Friedman

COVID: The Musical keeps going. Last night at “MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical” actor Myles Frost, who plays adult Michael, didn’t come

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:03PM

Dangerous: “MJ” MIchael Jackson Musical Cancels Tonight’s Show for “Non-COVID Related Reason” by Roger Friedman

Very smart of “MJ The Michael Jackson Musical.” They don’t wanna be startin’ something. So there’s no show tonight after last night’s

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 10:03PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Los Angeles “Hamilton” Not in the Room Where it Happens: Performances Cancelled Through January 23rd by Roger Friedman

The Los Angeles cast of “Hamilton” does not want to be in the room where it happens. The Tony Award winning show

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:33PM
Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Broadway P.S. On Hugh Jackman and “The Music Man”: Show Resumes January 2nd But Star Doesn’t Return til the 6th by Roger Friedman

Here’s a little PS on Hugh Jackman, whose COVID diagnosis was the last straw in closing down “The Music Man” on Broadway.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 09:12PM

Broadway: “Ain’t Too Proud” Closing January 16th (Sniff!), “American Utopia” Downsizing to Keep Going (See Videos) by Roger Friedman

COVID is really wrecking havoc on Broadway, as we know. Sad news this morning that “Ain’t Too Proud,” the Temptations musical, will

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12PM

Broadway: More Trouble in River City as Hugh Jackman Tests Positive, “The Music Man” Cancels Again Til January 2nd by Roger Friedman

“The Music Man” just cancelled all performances from now through January 1st. They’ll try and return on January 2nd. Hugh Jackman has

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 03:12PM
Monday, December 27, 2021

Broadway Star Patti Lupone Says It’s the “Rotavirus,” Not COVID, That’s Kept “Company” Down by Roger Friedman

Whatever you do, don’t say Patti Lupone has COVID. She has the runs. That’s right. stomach virus, diarrhea, or as she calls

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:42AM
Sunday, December 26, 2021

Broadway: The Show Must Go on But “Music Man” Has 7 Absences Tonight Including Sutton Foster, “Company” Still Paused by Roger Friedman

It’s no fun at “The Music Man” tonight, at least back stage. Seven cast members are still out sick after the musical

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:36PM

Broadway Show Changes: “Company” Cancels Today’s Matinee, “Music Man” Returns Tonight After COVID Break by Roger Friedman

Broadway continues to tough it out with COVID. Today’s 2 pm matinee of “Company” has been cancelled due to illness. They’ll be

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:36PM
Friday, December 24, 2021

Broadway: “The Music Man” with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster Pauses Performances Because of COVID by Roger Friedman

There’s trouble in River City.  Trouble with a capital T. “The Music Man” has thrown in the towel. The new musical, already

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 08:06PM

Broadway: Sutton Foster’s “Music Man” Understudy Praised by Hugh Jackman, But “Waitress” Closes in COVID Disaster by Roger Friedman

There was a lot of excitement last night at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway. Sutton Foster didn’t appear in the fourth

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 02:03PM
Thursday, December 23, 2021

Is There Still Sex in the City? No, and Candace Bushnell Closes One Woman Show Thanks to COVID by Roger Friedman

Is there still Sex in the City? The quick answer is No. Candace Bushnell, who wrote the New York Observer columns that

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:24AM
Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Broadway COVID Emergency: Actor Knocked Out by Virus, Playwright Steps in and Takes Over Role by Roger Friedman

What to do when COVID comes for a Broadway cast right before it’s curtain up? Last night on Broadway the new, highly

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:12PM

Forbes Publishes a Phony Story about a West Side Story Sequel, Theater Denies and Explains Mag’s Error by Roger Friedman

There is no sequel to “West Side Story” coming. We will not be getting the Further Adventures of Maria After Tony Dies.

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 01:06AM
Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Broadway: “The Lion King” Pawses Performances Until December 27th, Joins a Long List of Shows by Roger Friedman

That’s it for Simba and friends. “The Lion King” on Broadway is paws-ing performances until December 26th because of COVID. The long

SOURCE: ShowBiz 411 at 07:06PM

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