Broadway
Weezer Announce Broadway Residency, Drop New SZNZ: Summer EP: Stream
Start calling it the Great Weezer Way, because Weezer is headed to Broadway. The news coincides with the release of the latest EP in the band’s ongoing SZNZ series. Rivers Cuomo and co. will take over The Broadway Theatre for a week beginning Tuesday, September 13th. Across five shows, the band will perform each song cycle of their SZNZ project — Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter — followed by a special encore on closing night. Each night, the band also promises to play corresponding deep cuts from their extensive, career-spanning catalog of three decades. Tickets for the residency go on sale June 24th at 10 am ET via Telecharge. With today being the summer equinox, Weezer also unfurled SZNZ: Summer in all its glory. The follow-up to March’s SZNZ: Spring and its alt radio hit “A Litt...
Jesse Williams Addresses Leak of Broadway Nude Scene
Jesse Williams vowed not to be discouraged after leaked video and images of his onstage nude scene in the Broadway play Take Me Out were posted online. “I’m not down about it. Our job is to go out there every night, no matter what,” Williams told The Associated Press on Thursday. The leaked video and images prompted an outcry from the show’s producers and the union that represents actors and stage managers. “I’m not really worrying about it. I can’t sweat that. We do need to keep advocating for ourselves. And it’s wonderful to see a community push back and make clear what we do stand for, what we don’t,” Williams said. “Consent is important, I thought. So, let’s keep that in mind universally.” Williams is starring in a revival of Richard Greenberg’s exploration of what happens when a ...
‘Almost Famous’ Musical Coming to Broadway in 2022
A musical stage version of Almost Famous is almost ready for Broadway. An adaptation of Cameron Crowe’s Oscar-winning 2000 film — about William Miller, a 15-year-old scribe in the 1970s who gets the assignment of a lifetime when Rolling Stone sends him on tour with a fictitious up-and-coming band — is coming some time in 2022. “It’s All Happening… Broadway 2022,” reads a message on artwork posted to the show’s website and in its new Twitter description. No other details are currently known about the production timeline or specifically when it will debut, though it will likely be during either the fall or winter of the 2022-2023 season. According to the show’s synopsis, like the film which is loosely based on Crowe’s experiences, Miller “will be thrus...
Almost Famous Musical Headed to Broadway
It’s all happening! The musical adaptation of Almost Famous is headed for the bright lights of Broadway. Based on the 2000 film of the same name, the production subtly shared the news on social media, where it updated its Twitter profile to read, “It’s all happening…Broadway 2022 #AlmostFamous.” The book and lyrics for the show were written by Cameron Crowe, who based the movie on his experiences as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone in the 1970s. Starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, and Kate Hudson, the film tells the story of 15-year-old William Miller as he follows fictional rock band Stillwater and attempts to land his very first cover story. Frances McDormand, Jason Lee, Zoey Zeschanel, Anna Paquin, and Philip Seymour Hoffman rounded out the cast. Advertisement Related Video Upon its...
Broadway Theaters Extend Mask Mandate Through May 31
Broadway theatergoers will have to keep their masks up through at least May 31, the Broadway League said Friday (April 15). The announcement comes as the United States deals with a fresh COVID-19 surge, with cases rising nationally and in most states after a two-month decline. “Our intention is that by maintaining strict audience masking through at least the month of May, we will continue that track record of safety for all. And of course, we urge everyone to get vaccinated,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, in a statement. One policy change is that Broadway theaters will soon leave vaccination checks up to theater owners. The Shubert Organization, which owns 17 theaters, said it will not require proof of vaccination from patrons starting May 1. The Broadway Lea...
K-Pop Star Luna Hopes BTS Will Show Up For Opening Night of Broadway Debut in ‘KPOP’ Musical
Korean pop star Luna is ready to make her Broadway debut this fall in the musical KPOP and she’s already dreaming of who might be there on opening night — like BTS. “I would be thankful if they showed up on opening night,” Luna told The Associated Press through her translator. She also wants fans and other stars to show up, too. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “This is New York City, it’s got its own celebrities and also audiences who would enjoy this. So, I would love to see New York celebrities, as well as Hollywood celebrities,” Luna said. Luna was introduced at a press event for the musical Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center in New York. The singer began her musical career as a member of the popular K-pop group f(x) before becomin...
Kristin Chenoweth “Ready” to Play Dolly Parton in a Biopic or Broadway Show
Considering her career has spanned over half a century, the world is long overdue for a Dolly Parton biopic. But one of the first steps toward getting the project off the ground is finding its star, and Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth had a straightforward response when she found out she was being considered: “I’m ready Dolly.” Parton discussed her plans for a biopic or Broadway show during her recent appearance on Mr. Nashville Talks. As it turns out, the multi-hyphenate has wanted to adapt her life story for a long time, but naturally, the pandemic shifted her plans. “I’ve been talking about doing my Broadway musical and we were really, really way out ahead of that, and then COVID hit and that changed my mind about a whole lot of things,” Parton said. “I do intend someday to be o...
Neil Diamond Stage Musical Reveals Its Broadway Veteran Star
A musical about Neil Diamond has found the polished theater gem who will play the icon onstage — Will Swenson. Swenson has been tapped to lead A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical this summer when it makes its debut at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre. Swenson calls it a not straightforward musical. “It’s unconventional and it’s beautiful,” the actor told The Associated Press. Swenson’s Broadway credits include Waitress opposite Sara Bareilles, creating the role of Javert in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables, and starring in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and 110 in the Shade. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Diamond, 81, is the singer and songwriter of massive hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue” and “Cracklin’ Rosie.” He’s also written hits recorded b...
Patti LuPone Tests Positive for COVID-19, Will Miss Shows of ‘Company’
Patti LuPone will miss performances of Broadway’s Company at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre after testing positive for COVID-19, producers announced Sunday (Feb. 27). The star experienced symptoms prior to the show’s Saturday matinee and took an additional test that day that returned a positive diagnosis, with another test confirming her status overnight, according to producers. She is expected to return to Company on Tuesday, March 8. Explore See latest videos, charts and news “She is home resting, and everyone wishes her a speedy recovery,” read the producers’ statement, in part. “To ensure the safety of everyone at the Jacobs Theatre, increased testing protocols were automatically triggered.” LuPone, 72, took to Twitter on Sunday morning to confirm the ...
‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Pushes Broadway Return to April 14
Mrs. Doubtfire is pushing its experimental Broadway return by a month. On Friday (Feb. 18), producer Kevin McCollum announced that the musical comedy based on the 1993 film starring Robin Williams would be coming back to the Great White Way a month later than its originally scheduled March 15 curtain up. On Jan. 10, the show — which initially opened on Dec. 5 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre — began a nine-week hiatus prompted by the omicron variant wave that hit Broadway. Speaking to The New York Times, McCollum explained that the decision to close the production temporarily was based partly on the decrease in COVID-19 cases across New York City — something that prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to drop the state’s indoor mask mandate starting Feb. 8. (The Broadway League renewed its audience mas...
Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Fires Harry Potter Actor
Today in the ever-troubled world of Harry Potter, the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has fired James Snyder, the actor who portrayed the titular wizard, citing unspecified concerns about his conduct. Producers of the play said they launched a third-party investigation into Snyder’s conduct after receiving a complaint from Diane Davis, the actress playing Ginny Potter, Harry Potter’s wife. Davis filed the complaint on November 19th, 2021, just a week after the show resumed performances after shutting down due to COVID-19. Snyder was originally suspended pending the results of the investigation, but his contract has now been terminated, and Davis is taking a leave of absence from the production. “We are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace, whi...
Atlantic Records Signs Shaina Taub: Exclusive
When it comes to making bets on musical theater, Atlantic Records has a knack for spotting winners. The label has a long history of investing in Broadway, but in recent years, it’s emerged as an undeniable force: releasing the original Broadway cast recordings of both Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen (and signing the latter’s star, Ben Platt); racking up yet more cast albums for buzzy new shows such as Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill and Max Martin co-write & Juliet; and scoring the juggernaut that is The Greatest Showman original soundtrack (with music by DEH composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul). Explore See latest videos, charts and news Now, Atlantic is expanding its stable of theater-trained talent even further. The label tells Billboard exclusively it has signed composer...
