broadway: Last News

his 18-show residency at Broadway’s historic Palace Theatre, Ben Platt didn’t just conjure up the spirits of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and other legends of the newly renovated venue.The Tony-winning star of “Dear Evan Hansen” also channeled James Taylor on a beaming rendition of JT’s 1977 classic “Your Smiling Face.” And it’s ’70s singer-songwriters such as Taylor, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon (with and without Art Garfunkel) who are the touchstone troubadours from the first notes of Platt crooning “like a canary” on his third studio album “Honeymind,” out on Friday.But right after the airy acoustic guitar balladry of opener “Right Kind of Reckless,” you realize that we’re not in Kansas anymore. The LP’s second track, “All American Queen,” comes sashaying on out as the queer anthem we needed to kick off Pride Month in June.“He was born in the sticks, right in the middle of fall/He wants to be a cheerleader, runs away from the ball/He’s got a song in his heart and a collection of dolls/And there’s a pale shade of pink on his bedroom wall,” Platt sings on this shimmering sunshine-pop bop.

Ben Platt, you can invite Kacey Musgraves to share the stage anytime.The Tony-winning star of “Dear Evan Hansen” brought out the Grammy golden girl as his surprise guest on Tuesday’s opening night of his 18-show residency at Broadway’s historic Palace Theatre — which also served as the unveiling of the renovated venue.Platt — who will have a different special guest every show in the limited-engagement run through June 15 — said that Musgraves was “the very first person that popped into my mind [that] has got to do my opening” before he introduced the country-pop singer.“I admire her so much as an artist,” he continued. “Her songwriting has inspired me endlessly.

Audra McDonald as Mama Rose, was announced Wednesday.Directed by George C. Wolfe, the production of Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’ classic musical will open in December (previews start in November) at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre — its first tenant since “The Phantom of the Opera” closed after 35 years.This story might ring a bell.

role as assistant and co-producer as “Vivienne Jolie,” rather than the hyphenated “Vivienne Jolie-Pitt,” People reported.It’s unclear if Vivienne has legally changed her name — though she’s not the first of the Jolie-Pitt children to appear to drop their father’s surname.The couple’s eldest daughter Zahara, 19, introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” when joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College, according to a video shared by Essence in November.Some eagle-eyed fans also noticed that, in a video shared by choreographer Lil Kelaan Carter, their 18-year-old daughter Shihloh was tagged — and the name on the private account is simply “Shi Jolie.”The subtle name changes come amidst years of reports that Pitt, 60, has a fraught relationship with his six children he shares with Jolie, 48 — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.Pax, 20, once went on a social media rant against Pitt, bashing his estranged father on Father’s Day 2020.“Happy Father’s Day to this world class a–hole!! You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” the caption said, per the Daily Mail. “You have no consideration or empathy toward your 4 youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence.”“You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell.

her popular musical “Hell’s Kitchen.” Keys was the star of Broadway’s spring road conference, an annual convention in which hundreds of out-of-town presenters who book shows around the country come to NYC to be feted.There’s swag, multiple boozy parties per day — just what these people need — and glad-handing celebs galore. But Broadway is campaigning for more than just two weeks in Cincinnati.Beyond shopping for productions to bring to their markets, “the road” also makes up about 15% of the 800 or so Tony Award voters who will decide Best Musical on Sunday, June 16.

Times Square casino backed by rapper Jay Z’s company is a bad idea — and would bring even more traffic and crime to the tourist-packed neighborhood, a new survey said.A whopping 71% of registered voters who live in or near Times Square oppose opening a casino at “The Crossroads of the World” pushed by partners SL Green, Caesars and Roc Nation, according to the survey, released Thursday.Only 23% of voters say they favor opening a casino in Times Square, according to the survey, which was financed by the No Times Square Casino Coalition that includes the influential Broadway League of Theater owners.“The neighborhood has spoken,” said Jeff Daniel, chief strategy officer of The Shubert Organization, a coalition member.“Too often, people forget that in addition to being a major global destination, the Theater District and surrounding neighborhood are a real community,” he added.

Breitbart News argued the performance “should still be drawing big crowds during Broadway’s peak season – the month before the Tony Awards,” which is right now.The play first opened on Broadway last month, following an Off-Broadway run that started in 2022 in New York City’s “The Public” theater. The musical was by singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, directed by Leigh Silverman, and produced by lead producers Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman, along with co-producers Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai.Breitbart also noted that Vice President Harris’s niece, Meena Harris, is another producer on the stage play.The three-hour-long play brings the women’s suffrage movement of the early 1900s to the stage.

Hamilton, oldest sister Angelica sings, “I’m a girl in which, my only job is to marry rich.” None of them would live long enough to experience the painstaking efforts assumed by their female successors for a woman’s right to vote.Fortunately, their descendants and current audiences are hearing a completely different song just a few blocks away in New York’s theater district, thanks largely to Shaina Taub.An Obie Award-winning singer/songwriter, Taub has written the book, a winning score, and lyrics for the completely original, historically based Suffs, which tracks the decades-long struggle for fair and equal treatment of women to be treated as equally as men. The show educates, inspires, and persuades — all while being incredibly entertaining.Taub also stars in the show as Alice Paul, an activist considered one of the major architects of the twentieth-century suffragist movement.

2024 Tony Award nominations announced on Tuesday.When the list was read aloud by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Renée Elise Goldsberry, it was snub city. Barry Manilow’s “Harmony,” the Britney Spears pop-sical “Once Upon a One More Time,” Huey Lewis’ funny “The Heart of Rock and Roll” and “How To Dance in Ohio” were all totally shut out.The musicals “The Great Gatsby” (one mention), “The Notebook” (three) and “Back to the Future” (two) got a dusting, but you can’t very well put “Best costume design nominee!” on a poster.Well, not on a good poster, anyway.David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Imelda Marcos disco show “Here Lies Love” managed four noms, and “Days of Wine and Roses” got three, including score and best actress and actor for terrific Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James, respectively.

The Outsiders,” as vicious as the Greasers and the Socs.Ten of those 15 eligible productions are still running, but there will be only five Best Musical nominees called out (six if there’s a tie). So, more than half of what’s on could get the brush.A Tony nod is a big deal for reasons beyond the prestige.

1 hour, 30 minutes, no intermission. The St.

Two hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission. At the Broadway Theatre, 53rd Street and Broadway.Forget East Egg and West Egg.

Two hours and 30 minutes. At the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 150 West 65th Street.When Steve Carell emerges from behind a bench onstage at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, the crowd giggles automatically at the “Office” star.Now playing the hapless title role in Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” the revival of which opened Wednesday night on Broadway, the actor’s presence gets laughs before he does much of anything.

“& Juliet,” William Shakespeare’s classic play is reimagined with a twist.The musical, currently running at New York City’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre, envisions a world from Anne Hathaway’s perspective where Juliet (spoiler!) doesn’t die and lives a full life of her own told through popular, contemporary Max Martin-produced hits like “Since U Been Gone,” “…Baby One More Time” and “Larger Than Life” that weave through the narrative.“It was inclusive, entertaining and enjoyable,” the New York Post’s Victoria Giardina said after attending the lively show.“And I loved how funny the characters were. However, I’d say it’s best for those 18 and up due to some cheeky and more mature references.”If this sounds like the feel good Broadway show for you, tickets are available for all upcoming performances.At the time of publication, prices start at $100 before fees on Vivid Seats.Based on our findings, most other shows have tickets starting in the $105 to $150 neighborhood before fees.Want to catch the show-stopping musical live?We’ve got everything you need to know and more about “& Juliet” below.All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.Opening night for “& Juliet” was way back in November 2022.Now that the musical is a well-oiled machine it runs eight times a week including three matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.As expected, the Stephen Sondheim Theatre goes dark on Mondays.

Rachel McAdams brings an instantly heartbreaking quality to her performance in “Mary Jane”: Her steadfast optimism.Writer Amy Herzog’s affecting play, which opened Tuesday night on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is about a single mother whose 2-year-old son Alex is chronically ill. The poor kid, who the audience never fully sees, spends most of the drama in another room in bed, attached to monitors and oxygen tanks that beep and hiss.

brilliant-turned-tacky “The Crown,” the royals series that he created for Netflix, his writing about historical figures has grown animatronic and hackneyed. Mouthpiece Theater.

Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff as ring bearer and officiant, respectively, in her New York City nuptials to fellow actor J. Alex Brinson.Her 3-year-old daughter, Lucy, from her marriage to Philip Wakefield, also played a major part in the intimate Central Park ceremony: She stood by her mom’s side as the flower girl.The couple met while starring alongside each other in OWN’s “All Rise” and were engaged on Christmas Day last year.

The other, “Back to the Future: The Musical,” did not.)Rolled out modestly, little “Heart” is also a lot more fun and proudly frivolous than any of its sober-minded neighbors. It’s perhaps the first time in my life that I’ve been happy to see a confetti cannon at curtain call.The show is hilarious, too.

except for me).And, thanks to the intoxicating atmosphere created by designer Tom Scutt and Redmayne’s meticulous and freakish performance, the show does not make for an unsatisfying night out in New York. There’s plenty to admire.Yet the pricey bells and whistles distract from what is a so-so, overly dreary staging that is often undermined by its own overwrought machinations.

finally on fire. Two hours and 40 minutes, with one intermission.

Although “Stereophonic” is not a musical, it’s easy to get swept up by the terrific original rock songs that throb through it. Three hours and five minutes, with one intermission. At the John Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street.And as writer David Adjmi’s play, which opened Friday night at the John Golden Theatre, is set during the mid 1970s, Will Butler’s music sounds authentically of that edgier era.