News

Audra McDonald is officially back on Broadway in the long-awaited revival of the classic musical Gypsy and we have the first photos of her as Mama Rose.

The six-time Tony Award-winning actress is starring alongside Broadway’s hottest rising star Joy Woods, who is taking on the role of her daughter Louise. Head into the gallery to see a photo of them together!

Gypsy, suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, is Broadway’s ultimate tale of mothers and daughters, ambition and fame, and the lengths we’ll go in pursuit of the American dream.

Rounding out the cast of beloved Broadway veterans include Tony winner Danny Burstein as Herbie, The Notebook‘s Jordan Tyson as Dainty June, and The Outsiders‘ Kevin Csolak as Tulsa.

Preview performances of Gypsy begin Tonight (November 21) at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre, making it the first show to play the iconic venue since...

Lincoln Center Theater’s upcoming Broadway production of Adam Guettel beloved cult musical Floyd Collins will star Jeremy Jordan in the title role, producers announced today, confirming a rumor that’s been buzzing through New York’s theater community for weeks.

Talk of Jordan’s involvement spiked Tuesday when producers of Broadway’s The Great Gatsby announced that actor Ryan McCartan would soon be taking over the lead role of that musical from the exiting Jordan.

The Lct production, which begins previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Thursday, March 27, 2025, and opens on Monday, April 21, will also feature Jason Gotay as Homer Collins, Sean Allan Krill as H.T. Carmichael, Marc Kudisch as Lee Collins, Lizzy McAlpine as Nellie Collins, Wade McCollum as Bee Doyle, Jessica Molaskey as Miss Jane, Taylor Trensch as Skeets Miller, and Cole Vaughan as Jewell Estes, with an ensemble of Kevin Bernard, Dwayne Cooper, Jeremy Davis,...

Since 2012, when she broke onto Broadway with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Carrie Coon has shared the stage (theatrical and sound) with a formidable number of acting icons. In “The Post,” she stood opposite Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep (while being directed by some nerd named Steven Spielberg). Then there’s “Widows” with Viola Davis, “The Nest” next to Jude Law, two “Ghostbusters” movies alongside Bill Murray, and, this critic would argue, “The Leftovers,” across from the incomparable Ann Dowd. Soon, she’ll be traveling back to “The Gilded Age” where she’ll thrust and parry with none other than Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald.

There are plenty more Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winners to add to the list — and more to come in the years ahead — but for all the praise Coon heaps on her cherished co-stars, she said there were only two times when she was “scared to...

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Martin Short, Rosie Perez, Wayne Brady and more celebrities will join forces with hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson for the second annual “Stars in the House” Election Day Vote-a-Thon on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The live event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Et, feature musical performances and support the Entertainment Community Fund.

“We were so moved by the reactions to our Vote-a-Thon in 2020 that we wanted to continue the tradition and provide a place where people can go to get away from some of the stress of Election Day but still stay informed and most importantly – be entertained!” said the hosts in a joint statement. “Our live event is the perfect way to pass the time while you’re in line at the polls or waiting for the results. We are so grateful to those in the community who will be joining us to share...

On Monday October 28 2024, ABC broadcasts Good Morning America!

Episode 344 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Good Morning America” promises an exciting lineup that will entertain and inform. Viewers can look forward to a special feature on Disney Jr.’s animated series “SuperKitties.” The adorable characters Ginny and Bitsy will take center stage, bringing joy and fun to the morning show. Their adventures are sure to capture the hearts of both children and adults alike.

In addition to the animated fun, the episode will welcome a star-studded group of guests. Actors John David Washington and Malcolm Washington will join the show, along with the talented Danielle Deadwyler. These actors are known for their impressive work in film and television, and their presence is bound to spark interesting conversations and insights about their latest projects.

Broadway star Audra McDonald will also make an appearance. With her remarkable talent and extensive experience in theater,...

On Monday morning, Good Morning America welcomes the voices behind Disney Jr.’s animated “SuperKitties,” Ginny and Bitsy. The hosts will also be joined by actors John David Washington, Malcolm Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler to discuss their new film, “The Piano Lesson.” The movie, which premieres November 22, is a Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer […]

Good Morning America: John David Washington, Audra McDonald...

Cher. Julie Andrews. Audra McDonald. Al Pacino. Bette Midler.

Of all the storied entertainers one award away from achieving Egot status — that is, a performer or creative who has won a competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — two near-winners are not like the others: South Park overlords Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

So how have the pair — famed for gags like “The Crack Baby Athletic Association,” the “HUMANCENTiPAD,” and of course, sending Lemmiwinks the gerbil on a trip up Mr. Slave’s ass — managed to go get closer to an Egot than Meryl Streep or Denzel Washington? Well, by making excellent television for more than two decades and taking a brief detour onto Broadway.

Winning their first Primetime Emmy Award for South Park in 2005, an achievement the duo have repeated four more times since, Stone and Parker became serious Egot contenders in 2011, when their musical, The Book of Mormon, made its Broadway debut.

Actors from Broadway’s Newsies, Suffs, and other stage productions are doing their part to encourage people to vote. The actors released a video featuring a medley of remixed Newsies tracks, including renditions of “Carrying the Banner” and “Seize the Day” reframed for the 2024 election.

Similar to the Broadway Newsies production, based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, the remix video begins with newsboy Jack Kelly rallying an army of townspeople to participate in the next election. “Running your mouth don’t change nothing, spot,” Jack said in the video.

Anne Hathaway sang the Queen song “Somebody to Love” in the beloved 2004 movie Ella Enchanted and she just reprised the performance at a live fundraiser for Kamala Harris!

The Oscar-winning actress performed the song at the Broadway For Harris fundraiser event on Monday night (October 14) in New York City.

Anne joined Broadway legends like Audra McDonald, Billy Porter, Kristin Chenoweth and more to support the Harris-Walz campaign in the final weeks leading up to Election Day on November 5.

It seems that Anne is revisiting a bunch of her early roles these days. She has confirmed that she will play Mia Thermopolis again in the upcoming Princess Diaries 3 and it’s rumored that she will be back for The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Head inside to watch the video…

You can watch Anne‘s performance below thanks to The Hollywood Reporter.

Anne Hathaway sings “Somebody to Love” at a Broadway for Harris...

Following outrage from members of the theater community, all Broadway theaters will dim their lights in honor of Gavin Creel, as well as for Adrian Bailey and Dame Maggie Smith.

The lights for Bailey will be dimmed Oct. 17; the dimming for Creel is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 6:45 P.M. Et, a day after a public memorial will be held at the St. James Theatre. The dimming for Smith will be held Nov. 7 at 6:45 P.M. Et.

The committee of Broadway theater owners also said they are also “reviewing their current dimming policy and procedures,” following the broader scrutiny on the process.

Creel, a Tony-Award winning actor and frequent Broadway performer, died Sept. 30 at the age of 48 following a recent cancer diagnosis. After his sudden passing, The Broadway League announced that select Broadway theaters, rather than all 41, would briefly dim their lights in his memory.

That decision was met...

Broadway Rallies For Kamala, a special livestream event on Monday, October 14, to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz presidential ticket, will feature performances and appearances by a raft of Broadway and Hollywood talent including Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Porter, J. Harrison Ghee and Kelli O’Hara.

The event, to take place at 7:30 p.m. Et in front of an invited audience in New York City and livestreamed nationally for free via BroadwayWorld.com, will be paired with a daytime virtual “Kamala Dial-A-Thon” phone bank staffed by volunteers alongside Broadway and Hollywood talent, in partnership with Swifties for Kamala, Women for Harris, White Dudes for Harris, Musicians for Harris, Queers for Kamala and others.

Organized by Broadway For Harris and produced by James Wesley Jackson, Seth Rudetsky, Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus and Jeff Metzler, the Broadway Rallies evening event will be directed by Schele Williams with music direction by Rudetsky, the co-creator and co-host with Wesley Jackson of Stars in the House. The evening will include musical performances and “energizing calls-to-action” by celebrities, Broadway leaders and other surrogates.

In addition to the above-named talent, the roster so far also includes Ana Gasteyer, Anne Hathaway, Arielle Jacobs, Chasten Buttigieg, Erika Henningsen, Isabelle McCalla, Judy Kuhn, Lilli Cooper, Rosie Perez, Shaina Taub and Wilson Cruz.

Broadway for Harris is a volunteer, grassroots coalition of industry professionals and theater enthusiasts united to elect Harris, Walz and down-ballot Democratic candidates this November. Its mission is to “increase voter participation in key swing districts, produce fundraising events featuring the talents of the Broadway community and work together toward a brighter, more hopeful, more equitable future for the country under the historic leadership of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

With an initial organizing committee of more than 80 industry leaders, including current and former Broadway performers, producers, writers, musicians, directors, choreographers, marketing specialists, artists, stage managers, crew and other professionals from within the Broadway community, Broadway for Harris works to activate the theater community and fans for volunteer activities including phone banking, canvassing, social media outreach and special fundraising events.

To date, Broadway for Harris has rallied hundreds of volunteers and made more than 150,000 calls and knocked on more than 11,000 doors in Pennsylvania swing districts.

Additional organizing events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Broadway is raising its curtains for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Broadway Rallies for Kamala will take place in New York City on Oct. 14 and features stars of the stage and screen.

The event will include appearances and performances by Whoopi Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Billy Porter, Wilson Cruz, Arielle Jacobs, Erika Henningsen, Isabelle McCalla, J. Harrison Ghee, Judy Kuhn, Lilli Cooper, Rosie Perez and Shaina Taub.

“Kamala Harris couldn’t have come to a better place than Broadway,” Goldberg told Variety on Wednesday morning. “The people of Broadway are a microcosm of every slice of life in America — so we get who you are and where you need to be.”

The program will take place before a live audience and will be streamed via Broadway World at 7:30 p.m. Et.

The event is produced by James Wesley Jackson, Seth Rudetsky, Bruce Cohen,...

After months of rumors, it has finally been confirmed that Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson will be playing the roles of Louise and June in the upcoming Broadway revival of Gypsy!

Audra McDonald is leading the production as Mama Rose alongside fellow Tony winner Danny Burstein as Herbie.

Joy and Jordan currently are starring together in the musical The Notebook as Middle Allie and Younger Allie, respectively. They’ll continue to work together after leaving that show next month!

The song “My Days” from The Notebook, expertly performed by Joy, went viral on social media this year.

Gypsy, one of the most acclaimed musicals of all time, will reopen the Majestic Theatre following the exit of The Phantom of the Opera, which played in the venue for 35 years. Preview performances begin on November 21 ahead of an official opening night on December 19.

It was also just announced that the cast will...

The “Made in NY” Awards ceremony will return this fall after a decade of handing out the honors behind the scenes.

Created in 2006 by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the “Made in NY” Awards celebrate excellence in New York City’s creative community and recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to NYC’s entertainment and digital media industries.

Prior recipients of the “Made in NY” award include 2024 Academy Award nominees Noah Baumbach, Danielle Brooks, Robert De Niro and Jeffrey Wright, as well as Awkwafina, Alex Borstein, Tina Fey, Caroline Hirsch, “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Spike Lee, Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nas, Rosie Perez and “Sesame Street.”

From 2014 until earlier in 2024, no ceremony was held, and instead individual “Made in NY” Awards were presented to winners at various entertainment events throughout the city including the Gotham Awards and the Nywift Muse Awards.

“The opera is where society puts itself on display,” says Carrie Coon’s character Bertha Russell in “The Gilded Age.” She is correct, but in HBO’s period drama set in late 19th century New York City, society is always on display and nearly every scene is a showcase for the luxe sartorial indulgences of the elite.

Created by “Downton Abbey” mastermind Julian Fellowes, “The Gilded Age” is a soapy saga in which old money begrudgingly rubs elbows with the nouveau riche. The 1880s were a period of rapid industrialization, political corruption and an ever-widening gap between the wealthy and the poor. And from the series’ very first episode, costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone wanted to capture the spirit of excitement that defined the era. “There were those giant socio-economic differences that were visible daily on the street,” she said. “The ladies of means, the ladies who had money, it was their town,...

Exclusive: More than 50 of Broadway’s biggest names, including actors, directors, producers, writers and others, are organizing to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election.

The volunteer coalition Broadway for Harris will work to to elect Harris, Walz and down ballot Democratic candidates this November. The organization plans to increase voter participation in key swing districts, produce fundraising events featuring the talents of the Broadway community and “work together toward a brighter, more hopeful, more equitable future for the country under the historic leadership of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

Among those who have signed on to the initial organizing committee are Adrienne Warren, Alex Edelman, Audra McDonald, Billy Porter, George C. Wolfe, Idina Menzel, Jeremy O. Harris, Lachanze, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Leguizamo, Sara Bareilles, Sarah Paulson, Shaina Taub and Tony Kushner. (See the full list as of August 19 below.)

Related: Democratic National Convention: What To Expect...

Several newcomers will join the dramatic ensemble of HBO’s The Gilded Age once season 3 hits the small screen. The third season of Julian Fellowes’ period series is set in the late 1800s is currently in production.

Both Carrie Coon and Christine Baranski have received Emmy nominations for their performances in season 2, and the show was renewed shortly after the December finale launched.

Read on for everything we know about the development of season 3 of The Gilded Age.

When will Season 3 of The Gilded Age come out?

According to promotional footage for multiple Max series, the aim for season 3 of The Gilded Age is to be released sometime in 2025.

Is The Gilded Age Season 3 in production?

Yes, the next installment is underway, as Baranski hinted at in a recent interview with Deadline. The show shoots in Brooklyn.

Who is in the cast of The Gilded Age Season 3?

Leading ladies Baranski,...

Christine Baranski puts in the work. The 16-time Emmy nominee, up for her latest trophy as supporting actress in a drama for The Gilded Age, is spending her summer filming the HBO series’ third season shrouded in all the stifling accoutrements that the period piece requires.

During a day off from production, the actress emphasized that she’ll happily suffer for art. But Baranski, who’ll also soon star in season two of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers alongside Nicole Kidman, was quick to think of sets with more liberating costumes. Namely, Mamma Mia! The musical adaptation of the Abba songbook spawned a movie, a sequel and, most recently, talk of No. 3. Baranski confirmed she’s dined with franchise lead Judy Craymer, and things are in the works and a proposed story is in place. “We’ll all be on some fabulous Greek or Croatian island having a blast,” says Baranski.

The Gilded Age is bringing in a host of new faces for its third season.

The HBO drama from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has added eight actors to its ensemble for season three, which is in production. Bill Camp, Merritt Wever, Leslie Uggams, LisaGay Hamilton, Paul Alexander Nolan, Hattie Morahan, Andrea Martin and Jessica Frances Dukes will have roles in the coming season alongside fellow newcomers Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Victoria Clark and Jordan Donica.

Camp (Presumed Innocent, HBO’s The Outsider) will play Jp Morgan, the famed financier who finds himself at odds with George Russell (Morgan Spector) over the future of the railroad industry. Emmy winner Wever (Unbelievable) plays Monica O’Brien, Bertha Russell’s (Carrie Coon) estranged sister.

Uggams (Roots, Deadpool) will play Mrs. Ernestine Brown, Elizabeth Kirkland’s (Rashad) friend and part of the elite Black community in Newport, Rhode Island. Hamilton (The Dropout, Winning...

The Gilded Age is expanding its ensemble.

Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent) and Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie), along with Leslie Uggams (Roots) and Lisagay Hamilton (Winning Time) are joining the HBO drama that’s currently in production on its third season.

Camp will play Jp Morgan, who finds himself at odds with George Russell (Morgan Spector) over the future of the railroad industry. Wever will play Monica O’ Brien, the estranged sister of Bertha (Carrie Coon).

Uggams will take over as Mrs. Ernestine Brown, a friend of Elizabeth Kirkland and a member of the Black elite community in Newport. Hamilton will play Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the famed Black suffragist who inspires Peggy (Denée Benton) to become involved in her cause, in spite of the dissenting opinions of those around her.

Other new cast members include Andrea Martin (Evil) as Madame Dashkova, a medium who claims to be able to commune...

“The Gilded Age” has added Bill Camp, Merritt Wever, Andrea Martin and Leslie Uggams to its Season 3 cast, HBO announced Monday.

Camp, Wever, Martin and Uggams will join the drama series alongside fellow new additions LisaGay Hamilton, Paul Alexander Nolan (Broadway’s “Water for Elephants”), Hattie Morahan and Jessica Frances Dukes.

Camp will play the infamous investment banker Jp Morgan, who finds himself at odds with George Russell (Morgan Spector), while Wever joins as Monica O’Brien, the estranged sister of Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) and Martin plays Madame Dashkova, a medium who claims to be able to commune with the dead.

Uggams is set to portray Mrs. Ernestine Brown, Elizabeth Kirkland’s friend and a member of the Black elite community in Newport, and Hamilton plays Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the famed Black suffragist who inspires Peggy (Denée Benton) to become involved in her cause, while Morahan plays Lady Sarah Vere,...

HBO’s The Gilded Age just added some major names to its Season 3 cast: Bill Camp, Andrea Martin and Merritt Wever have officially joined the historical drama’s upcoming run, the cabler announced Monday.

Camp (Presumed Innocent) will star as Jp Morgan, the world-famous investment banker who finds himself at odds with George Russell (Morgan Spector) over the future of the railroad industry. Martin (Evil) will play Madame Dashkova, a medium who claims to be able to commune with the dead. Wever (Unbelievable) will take on Monica O’Brien, Bertha Russell’s (Carrie Coon) estranged sister who appears at a crucial time for the family.

“The Gilded Age” Season 3 has added eight actors to it cast, Variety has learned.

Bill Camp, Merritt Wever, Leslie Uggams, LisaGay Hamilton, Paul Alexander Nolan, Hattie Morahan, Andrea Martin, and Jessica Frances Dukes have all been cast in the third season of the HBO period drama.

Full character descriptions can be found below.

The new additions will appear alongside the returning cast that includes Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Denée Benton, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, and Blake Ritson.

Camp is repped by Innovative Artists and Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell and Vassallo. Wever is repped by Innovative Artists and Viking Entertainment. Uggams is repped by Brs/Gage Talent Agency. Hamilton is repped by Greenlight Management and Innovative Artists. Nolan is repped by Schachter Entertainment and Gersh. Morahan is repped by Authentic Talent and Literary Management and United Agents. Martin is repped by Innovative Artists. Dukes is repped by Schachter Entertainment,...

Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will be part of the cast of Twelfth Night, which is set to reopen the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The production, directed by The Public Theater’s resident director Saheem Ali, is slated to take place in August 2025. The outdoor theater, which is run by the Public Theater and offers free tickets to the public for its Free Shakespeare in the Park, has been closed and undergoing renovations since last fall.

In the production, Dinklage will play Malvolio, Nyong’o will play Viola, Sandra Oh will play Olivia and Ferguson will play Andrew Aguecheek.

“Twelfth Night is the epitome of joy,” Ali said. “It also happens to be the first production I ever saw at The Delacorte, as a college student taking the Chinatown bus from Boston. I’m delighted to be reuniting with my dear friend Lupita Nyong’o,...

Exclusive: Army of the Dead and Cha Cha Real Smooth actor Raúl Castillo has been set as the lead in William Atticus Parker’s third film, The Auction, which we told you about earlier this month.

Today, we can tell you a little more about the suspense science-fiction tale, loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The film is set at the Aztec Corp., a company that auctions off ancient antiquities and semi-distinct wild exotic animals. Castillo will portray the newest sales representative, David Valdez, with Ben Vereen appearing as his father and K. Todd Freeman as the head of the corporation.

The previously announced cast also includes Audra McDonald, Mary-Louise Parker, and Richard Kind. Details about their specific roles are not being released yet.

Parker — son of actors Mary-Louise Parker and Billy Crudup — will make his film acting debut in the pic alongside his mom Parker.

Exclusive: Audra McDonald (The Gilded Age), K. Todd Freeman (The Horror of Dolores Roach), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Richard Kind (Only Murders in the Building) and Ben Vereen (All That Jazz) have been set to topline The Auction, a new indie from writer-director William Atticus Parker.

Described by the filmmaker as “a workplace drama with elements of fantasy and horror,” the film is a loose adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Further plot details are being kept under wraps.

The son of Mary-Louise Parker, William will also make his feature acting debut in The Auction and produce alongside Sabina Friedman-Seitz (Atrabilious) and Cory Asinofsky. William’s sister, Ash Parker, will write and compose an original song for the pic, with production to kick off in New York this summer.

Currently starring on HBO’s The Gilded Age, which has been renewed for a third season, McDonald is...

With just a few hours of Pride Month remaining, Amber Ruffin is doing a victory lap.

The comedian came out as a member of the LGBTQ community Sunday on Instagram, sharing a selfie in a shirt printed with “Queer,” as well as photos with her partner at recent Pride events.

“In what will come as a shock to exactly zero people, I’m using the last day of Pride to come out!” Ruffin captioned the post. “Be proud of who you are, little babies! I know I am! And I can’t wait to be discriminated against for a new reason!!”

She was met with support in the comments section from Bowen Yang, Vanessa Bayer, Robin Thede, Aidy Bryant, D’Arcy Carden, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Riki Lindhome and Tess Holliday.

“Love this & love you,” wrote Michelle Buteau.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber Ruffin (@amberruffin)

“Welcome home Amber!

Talk show host, comedian, writer, Tony Award nominee and former Variety Power of Women host Amber Ruffin came out to the public on the last day of Pride.

Posting on her Instagram profile, the smiling star wrote, “In what will come as a shock to exactly zero people, I’m using the last day of Pride to come out! Be proud of who you are, little babies! I know I am! And I can’t wait to be discriminated against for a new reason!!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber Ruffin (@amberruffin)

The former writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and host of her own talk show, “The Amber Ruffin Show,” Ruffin is also known for her recent work in theater, including co-writing the “Some Like It Hot” revival and, more recently, updating the book for “The Wiz” on Broadway.

Meanwhile, in her comments, a...

Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributing theater editors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Even though the 2024 Tony Awards are barely in the rearview mirror, we cannot help but offer our extremely early takes on the state of the 2025 race with over two dozen musicals, plays and revivals already announced.

Sam Eckmann: David, I know we just finished covering the 2024 Tony Awards… but I’m already thinking about next season! Would you care to join me on a far-too-early look at what productions might tickle Tony voters’ fancies for the 2025 ceremony? A whopping 15 new musicals debuted during the 2023-2024 Broadway season, but the 2024-2025 season is already threatening to rival those numbers. So far we have confirmed bows for “A Wonderful World,” “Death Becomes Her,” “Maybe Happy Ending,” “Redwood,” “Smash,” “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends,” “Swept Away,” and “Tammy Faye.” That’s already 8 new tuners,...

The Gilded Age has added four new faces to its cast for season three. Phylicia Rashad, Jordan Donica, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Victoria Clark are joining the HBO period drama. The series was renewed in December, soon after the second season's finale had aired.

Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Ben Ahlers, Michael Cerveris, Kelley Curran, Taissa Farmiga, Jack Gilpin, Simon Jones, Sullivan Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Harry Richardson, Taylor Richardson, Blake Ritson, Douglas Sills, Erin Wilhelmi, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, John Douglas Thompson, Ashlie Atkinson, Laura Benanti, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Christopher Denham, David Furr, Ward Horton, Matilda Lawler and Robert Sean Leonard star in the period drama.Read More…...

At this year’s Tony Awards “Suffs” managed to win prizes for Best Musical Book and Best Score, both of which went to Shaina Taub. Historically, winning those two accolades in particular would bode well for a show’s chances at Best Musical. Yet in a shocking turn of events, the top award went to “The Outsiders.” But this is not the first time something like this has happened.

SEETony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories

In 1978 “On the Twentieth Century” won Tonys for Best Score and Best Book (Comden and Green). It also won Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Kevin Kline), and Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner). Yet Best Musical that year went to Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.‘s revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A tribute to the music of Fats Waller, it also won Tonys for Best...

Last night’s 77th Annual Tony Awards featured some terrific musical performances. We’ve compiled them all, so take a look and decide for yourself which shows should have taken home trophies, and which performance left you most excited about planning a trip to Broadway.

In no particular order:

Water For Elephants: “Anywhere Another Train” and “The Road Don’t Make You Young”

Related: ‘The Outsiders’ Wins Best Musical At Tonys: Full Winners List

Illinoise: “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us”

Related: Sarah Paulson On Winning Her First Tony Award & How Theaters “Bear Witness to Relentless Interrogation Of Human Experience”

Cabaret: “Willkommen”

Related: Jonathan Groff Breaks Down In Tears After Tony Awards Win, Tells Daniel Radcliffe & Lindsay Mendez: “You Are More Than Old Friends, You Are Soulmates”

Merrily We Roll Along: “Old Friends”

Related: Daniel Radcliffe Thanks A Crying Jonathan Groff After...

No awards show makes it to the end without a few surprises, and tonight’s Tony Awards on CBS had a whopper: It went off without a hitch.

The Pluto TV pre-show, not so much. But more on that in a bit.

With Ariana DeBose returning to host for the third time, the 77th Annual Tonys was like a how-to for awards shows, with nearly all of the performances by the Best Musical nominees (and the year’s Best Play winner Stereophonic) showcasing each production at its best. (Which one fell a bit short? Read on.)

DeBose kicked things off with a made-for-the-show musical number, sounding terrific even if a performance from one of the actual Broadway shows might have been a wiser option. DeBose has said this will be her final Tony hosting gig, at least for a while, and she’ll be missed: She knows how to hold the spotlight,...

Ariana DeBose, remembering the late West Side Story star, presented a Chita Rivera tribute at the Tony Awards. At the end of the homage, the awards show host would take the stage and recreate the iconic “America” musical number.

“In January, we lost one of theaters’ brightest lights, the irreplaceable Chita Rivera,” DeBose said as she took the stage with her voice cracking.

Rivera was remembered by Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, and Bebe Neuwirth.

“Anyone who knew Chita had a great friend and an even greater role model,” Mitchell said. “Everything I know about being a Broadway lead, I learned from [Chita]. The iconic characters that she created are unforgettable.”

Related: 2024 Tony Awards Winners List

Mitchell then took everyone down memory lane, remembering Rivera’s roles like Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Anita in West Side Story.

“Chita redefined what it meant to be a Latina in showbusiness,...

The Outsiders and Stereophonic took home the top prizes of best musical and best play at the 77th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday.

The best musical race had been one of the closest categories heading into Sunday’s ceremony, with The Outsiders, a story about young boys growing up in a rough setting, based on S.E. Hinton’s best-selling novel, and Hell’s Kitchen, featuring a score by Alicia Keys, seen as the top contenders, amid other contenders including Water for Elephants, Illinoise and Suffs. The two battled for awards throughout the night, with The Outsiders picking up a key win for director Danya Taymor and Hell’s Kitchen earning first-time acting wins for Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis.

Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along took home the prize for best revival of a musical, while Branden Jacobs-Jenkins family drama Appropriate won the Tony Award for best revival of a play.

All eyes were on Broadway during the 2024 Tony Awards. The coveted awards show honored the best of Broadway during the three-hour ceremony on June 16, which took place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Host Ariana DeBose opened the 2024 Tony Awards with a sensational performance. In addition to hosting and performing, the Oscar winner also served as producer and choreographed the opening number. Stars from this year’s biggest Broadway shows hit the stage for performances during the Tonys. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Angelina Jolie, Nick Jonas, Idina Menzel, Patrick Wilson, Jim Parsons, Taraji P. Henson, and more were among the presenters of the 2024 Tonys. The ceremony included a special tribute to Chita Rivera featuring Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Bebe Neuwirth. This year’s In Memoriam was presented by Brooke Shields and performed by Nicole Scherzinger,...

The 77th annual Tony Awards saw stars gather to walk the red carpet ahead of the ceremony at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City. Daniel Radcliffe, Amy Ryan, Audra McDonald, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Angelina Jolie and more were in attendance.

The celebration is being broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount . Ariana DeBose will host the show, just as she had the past two years. Several awards will be announced at the pre-show on Pluto TV.

For a list of winners, click here.

To see the best of the red carpet arrivals, scroll below.

Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren will star in The Last Five Years on Broadway in spring 2025.

The revival of the musical, which features a score and book by Jason Robert Brown, will be directed by Whitney White, a Tony Award nominee for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

While The Last Five Years premiered in 2001, had Off-Broadway runs in 2002 and 2013 and a film adaptation, this will be the first time the musical has appeared on Broadway. The theater and exact dates will be announced at a later time.

The Last Five Years follows two New Yorkers, aspiring author Jamie and aspiring actress Cathy, as they each narrate the ups and downs for their romantic relationship over the past five years, starting on opposite sides of the timeline.

“I have always believed that when the time was right, The Last Five Years would make its way to Broadway. To have Nick and...

Rock icon Pete Townshend will not only introduce the musical performance of The Who’s Tommy cast, but will take part in it: Deadline hears that Townshend and the Tommy cast are set to perform “Pinball Wizard.”

Townshend was previously announced as a presenter on the broadcast. He previously joined the Broadway cast on the March 26 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, when they performed a medley of Tommy songs.

In other Tony news, Nicole Scherzinger, who will star on Broadway this fall in the hit London revival of Sunset Boulevard, will perform during the In Memoriam segment of this Sunday’s Tony Awards.

Scherzinger will be introduced by Brooke Shields, the newly elected president of Actors’ Equity Association.

A separate Tony tribute is planned for Broadway’s legendary three-time-Tony-winner Chita Rivera, who died at 91 in January. Among those expected to join in the tribute are Audra McDonald,...

Shows like ‘True Detective,’ ‘Hacks,’ ’ The Sympathizer,’ and others are putting their best foot forward for Emmy voters.

The Primetime Emmy Awards are still three months out, but campaign season is in full gear. The nomination round of voting began this week and runs through Monday, June 24. As is often the case, Warner Bros. Discovery has dozens of titles up for consideration between the premium prestige programs of HBO and the buzzy streaming-exclusive shows on Max. To help remind voters of the series that they loved over the past year, Max is launching For Your Consideration (FYC) panels featuring the cast, producers, and crews of titles to make the case for their nominations. Subscribers can find a large selection of panels on Max now, and those who aren’t already signed up for Max can take advantage of the streamer’s limited-time free trial to check out the panels and the shows themselves!

Ron Simons, who had a busy if low-key TV acting career before making his greatest impact producing such acclaimed Broadway plays as Thoughts of a Colored Man (2021) and the 2022 revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, died Wednesday. The four-time Tony Award winner was 63.

His death was announced by SimonSays Entertainment, the production company he founded in 2009. A cause of death was not immediately available.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved, blessed, and highly favored friend, Ronald Keith Simons. Funeral details will be forthcoming,” the production company said in a statement.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem said in a separate statement, “We are heartbroken to learn of our friend and former trustee Ron Simon’s passing. Our thoughts are with his family. Ron has left behind an unmatched legacy on Broadway and beyond. We will...

Ron Simons, an actor and four-time Tony Award-winning producer, has died. He was 63.

His production company SimonSays Entertainment shared that Simons died Wednesday. His cause of death wasn’t immediately available.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved, blessed, and highly favored friend, Ronald Keith Simons. Funeral details will be forthcoming,” the production company wrote in a statement on Facebook.

Born on Nov. 30, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, Simons didn’t initially pursue a career in acting and theater. After graduating from Columbia Business School in 1989 with an Mba in marketing and international business, he started his professional career at Microsoft as a product manager in San Francisco, California.

It wasn’t until years later, at 39 years old, that he decided to quit his job and follow his dreams in entertainment.

He got his Mfa in acting from the University of Washington and eventually moved from California to New York,...

Sheryl Lee Ralph has signed with CAA for representation.

An Emmy, Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Award winner, Ralph is currently seen starring in ABC’s hit comedy series “Abbott Elementary” opposite Quinta Brunson. In 2022, she won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, becoming the first black woman in 35 years to take home the trophy.

In 2023, she was nominated for her second Emmy Award, a Golden Globe and a Film Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of straight-laced kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard, winning the Critics Choice Award for best supporting actor in a comedy series.

Ralph made her feature film debut at 20 years old, opposite Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier in “A Piece of the Action.” She has also appeared in “The Mighty Quinn” opposite Denzel Washington, “Mistress” with Robert De Niro, “The Distinguished Gentleman” with Eddie Murphy, “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” opposite...

Exclusive: Artists First has signed Amber Iman, one of the most sought-after theatre artists and vocalists working today.

The recipient of a Tony Award for her work as co-founder of Broadway Advocacy Coalition, an organization looking to use arts and storytelling to build a more equitable society, Iman debuted on Broadway as the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, in Soul Doctor, earning rave reviews and a Clive Barnes Award nomination. Subsequently, she appeared in the first National Tour of the megahit musical, Hamilton, as well as George C. Wolfe’s Shuffle Along, alongside such theatre luminaries as Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter.

Most recently starring in productions of Goddess (Berkeley Rep) and Hippest Trip: The Sould Train Musical (A.C.T.), Iman is currently nominated for a Tony for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Rafaela in the Broadway production of Lempicka. She...

Broadway had been making progress toward an industrywide recovery, but new data shows halted momentum in the most recent season.

According to data from the industry trade group The Broadway League, overall grosses for the 2023-2024 season were down about 2.5 percent compared to the previous season, reaching $1.54 billion compared to $1.58 billion the prior year. And compared to the 2018-2019 season, the last full season before the pandemic closed all theaters, grosses were down 17 percent.

Even if viewed as largely flat compared to last season, that spells trouble for the industry, given the rising cost of producing a show.

“Every year our expenses go up at least five percent, if not more, because we so outpace inflation,” says Ken Davenport, producer of the Neil Diamond musical A Beautiful Noise. “So flat is terrible.”

Attendance was also largely flat compared to this past season, which ran from May to May, coming in...

While hosting the 39th Artios Awards in March, comedian Alex Edelman cracked a fitting joke about casting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell.

As Telsey recalls it, Edelman said, ” ‘You know how Bernie and Adam cast The Gilded Age, don’t you? They stand in front of Bar Centrale,’ which is a famous theater bar, ‘and as the actors are coming out after their matinee, they throw a hood over their head and kidnap them in a van and take them up to Troy, New York, or Long Island.’ ” Telsey adds: “Basically, that is how we do it. We just don’t do the kidnapping.”

Over two seasons, Julian Fellowes’ HBO period drama has earned a reputation for its stacked ensemble of Broadway talent playing New York high society characters and a “downstairs” collection of cooks and servants. These include Tony Award winners Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Lane,...

On Friday, May 31, Today with Hoda & Jenna welcomes Audra McDonald, Suzy Welch, Michelle Park, and Naz Perez to the show. Audra McDonald, a six-time Tony Award-winning actor and singer, joins the show to discuss her career and latest projects. McDonald has appeared in musicals such as “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” and “Lady […]

Today with Hoda & Jenna: Audra McDonald, Suzy Welch...

Audra McDonald will reopen Broadway’s Majestic Theatre with a new production of Gypsy.

McDonald will play Rose, one of the top roles in musical theater, which has been played by the likes of Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. George C. Wolfe, a five time Tony-Award winning director, will helm the revival. Camille A. Brown (Hell’s Kitchen) has been tapped as choreographer.

Performances begin Nov. 21, with an opening night Dec. 19. This production will be the first to play the Majestic Theatre, which was the longtime home to The Phantom of the Opera. The theater closed for renovations after the production ended its 35-year run in April 2023.

McDonald is a six-time Tony Award winning actor, with wins for her roles in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She...

As the Tony Awards approach in June, theatre fans are getting the opportunity to watch one of the best-reviewed shows of the season from home. On Friday, May 24 at 9 p.m. Et, PBS will broadcast “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” as part of its “Great Performances” annual Broadway’s Best lineup. Starring Leslie Odom Jr., Kara Young, Billy Eugene Jones, Jay O. Sanders, Heather Alicia Simms, and more, the show is nominated for six Tonys, including Best Revival Of A Play. You can watch PBS with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Hulu Live TV or YouTube TV.

How to Watch 'Great Performances': 'Purlie Victorious' When: Friday, May 24, 2024 at 9:00 Pm Edt TV: PBS Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99 / month directv.com/stream

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Will “The Gilded Age” find Emmys gold?

After its sophomore season, HBO’s historical drama “The Gilded Age” has entered the Emmy race with up to 37 nominations, Variety can exclusively reveal. This includes outstanding drama series, 15 main cast members and the season finale “In Terms of Winning and Losing,” which will represent director Michael Engler and scribe Julian Fellowes in their submissions.

The central couple, Bertha and George Russell, played by Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector, are contenders in the lead acting categories. Coon, an Emmy nominee for the third season of the anthology crime series “Fargo” in 2017, has a solid chance of picking up her second nom, competing against contenders Anna Sawai, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Stone. Already proving to be a big year for the actress, she could find herself in the Oscar race later this year for her remarkable performance in Azazel Jacobs’ family drama “His Three Daughters,...