Clay’s Gay

Call it the anti-news flash. The former “American Idol” runner-up is coming out of the closet appearing on the cover of the latest issue of People magazine holding his newborn son with the headline: “Yes, I’m Gay.” Yes, we know. Is Aiken’s revelation really front-page news? Seriously, was there any indication that the multiplatinum recording artist and Broadway star wasn’t gay? Is it really as big a “secret” as People makes it out to be? And who really cares anyway? The new issue doesn’t hit newsstands until Friday, but People posted a “sneak peek” of their interview with Aiken on … Continue reading →

Whoopi Gets a New Gig and Olivia Gets a New Husband

I guess hosting the Tony Awards just wasn’t enough for Whoopi Goldberg. According to reports, “The View” co-host is headed back to Broadway later this month. Goldberg is said to have signed a deal to appear in the Tony-nominated roller-skating musical “Xanadu” as one of the show’s evil sisters, Caliope. The 52-year-old actress begins her six-week run on July 29, taking over for actress Jackie Hoffman, who will return to the production on September 9th, the same time Goldberg will return to the ABC chatfest as it begins its 12th season. Goldberg’s latest Broadway gig follows her own one-woman show, … Continue reading →

Star Updates: Brokeback the Musical and Leno Rescues McMahon

BROKEBACK THE MUSICAL Hey, if they can do it for “Little House on the Prairie” then why not “Brokeback Mountain?” The love story portrayed on the big screen will soon be revived and sung in one of the nation’s largest theaters thanks to the New York City Opera. The group just commissioned Charles Wuorinen to compose the music for the opera, which will be based on the Academy Award-winning film. Much like the popular movie, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger, the opera will follow the 20-year love affair of two cowboys who share a secret romance … Continue reading →

Katie and Britney—New Chances to Shine

Looks like Tom Cruise is going to have to wean Suri from her bottle by himself… That’s because Suri’s mommy is going to be too busy flexing her acting muscle on Broadway. She wanted it, and now it appears Katie Holmes got her wish to make her mark on the Great White Way. The former “Dawson’s Creek” star and wife of Tom Cruise just landed a role in a revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.” According to reports, Holmes will hit the stage this fall alongside John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest and Patrick Wilson. The play, which was first seen … Continue reading →

Music Musings

The Bee Gees are returning to the stage… though it’s not the concert stage. The award-winning singing group is taking its act to Broadway and London’s West End. On Saturday Robin Gibb announced that a theatre musical based on the disco trio’s greatest hits, including “Stayin’ Alive” and “Jive Talkin’” is currently in the works. According to Gibb, the project should open to the public in the next 12-16 months. In the meantime, another popular singer is making her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Carrie Underwood joined the cast of the long-running country music show Saturday … Continue reading →

Strike ENDS—Broadway Reopens

After 19 days of darkness Broadway is reopening for business. According to news reports, late last night, during the third day of marathon negotiations between the stagehands union and producers, a compromise was reached. Now, shows are scrambling to get their acts together so the curtain can go up later today. You’ll recall the work stoppage began November 10th after the issue of wages and how many stagehands were required to open a Broadway show and keep it running couldn’t be hammered out between the two parties. Producers were concerned about having to pay stagehands more in return for a … Continue reading →

“The Grinch” and Grace Get the Go Ahead

“I think one Grinch in town is enough.” That’s the word from a New York State Supreme Court judge who ordered the reopening of “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” despite the ongoing Broadway stagehands strike. Which means as of 11 a.m. tomorrow the show will go on… at least for “The Grinch.” More than two dozen other plays and musicals will remain dark. However, for the thousands of Broadway ticket holders who traveled to the Big Apple for the Thanksgiving weekend the news couldn’t have come at a better time. “We got our miracle on 44th Street,” the … Continue reading →

Broadway Stagehands Strike Affects Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

You’d think it was the night before Christmas around our home given how excited my daughter is for tomorrow to “get here already.” She’s 3 years old and a huge Hello Kitty Supercute (the cape- and tiara-wearing feline superhero) fan. The same Hello Kitty that will be floating down Broadway Thanksgiving morning during the Macy’s Parade. Hello Kitty, Sesame Street’s fairy-in-training Abby Cadabby, and 12 other giant helium balloons will fill the skies over New York City tomorrow as part of the 81st annual parade. But besides the character balloons, 2,000 cheerleaders and 11 marching bands, the famous Turkey Day … Continue reading →

Back to the Bargaining Table

Could an end to both the Broadway stagehands and the Writers Guild of America strikes be in sight? In just a few hours striking stagehands and Broadway producers are going back to the bargaining table, exactly one week after the work stoppage began and less than a week before the start of the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday weekend when most plays and musicals rake in millions of dollars. According to representatives from both sides, negotiations will resume this weekend “at an undisclosed place and time.” The good news even prompted New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to weigh in about the move. … Continue reading →

Elvis Finds a New Home and Broadway Still Dark

And the winner is… Elvis fans who think the King is still alive. In a previous blog I discussed an interesting item I saw on eBay—-the contents of the Elvis is Alive Museum. The museum’s 81-year-old owner decided it was time to pass on his expansive collection of Elvis memorabilia–including an inordinate amount of photographs, books, FBI files, and DNA reports that aimed to support the theory that Presley never died—–to someone who could keep the debate alive for decades to come. Enter Andy Key who offered a winning bid of $8,000. The die-hard Elvis fan who insists the King … Continue reading →