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‘Celebrity Autobiography’ Broadway Review: Few Laughs In Starry Tomes

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2026

The phrases “low hanging fruit,” “hit or miss” and “luck of the draw” come to mind as one not very funny moment after another counts down to the end of the 90-minute Celebrity Autobiography, the much-staged oddity finally making its Broadway debut tonight.

The premise, which I assume is more suited to the many small, intimate venues where the ever-transmuting show has been staged over the years, is simple enough: Gather a bunch of celebrities to read, word for word, the autobiographies of other celebrities, thus pricking the self-regard, narcissism and overall cluelessness of those stars who imagine themselves to be of such import as to offer up their views on every mundane detail of their lives.

Neil Sedaka’s digestive issues? They’re here. Cher’s opinion on M&Ms? Ryan Seacrest’s preference for pulp or no pulp in his orange juice? David Hasselhoff’s complaints about the rigors of stage performing? All here (at least on the night of the reviewed performance – the reading material, like the cast, changes frequently.)

This kind of thing has been done before, of course. The downtown icon Julie Halston has long included the very serious readings of New York Times wedding announcements in her stage shows, to great comic effect.

The comic effect of Celebrity Autobiography, at least at the reviewed performance the night before the show officially opened, was threadbare despite the best efforts of a cast that included Scott Adsit, Mario Cantone (teaming, at one point, with his frequent TCM cohost Ben Mankiewicz for what was an evening highlight), Jeff Hiller (doing a good Cher), Jackie Hoffman (an ok Oprah), Christopher Jackson, Andrea Martin (going for broke as usual), Nia Vardalos and Rita Wilson (a producer of the show, doing the second funniest Celine Dion currently on Broadway).

Co-creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel also took part, pretty much sinking the celebrity conceit with every one of their too frequent appearances on stage.

The autobiographies chosen for readings at the reviewed performance either fell into the easy-target category (Kris Jenner, Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest, Miley Cyrus, Hasselhoff and the atrocious poetry of Matthew McConaughey and Suzanne Somers), the stale (Liza Minnelli, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman) and the still? really? (Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fischer).

In fairness, this staging apparently was thrown together at the last minute, announcing itself as the first Broadway production of the 2026-2027 season just weeks ago. (Indeed, the arrival was so last minute that production photos to accompany this review were not yet available.)

Still, there doesn’t seem to be a lot to throw together. Celebrity Autobiography is bare-bones: Aside from six stand-up mics and a table of books, the set is bare, with only the performers and their good intentions on stage. Of course, the whiff of celebrity self-importance hangs in the air, most, but let’s be honest, not all of it from the stars who put pen to paper.

The evening had its moments, from Dolly Parton’s diet advice (“What’s more disgusting, spitting out your food or being a lard-ass?”), Hoffman nailing Oprah’s whisper to a shout delivery, Hiller’s Cher waving off compassion with “I have my own set of problems.” But mostly the show just feels too small – in scope, ambition and laughs – to fill a Broadway venue. Ticket prices are running from a modest $49 to a rather baffling $329.

Upcoming cast members will include Brooke Adams, Pamela Adlon, Jason Alexander, Anthony Anderson, Lewis Black, Christie Brinkley, Matthew Broderick, Danny Burstein, Bob Costas, Katie Couric, Tate Donovan, Chloe Fineman, Will Forte, Gina Gershon, Kathy Griffin, Ken Jeong, Gayle King, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Stewart Lane, Susan Lucci, Ralph Macchio, Donna McKechnie, Eric McCormack, Bobby Moynihan, Laraine Newman, Oscar Nunez, Cheri Oteri, Tiler Peck, Billy Porter, Phil Rosenthal, Tony Shalhoub, Sherri Shepherd, Molly Shannon, Jennifer Tilly, Kenan Thompson, Bruce Vilanch and Alan Zweibel.

Here’s hoping they choose their celebrities wisely. Audiences might well do the same.

Title: Celebrity Autobiography
Venue: Broadway’s Shubert Theater
Created By: Eugene Pack, co-developed with Dayle Reyfel
Co-Directed By: Pack and Reyfel
Cast at Reviewed Performance: Scott Adsit, Mario Cantone, Jeff Hiller, Jackie Hoffman, Christopher Jackson, Ben Mankiewicz, Andrea Martin, Nia Vardalos, Rita Wilson, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel.
Running Time: 1 hr 30 min (no intermission)

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‘Beaches’ Sets Early Broadway Closing Date After Tony Award Nominations Shutout

Published

55 minutes ago

May 20, 2026

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The ebb tide is nigh for Broadway‘s Beaches. The musical based on the 1988 Garry Marshall movie has set an early closing date after getting blanked at the Tony Awards nominations a couple of weeks ago.

The last day at this beach will be May 24. The show starring Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett had been set to run through September 6 at the Majestic Theatre.

Beaches had struggled to find an audience, posting a unsustainable 44% of capacity this past week and grossing just $441,484. Critics were unkind in reviewing the musical, which hit the boards on April 22 after previewing from March 27. The show, however, has a national tour planned for next year.

“It has been my great joy to originate a role for the very first time on Broadway with Cee Cee Bloom, who I adore for her grit, her great humor and her huge heart,” Vosk said in a statement. ‘To continue the legacy of a character first made famous by my idol Bette Midler is something I’m not sure I’ll ever fully process.”

Added producer Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso in a statement: “Bringing a new musical to Broadway is always an enormous undertaking, and we are deeply proud of this company who created a production filled with heart, humanity, humor, and emotional truth. … We are profoundly grateful to everyone who helped bring Beaches to life at the Majestic Theatre.”

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Montreal Fans Trigger Earthquakes With Celebration Of NHL Game 7 Win

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2026

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The Montreal Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime win on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres literally made the Earth move.

Might seem smalltime to LA residents, but Natural Resources Canada seismographs registered tremors of 0.5 on on the Richter scale during both the May 16 at-home NHL playoff in the Canadian metropolis and similar shakes during the away game on May 18. According to sensors at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and McQuill University, the multiple small earthquakes and seismic activity occurred during primetime ET goals scored by the Original Six team in their Stanley Cup second round down-to-the-wire battle with the formidable Sabres.

Both institutions are fairly close to the Canadiens’ Bell Centre home in downtown Montreal. The legendary arena had 21,000 fans inside and 20,000 fans outside on both nights — and they weren’t sitting on their hands, if you know what I mean?

In moves familiar to Los Angeles residents, Habs supporters commonly riot if their team wins or loses. Like the City of Angels, Montreal sits on a significant fault line. In the case of the ancient city (by North American standards), it is the Western Quebec Seismic Zone.

And it can shake and stir.

Last night, even with the Canadiens winning Game 7 in the 3-3 tied series over the border in Buffalo, seasoned Montreal cops were deployed in force around the Bell Centre and other watch parties.

The first two goals by Montreal saw a huge reaction by hometown hockey fans with strong seismic reactions. When Canadiens forward Alex Newhook scored the winning goal less than 10 minutes into OT, the célébration by the thousands of fans caused those sensitive sensors to peak again.

After the game ended, riot police moved in to contain some trash can tossing and fireworks setting fans and chemical gas was unleashed. The Montreal Gazette’s Harry North was on the streets when the celebration (and police reaction) of the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference finals went down.

Heading into the next round against the Carolina Hurricanes with Game 1 on May 21 in Raleigh, NC, the Canadiens are far from the only team to cause a quake or two.

The 60,400-strong fan jamboree in the May 2025 Premier League title win by Liverpool over Tottenham Hotspurs generated at 1.74 reading when Alexis Mac Allister put The Reds ahead 2-1. Of course, as many a metal and pop fan can tell you, that’s weak sauce. Very weak compared to the 2.3 seismic activity Taylor Swift devotees created in at the ‘Shake It Off’ star’s Seattle shows on July 2023 her Eras tour stop. That could be Emerald City fans — as several Seahawks games have registered such shakes as well.

BTW – the only team from the Great North still in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens have not won the iconic trophy since 1993. The best of seven games Eastern Conference series will be shown on TNT and truTV.

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Tony-Nominated Pulitzer Winner ‘Liberation’ Sets London Production

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2026

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Bess Wohl‘s Liberation, the Tony nominated play and 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner, will be produced in London next year, producers announced today.

Producers Daryl Roth, Eva Price, and Rachel Sussman made the announcement, and Liberation will be presented by them in association with Olivier Award-winning producers Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eilene Davidson Productions at a theater to be announced.

As previously announced, Liberation will also be produced throughout the United States in 2026-27, including the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, Berkeley Rep in Berkeley, CA, and the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC, with other productions to be announced soon.

The play, directed by Whitney White, was recently nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role/Play (Susannah Flood), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Play (Betsy Aidem), Best Direction of a Play and Best Costume Design of a Play (Qween Jean).

Following its Off Broadway world premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company, Liberation opened on Broadway on October 28, 2025, at the James Earl Jones Theatre where it played an extended run through February 1, 2026.

The synopsis: “1970s, Ohio. Lizzie gathers a group of women to talk about changing their lives, and the world. What follows is a necessary, messy, and bitingly funny exploration of what it means to be free, and to be a woman. In Liberation, Lizzie’s daughter steps into her mother’s memory – into the unfinished revolution she once helped ignite – and searches the past to find the answer for herself.”

Liberation was produced on Broadway by Daryl Roth, Eva Price, and Rachel Sussman.

Read Deadline’s take on Liberation here.