As the costs of mounting new musicals rise, Broadway producers find short-run plays with stars in lead roles offer a better shot at profitability. So, watch for Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves et al. onstage. nyti.ms/4cq9LQn

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins found success earlier this year with his first play to reach Broadway, "Appropriate." Now he's coming back with "Purpose," which begins in February. The family drama previously had a well-received run at Steppenwolf Theatre. nyti.ms/3X5bTZt

Carole Rothman cofounded Second Stage Theater, a successful nonprofit that produces work on and off Broadway, in 1979. Now she’s leaving, and as she does she has a lot to say about her experience as a woman in leadership. nyti.ms/4cLKlg4

Big news in New York's theater world: Lincoln Center Theater (LincolnCenterTheater), one of 4 nonprofits with Broadway houses, is naming Lear deBessonet (who runs Encores! and founded Public Works) as its next artistic director; Bart Sher will be executive producer. nyti.ms/4gd92Fj

Broadway news: A musical adaptation of "Real Women Have Curves" is planning to come to Broadway next year. The musical, based on the play and movie, had a previous run at American Repertory Theater. nyti.ms/47w63nu

This is shaping up to be a super-starry season on (and off) Broadway, so we put together this handy guide to the who, what, when and where (with a bit of why too). Here it is as a gift article, meaning anyone can read it through this link: nyti.ms/3XHmRo4

Broadway news: Mia Farrow has Covid; Marsha Mason is going on in her stead in “The Roommate.” nytimes.com/2024/09/15/the…

Broadway news: "Buena Vista Social Club," a musical based on the album and the acclaimed documentary that followed, will begin previews in February and open in March at the Schoenfeld. The musical had a previous Off Broadway run at Atlantic Theater. nyti.ms/3ziMXo8

Big news in the theater world: ⁦Roundabout⁩, one of the nation’s largest nonprofits and the operator of three Broadway theaters, has named Christopher Ashley, the artistic director of ⁦La Jolla Playhouse⁩, as its next artistic director. nytimes.com/2024/09/25/the…

"What the Constitution Means to Me" will be the most -produced play around the country this season, for the second season in a row, according to American Theatre. nyti.ms/47ENeOS

Andrew Scott — of "Fleabag," "All of Us Strangers" and "Ripley" — will bring his one-man "Uncle Vanya" to New York next spring, performing at an Off Broadway theater in the West Village. He previously did the show in London, winning a best revival Olivier. nyti.ms/3BiEO3M

Gavin Creel, a 48-year-old musical theater performer who won a Tony Award for his work in “Hello, Dolly!”, died this morning from an aggressive form of cancer. nytimes.com/2024/09/30/the… via @NYTimes

Broadway news: “Operation Mincemeat,” which won this year’s Olivier award for best new musical, will open on Broadway in March. nytimes.com/2024/10/01/the…

Broadway news: "Water for Elephants" will close on Dec. 8. The musical struggled on Broadway, but is hoping for better results on the road, and is planning a national tour starting next fall. nyti.ms/3BsYKRp

Sarah Snook, who played Shiv on “Succession,” will perform all 26 roles in an adaptation of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” on Broadway starting in March. She previously did the show, and won an Olivier for it, in London. nytimes.com/2024/10/02/the…

Jonathan Groff news: He is returning to Broadway next spring to play Bobby Darin in a new biomusical. nytimes.com/2024/10/09/the…

All Broadway theaters will now dim their lights for Gavin Creel, and for Maggie Smith and for Adrian Bailey, and theater owners will review their process for making these decisions. nytimes.com/2024/10/09/the…

Sadie Sink, one of the breakout stars of "Stranger Things," will appear on Broadway next spring in a new play called "John Proctor Is the Villain." This will be a return for her: As a child, Sink appeared on Broadway in "Annie" and "The Audience." nytimes.com/2024/10/17/the…

The Connelly Theater, an Off Broadway venue that in recent years had presented adventurous art, has suspended operations after its landlord, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, began intensive script scrutiny. nytimes.com/2024/10/22/the…

“Back to the Future” to close on Broadway in January. nytimes.com/2024/10/24/the…