Star Talent or Star Recognition?

At the 64th Annual Tony Awards this past summer, it was difficult not to notice how many Hollywood stars were not only attending the award ceremony, but nominated for a Tony as well. You have to wonder: Are all these Hollywood stars being cast for their talent or name recognition?

For years it was common place for actors to go from Broadway to Hollywood, but now the trend has shifted into reverse and Hollywood stars are trading sunny California movie sets for the harsh and cold climate of Broadway's theaters.

In a New York Times Q&A segment, theater critics Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood were asked what they thought about Broadway's obsession with casting Hollywood stars.

Their answer: "Oh, what is to be done? Sadly, this is not a trend that is likely to wane. It has been proven too often, and particularly forcefully in recent seasons, that star casting is virtually the only reliable (though not infallible) predictor of financial success on Broadway."

Some of the bigger Hollywood actors to recently cross over to the Broadway stage include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kelsey Grammer, Denzel Washington, Daniel Radcliffe, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Julia Roberts and Jude Law. Thought many fans are eager to see their favorite actor/actress perform live, critics are prepared for the worst more often than not.

Being a famous movie star does not always guarantee that someone can act in live theater. In movies, an actor is given multiple takes and reshoots in order to get a scene right, which is a drastic difference from the world of live theater.

Bringing in a star to headline a Broadway production is one of the many tactics being used to promote shows. Big-name stars draw in more of a crowd than a "no-name" actor.

The casting of big names also causes problems in the finding of new talent. When major Hollywood stars are cast to fill the roles of stage plays — big or small — it makes it difficult for a lesser-known actor to break into the theater world. Actors just starting out are unable to compete.

Regardless of whether screen actors should stay on the big screen, this trend is probably here to stay. Until Broadway no longer needs to draw in bigger crowds, this trend is on the path to becoming the norm.