newsmakers

newsmakers

Idina Menzel’s ‘If/Then’ off to a strong start

NEW YORK

Adele Dazeem may be having the last laugh.

The new Broadway musical starring Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel may have gotten a box-office boost after John Travolta mangled the star’s name at the Oscars.

According to The Broadway League, the show “If/Then” pulled in $909,159 over its first seven previews, strong numbers indeed for an original show. Publicity from Travolta’s gaffe may have helped draw interest.

The numbers released Monday also indicate that Denzel Washington hasn’t lost any of his box-office pull. His revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” sold out its one performance, grossing $151,179. And Disney’s new “Aladdin” is off to a strong start with $826,491 over six previews.

One show, “Rocky,” struggled in its third week, pulling less than 44 percent of its $1,454,942 potential.

Ted Turner recovering from appendix surgery

ATLANTA

Media mogul Ted Turner says he’s bouncing back from surgery and is looking forward to getting back to business as usual.

In a statement released Monday, Turner thanked well-wishers for support while he was hospitalized in Argentina late last week for appendicitis.

The 75-year-old billionaire was first treated Friday at the San Carlos Sanatorium in Bariloche, near his ranch in Argentina’s Patagonia region.

Turner says he’s recovering well and that doctors in Bariloche and Buenos Aires took good care of him.

Turner Enterprises Inc. spokesman Phillip Evans says Turner isn’t expecting to make any further comments about his illness and hospitalization.

Associated Press