All stories by Charles McNulty on BroadwayStars

Monday, December 16, 2024

Review: Sutton Foster delights in Carol Burnett's role in 'Once Upon a Mattress' at the Ahmanson by Charles McNulty

New York City Center Encores! production of 'Once Upon a Mattress,' starring Sutton Foster, arrives at the Ahmanson Theatre direct from Broadway.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:56PM
Tuesday, December 10, 2024

'Wicked,' back at the Pantages Theatre, is as popular as ever. But is it a good musical? by Charles McNulty

'Wicked,' soaring onscreen, has returned to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. This production reveals what the movie gets right, as well as weaknesses neither version can overcome.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Monday, December 9, 2024

Theater in 2024 — the silver lining of a challenging year by Charles McNulty

The Times' theater critic selects his top SoCal stage productions for 2024, including 'Funny Girl,' 'Fat Ham,' 'Primary Trust,' 'Pacific Overtures,' 'The Brothers Size' and 'Company.'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Wednesday, December 4, 2024

In defense of criticism: A theater critic asks what good does it do in an upside-down world by Charles McNulty

A theater critic reflects on his profession at a time when its very survival seems on the line and champions a return of critical thinking.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:51PM
Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Review: As festive as a holiday shop window, "La Cage aux Folles" mostly sparkles in Pasadena by Charles McNulty

Sam Pinkleton directs a festive revival of 'La Cage aux Folles" at Pasadena Playhouse, starring Cheyenne Jackson and Kevin Cahoon.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:05PM
Friday, November 15, 2024

Review: Rainn Wilson and Aasif Mandvi lead a 'Godot' that's well worth the wait by Charles McNulty

Rainn Wilson and Aasif Mandvi star in the Geffen Playhouse's new production of Samuel Becektt's absurdist classic 'Waiting for Godot.'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:15PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Review: East West Players returns to Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' and delivers a magnificent revival by Charles McNulty

'Pacific Overtures,' Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's 1976 musical about the forcible opening of Japan to foreign trade, is dazzlingly revived by East West Players in one of the best prod…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:50PM

Directors remake 'Sunset Blvd.,' 'Romeo + Juliet' and 'Our Town' for a new Broadway era by Charles McNulty

New Broadway revivals of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Blvd," Shakespeare's "Romeo + Juliet" and Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" test how far these works can be refashioned for modern sensibili…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Perspective: How do you make a play about Joan Rivers without Joan Rivers? by Charles McNulty

'Joan,' a new play by Daniel Goldstein at South Coast Repertory about the life of comedian Joan Rivers, mixes biography with the comedian's old stand-up material.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Monday, November 4, 2024

Bare-bones 'Streetcar' invites a reconsideration of the Tennessee Williams' classic by Charles McNulty

"The Streetcar Project" brought Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" to Los Angeles for six performances, three in a Frogtown airplane hangar and three in a Venice Beach warehouse.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM

'We're very connected': Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone on friendship and Broadway by Charles McNulty

Appearing together in 'The Roommate,' Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow bring their star power to Broadway and discuss friendship and longevity in theater.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Monday, October 21, 2024

Review: The Wooster Group versus Richard Foreman at REDCAT by Charles McNulty

REDCAT presents the West Coast premiere of the Wooster Group's production of Richard Foreman's 'Symphony of Rats.'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:31PM
Friday, October 18, 2024

Review: Touching, quirky 'Kimberly Akimbo,' winner of 2023 Tony for best musical, steals hearts by Charles McNulty

'Kimberly Akimbo,' David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's 2023 Tony-winning musical, has its L.A. premiere at the Hollywood Pantages in a production starring a divine Carolee Carmello

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:41PM
Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Review: 'I, Daniel Blake,' the play, stumbles in its U.S. premiere at the Fountain by Charles McNulty

A stage version of Ken Loach's film 'I, Daniel Blake,' adapted by the film's star, Dave Jones, has its U.S. premiere at the Fountain Theatre.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:06PM
Friday, October 11, 2024

Review: Good news! The Mark Taper Forum is back. Bad news? 'American Idiot' misfires by Charles McNulty

CTG artistic director Snehal Desai makes his directorial debut at the company in a reimagined revival of the Green Day musical featured deaf and hearing actors in a collaboration with Deaf W…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Thursday, October 10, 2024

Playwrights, back in the spotlight on Broadway, kick-start New York's fall theater season by Charles McNulty

A strong New York season of playwriting features David Henry Hwang's 'Yellow Face,' Max Wolf Friedlich's sleeper hit 'Job' and, off-Broadway at the Public Theater, James IJames' 'Good Bones'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM

Review: Jez Butterworth and Sam Mendes reunite in exquisite 'The Hills of California' on Broadway by Charles McNulty

Jez Butterworth's "The Hills of California," directed by Sam Mendes, rises above a strong New York season of playwriting.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Review: 'Primary Trust,' Eboni Booth's tender 2024 Pulitzer winner, finds value in every life by Charles McNulty

Caleb Eberhardt stars in the West Coast premiere of Eboni Booth's 'Primary Trust,' winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for drama, at La Jolla Playhouse.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:00PM
Friday, October 4, 2024

Review: In 'Sugar Daddy,' comedian Sam Morrison spins grief into stand-up if not quite theater by Charles McNulty

After losing the 'daddy' of his dreams to COVID, comedian Sam Morrison tells the tale of his love and grief in "Sugar Daddy" at the Wallis in Beverly Hills.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Tony-winner Gavin Creel, a Broadway performer's Broadway performer, made magic whenever he appeared on stage by Charles McNulty

Broadway performer Gavin Creel, who died Monday at age 48, won a Tony for "Hello, Dolly!" and was also nominated for roles in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Hair."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:54PM
Monday, September 30, 2024

In his Broadway debut, Robert Downey Jr. plays a writer who succumbs to AI in 'McNeal' by Charles McNulty

Robert Downey Jr. makes his Broadway debut playing a writer who succumbs to AI in the world premiere of Ayad Akhtar's "McNeal" at Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00PM
Friday, September 27, 2024

In a career of remarkable versatility, Maggie Smith revealed theatricality to be a mode of existence by Charles McNulty

Maggie Smith, who won two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award, was at her best on screen when she could bring the stage with her.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:18PM

John Perrin Flynn on leaving Rogue Machine and the challenges of small L.A. theater by Charles McNulty

After 16 seasons, Rogue Machine Theatre co-founding producing artistic director John Perrin Flynn has announced his retirement at the conclusion of current season.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Thursday, September 19, 2024

In Samuel D. Hunter's 'Clarkston,' two outsiders discover tenderness at Costco by Charles McNulty

Echo Theater Company presents the West Coast premiere of "Clarkston" by Samuel D. Hunter, a gay drama about two lost souls set in the titular Washington state town on the Snake River.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Review: In 'Kill Move Paradise,' James Ijames devises an emergency racial justice ritual by Charles McNulty

James Ijames, whose 'Fat Ham' won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for drama, confronts the grievous reality of lethal violence and racial injustice in 'Kill Move Paradise,' an earlier work now recei…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:04PM
Saturday, September 14, 2024

Review: Sara Porkalob sings her truth in dangerous 'Dragon Lady' at Geffen Playhouse by Charles McNulty

Sara Porkalob stars in "Dragon Lady" at Geffen Playhouse, a solo show about her grandmother, a lounge singer who escaped a gangster-controlled nightclub in Manila before coming to the United…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Review: 'Cyrano' update at Pasadena Playhouse is all about the words by Charles McNulty

Mike Donahue directs Martin Crimp's free-hand adaptation of Edmond Rostand's classic "Cyrano de Bergerac' in a production starring Chukwudi Iwuji in the title role.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:44PM
Friday, September 6, 2024

Review: 'Memnon' restores a forgotten African hero to the Classical pantheon at the Getty Villa by Charles McNulty

Will Power's "Memnon," a co-production between the Getty Villa and the Classical Theatre of Harlem, has its world premiere.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:07PM
Friday, August 23, 2024

Review: The Tarell Alvin McCraney era begins at the Geffen with powerful 'The Brothers Size' by Charles McNulty

At Geffen Playhouse, Biljan Sheibani directs a crackling revival of 'The Brothers Size,' part of Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed trilogy 'The Brother/Sister Plays.'

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:53PM
Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Review: Sasha Velour, winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' tells her own story in 'Velour: A Drag Spectacular' by Charles McNulty

'Velour: A Drag Spectacular," created by Sasha Velour and Moisés Kaufman, is worthy of its title in world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:54PM
Thursday, August 15, 2024

Review: Pop culture and populist revolt collide in Old Globe's thrilling 'Henry 6' by Charles McNulty

Barry Edelstein adapts and directs 'Henry 6,' Shakespeare's early history play, condensed into two parts, as San Diego's Old Globe completes the playwright's canon with an entertaining adapt…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime