All stories by Charles McNulty on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

'Romeo and Juliet' remains timeless, no matter the era by Charles McNulty

Plays, regardless of when they were written, take place in the eternal present. Updating a classic — for example, resetting Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in late-1920s Los Angeles, as S…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00PM
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014

'Last Confession' takes earnest look at reform, power struggle by Charles McNulty

David Suchet, best known for his television portrayal of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, plays another canny scrutinizer of nefarious human behavior in Roger Crane's "The Last Confession,"…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:00AM

'Last Confession' takes earnest look at reform, power struggle by Charles McNulty

David Suchet, best known for his television portrayal of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, plays another canny scrutinizer of nefarious human behavior in Roger Crane's "The Last Confession,"…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:00AM
Monday, June 9, 2014

Tony Awards 2014: 'Gentleman's Guide' shows big rewards in risk-taking by Charles McNulty

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder," the musical with no marquee names or obvious marketing hook, won big at the Tony Awards on Sunday night, proving that a droll Edwardian tale of homici…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM

Tony Awards 2014: 'Gentleman's Guide' shows big rewards in risk-taking by Charles McNulty

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder," the musical with no marquee names or obvious marketing hook, won big at the Tony Awards on Sunday night, proving that a droll Edwardian tale of homici…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Friday, June 6, 2014

'A Raisin in the Sun' actresses discuss play's stark resonance by Charles McNulty

In a Broadway season in which revivals have eclipsed new plays it was still a surprise that the American drama that spoke most urgently to our time was Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:00PM

A Tony Awards round table with L.A.-area theater leaders by Charles McNulty

New York (and L.A. and the U.S.) snap into focus when CTG's Michael Ritchie, Pasadena Playhouse's Sheldon Epps, the Geffen's Randall Arney and South Coast Rep's Marc Masterson gather.New Yor…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:00PM

Tony Awards 2014: A few rays of sunshine in a mostly cloudy Broadway season by Charles McNulty

The Tony Awards will be handed out Sunday, and the safe money is on "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" for best musical and "All the Way" for best play. But nothing is guaranteed in a Br…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM

Tony Awards 2014: A few rays of sunshine in a mostly cloudy Broadway season by Charles McNulty

The Tony Awards will be handed out Sunday, and the safe money is on "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" for best musical and "All the Way" for best play. But nothing is guaranteed in a Br…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Wednesday, June 4, 2014

'Taste' and 'Backyard' revel in gore and lack style by Charles McNulty

Last weekend my theatergoing got off to an especially bloody start at the Sacred Fools Theater, where I caught one of the last performances of "Taste," the world premiere of Benjamin Brand's…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Friday, May 23, 2014

'Stella!' is a backstage portrait of acting guru Stella Adler by Charles McNulty

The exclamatory title of Sheana Ochoa's biography of legendary acting teacher Stella Adler invokes Marlon Brando's tormented cry in "A Streetcar Named Desire." It's a fitting allusion: Brand…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Thursday, May 22, 2014

Theatrical victory belongs to Blanche in 'Streetcar' opera by Charles McNulty

One of the great interests in any revival of the Tennessee Williams classic “A Streetcar Named Desire” is seeing how a production will negotiate the balance of theatrical power between B…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:36PM
Tuesday, May 20, 2014

One vote for 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' by Charles McNulty

NEW YORK — If you happened to notice hell freezing over this Broadway season, please don't assume that it was another fluky manifestation of climate change. There's something I need to con…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Monday, May 19, 2014

A fascinatingly sinister 'Tartuffe' at South Coast Repertory by Charles McNulty

Every great dramatic masterpiece poses a question about a protagonist that expresses the "darker purpose," to borrow a phrase from "King Lear," of a playwright's vision. The classic example,…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Wednesday, May 14, 2014

'different words' reveals promising playwright in Kimber Lee by Charles McNulty

A cross section of life in Nampa, Idaho, is delivered through the theatrical equivalent of cinematic jump cuts in "different words for the same thing," a new play by Kimber Lee that opened S…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:31AM
Friday, May 2, 2014

In 'The Snow Queen,' Michael Cunningham wrestles with life by Charles McNulty

Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham touches on a yearning for transcendence. This time, he imagines Brooklyn brothers beset by frustrations and mysteries.Pulitzer Prize winner Michael C…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:25PM
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tonys 2014: A Critic's 10 Takeaways from the nominations by Charles McNulty

What can you say about a Broadway season that was distinguished by adventurous revivals and crammed with superb performances? That it was a good year for actors and a challenging year for pl…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:41PM

Review: Bandaging life's battle scars in 'Water by the Spoonful' by Charles McNulty

The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Quiara Alegría Hudes is given a fluid, authentic production at the Old Globe in San Diego.— Elliot, the central figure of Quiara Alegría Hudes…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM

Review: Bandaging life's battle scars in 'Water by the Spoonful' by Charles McNulty

The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Quiara Alegría Hudes is given a fluid, authentic production at the Old Globe in San Diego.The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Quiara Alegría Hud…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Friday, April 25, 2014

Review: Baryshnikov and Big Dance Theater experiment with Chekhov by Charles McNulty

The dance master teams with adventuresome colleagues to present two short stories conjoined as the non-dance theater piece 'Man in a Case.' There's a lot going on. Not all of it serves the a…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:23PM

Review: Baryshnikov and Big Dance Theater experiment with Chekhov by Charles McNulty

The dance master teams with adventuresome colleagues to present two short stories conjoined as the non-dance theater piece 'Man in a Case.' There's a lot going on. Not all of it serves the a…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:23PM

Review: 'Porgy and Bess' adapts a treasured opera to rewarding pop by Charles McNulty

No matter the musical style, the American classic's score always envelops the actors and drives the drama.Depending on your knowledge of the material and expectations going in, the touring v…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM

Review: 'Porgy and Bess' adapts a treasured opera to rewarding pop by Charles McNulty

No matter the musical style, the American classic's score always envelops the actors and drives the drama.No matter the musical style, the American classic's score always envelops the actors…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Review: Paul Robeson's roots examined in 'Tallest Tree in the Forest' by Charles McNulty

Theater review: Recap of the singer, actor and activist's life respectfully covers all the bases, but its educational tone overcomes any sense of drama.Multi-hyphenated celebrities are all …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Friday, April 18, 2014

Review: Annette Bening pays fine tribute in 'Ruth Draper's Monologues' by Charles McNulty

Annette Bening brings a subdued charm to 'Ruth Draper's Monologues' at the Geffen Playhouse.Annette Bening brings a subdued charm to 'Ruth Draper's Monologues' at the Geffen Playhouse.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:15AM
Thursday, April 17, 2014

Review: Little drama in 'Act One'; still, there's some good theater by Charles McNulty

The New York theater piece based on playwright Moss Hart's memoir hasn't been distilled into a workable dramatic form. But Tony Shalhoub's performance is richly rewarding.Whenever a thespian…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:40PM

Review: Little drama in 'Act One'; still, there's some good theater by Charles McNulty

The New York theater piece based on playwright Moss Hart's memoir hasn't been distilled into a workable dramatic form. But Tony Shalhoub's performance is richly rewarding.The New York theate…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:40PM
Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Review: 'Of Mice and Men' finds James Franco in CliffsNotes mode by Charles McNulty

A distracted James Franco and a scattershot cast only serve to magnify Anna D. Shapiro's glossy yet empty 'Of Mice and Men' revival.NEW YORK — Why is James Franco, the world's most fam…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30PM

Review: 'Of Mice and Men' finds James Franco in CliffsNotes mode by Charles McNulty

A distracted James Franco and a scattershot cast only serve to magnify Anna D. Shapiro's glossy yet empty 'Of Mice and Men' revival.A distracted James Franco and a scattershot cast only serv…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30PM
Sunday, April 13, 2014

Review: Audra McDonald in 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill' by Charles McNulty

NEW YORK — Only a fool would second-guess the transformative power of Audra McDonald, but when it was announced that this five-time Tony Award-winner was going to portray Billie Holida…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:14PM

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
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis 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