Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' illuminates an existential truth revealed by the Los Angeles fires by Charles McNulty

Theater critic Charles McNulty writes on how Shakespeare, and 'The Tempest' in particular, is helping him bear witness to the scale of loss caused by the Los Angeles wildfires.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:25AM
Sunday, January 12, 2025

The architecturally significant houses destroyed in L.A.'s fires by Jessica Gelt

Historic landmarks by the likes of Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey and a noted Midcentury retreat by architect Ray Kappe have been lost. Here's our residential architecture list, to be updated reg…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:35AM

Pasadena Playhouse cancels 'Anything Goes,' 'Follies' concerts as fires threaten L.A. theater scene by Ashley Lee

'When people are in pain and trauma the way our community is right now, I don't think the show has to go on,' says the Pasadena Playhouse's Danny Feldman.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:35AM
Thursday, January 9, 2025

Versatile and self-aware, Betty Gilpin moves with ease onscreen and onstage by Meredith Blake

The actor stars in Netflix's gritty western "American Primeval" and will soon take over the lead role in "Oh, Mary!" on Broadway.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:42PM
Tuesday, January 7, 2025

It's de-lovely, it's official: Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman hold hands on L.A.-area date by Alexandra Del Rosario

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster's latest public jaunt is bound to be a kick for Broadway fans: The two were seen holding hands on a date night in Santa Monica.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:31PM

Appreciation: Richard Foreman, an auteur of consciousness, did things his way by Charles McNulty

Playwright and director Richard Foreman, one of the pillars of New York's downtown theater scene, dies at 87.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:12AM
Monday, January 6, 2025

L.A.'s most intimate theater experience? You're the only guest at this thrilling show by Todd Martens

Yannick Trapman-O'Brien's "Undersigned" explores our deepest wants and desires, and what we may sacrifice to achieve them.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:09PM
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

Best of 2024: Our picks for the top TV shows, movies, music, books, art and theater

"Dune: Part Two" and "Anora." Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. "The Vince Staples Show" and "The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin." "Kimberly Akimbo" and "Waiting f…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:10PM

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 26, 2024

'I got lonely': Why a 21-year-old theater major built an escape room in his UCLA dorm by Todd Martens

"Code Green" is a sci-fi-inspired escape room with a heavy backstory and complex puzzles. It also resides in a dorm room at UCLA.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:00AM
Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Elton John's 'Tammy Faye' musical announces it is closing just days after Broadway debut by Malia Mendez

Elton John's musical 'Tammy Faye' announces its Dec. 8 closing date less than a week after a weak opening on Broadway. The show was a hit in London's West End.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:32PM
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

Rainn Wilson and Aasif Mandvi are waiting for 'Godot' at Geffen Playhouse by Jessica Gelt

It's not often that two major stars of the small screen appear together onstage in one of the 20th century's most significant works of modernist drama. But that's just what's happened as Aas…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:47PM

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

Part theater, part puzzles, this real life video game takes you across L.A. — literally by Todd Martens

"Great Gold Bird," a theatrical mystery that touches on love and grief, turns audience members into participants who must travel from Arlington Heights to Los Feliz.

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

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