All stories by Charles McNulty on BroadwayStars

Saturday, December 12, 2020

In a year of losses, something gained: Theater, artfully filmed by Charles McNulty

This was the year that streaming versions of "Hamilton," "What the Constitution Means to Me" and "Ma Rainey" proved stage stories can shine on-screen.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:53PM
Friday, June 5, 2020
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Odyssey's 'In Circles' stylishly revives a '60s Gertrude Stein musical experiment by Charles McNulty

"In Circles," Al Carmines' musical adaptation of Gertrude Stein's "A Circular Play," gets a topnotch revival at the Odyssey Theatre.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:24PM
Friday, September 13, 2019

Idina Menzel lights up the sexy-neurotic comedy 'Skintight' at the Geffen Playhouse by Charles McNulty

Playwright Joshua Harmon's family comedy has its West Coast premiere.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:49PM
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

The best theater to see in L.A. this fall by Charles McNulty

Fall theater season highlight for Los Angeles include a musical version of 'Almost Famous,' Bill Irwin in "On Beckett," a revival of August Wilson's "Jitney" and a new standup show by comic …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:12PM
Monday, September 9, 2019

For John Leguizamo, class is back in session. 'Latin History for Morons' hits L.A. by Charles McNulty

John Leguizamo's one-man show, now at the Ahmanson, delves into the Latino history missing from his son’s textbooks. It's a funny, dizzying journey.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:21PM
Friday, September 6, 2019

At the Getty Villa, Sophocles gets wounded in Aaron Posner's revamp of 'Philoctetes' by Charles McNulty

The annual outdoor production of classic Greek theater is Sophocles reimagined by Aaron Posner, known for adapting Chekhov into "Stupid ... Bird."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:49PM
Monday, August 19, 2019

Korean family drama 'Hannah and the Dread Gazebo' casts too many spells by Charles McNulty

Jiehae Park's "Hannah and the Dread Gazebo," presented by the Fountain Theatre and East West Players, follows a New York woman to the DMZ as she unravels the mysterious death of her grandmot…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:44PM
Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Under-performed feminist masterpiece 'Fefu and Her Friends' is reborn at the Odyssey by Charles McNulty

'Fefu and her Friends,' María Irene Fornés' feminist classic, is reborn at the Odyssey Theatre

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:01AM
Wednesday, July 31, 2019

From 'Cabaret' to 'Phantom of the Opera,' Hal Prince made the musical modern by Charles McNulty

Hal Prince redefined the musical and Broadway in the second half of the 20th century.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:24PM
Sunday, July 28, 2019

A new vibrant era in African American playwriting seen in Geraldine Inoa and Dionna M. Daniel's latest by Charles McNulty

Geraldine Inoa's "Scraps" and Dionna M. Daniel's "Gunshot Medley: Part 1" explore pain in the fight for control over black bodies in America and demonstrate exciting new directions in Africa…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:11PM

'Into the Woods' and stars align in magical night at the Hollywood Bowl by Charles McNulty

"Into the Woods," Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical deconstruction of classic fairy tales, gets a starry, al fresco revival at the Hollywood Bowl with Sierra Boggess, Sutton Foste…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:04PM
Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Review: 'Apple Season' suggests you can always go home again, but should you? by Charles McNulty

Rob Nagle, Lisa Fernandez and Justin Huen star in E.L. Lewis' latest play, 'Apple Season' at Atwater Village Theatre

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:55PM
Sunday, July 21, 2019

Hugh Jackman sings, dances and charms, delivering a grand time at the Hollywood Bowl by Charles McNulty

"X-Men" superstar and Broadway triple-threat Hugh Jackman performs his concert show, "Hugh Jackman: The Man. The Music. The Show," at the Hollywood Bowl.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:07PM
Friday, July 12, 2019

Review: How funny is ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’? Depends on your appetite for pranks and pratfalls by Charles McNulty

Olivier-winning British comedy "The Play That Goes Wrong" arrives at the Ahmanson Theatre as a comedy of blunders with a fringe-theater soul.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Monday, July 1, 2019

Review: Kavanaugh hearings lend a new lens for Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s ‘Good Boys’ by Charles McNulty

Betsy Brandt stars in a new Pasadena Playhouse version of "Riverdale" creator Aguirre-Sacasa's 2008 work, which centers on a prep-school sex scandal.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:20PM
Thursday, June 13, 2019

Review: PBS documentary of playwright Terrence McNally celebrates a master of connection by Charles McNulty

PBS’ ‘American Masters’ explores the path-breaking gay writer Terrence McNally through interviews with Billy Porter, Nathan Lane, Rita Moreno and others.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:07PM
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Tony Awards’ top races: A theater critic’s opinionated guide by Charles McNulty

Of the many cliffhangers the Tony Awards will resolve on Sunday, the story line that has me on the edge of my seat is whether “Hadestown” will be crowned best musical. Anaïs Mitchell is…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05AM

Tony Awards: A critic celebrates Broadway’s unabashed idealism by Charles McNulty

At a time in America when lies are rampant in public life and alternative truth has been adopted as a winning political strategy, the 2018-19 Broadway season will be remembered for those gri…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05AM

Why ‘Hadestown’ deserves the Tony Award for best musical of the year by Charles McNulty

It turned out not to be a horrendous year for new Broadway musicals, if you disqualify “King Kong,” lower your IQ for “The Cher Show” and bring earplugs to “Be More Chill.” “Th…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:05AM
Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Review: ‘Indecent’ at the Ahmanson pays haunting tribute to a daring Yiddish play by Charles McNulty

Rebecca Taichman won a Tony Award for directing a darkly enchanting production of the Paula Vogel play, now at the Ahmanson Theatre.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:11PM
Monday, June 10, 2019

Tony Awards: Broadway flaunts its idealism in inspiring celebration of the year’s best by Charles McNulty

The Tony Awards sort out a Broadway year divided between the impulse to innovate and the desire to maintain the status quo.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:15AM
Thursday, June 6, 2019

Tony Awards’ top races: A theater critic’s opinionated guide by Charles McNulty

Handicapping Sunday's Tony Awards: Can "Hadestown" beat "Tootsie"? Will Sorkin's "Mockingbird" be redeemed? And will the Tonys justly reward a female director?

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Monday, June 3, 2019

Review: In Lucas Hnath's 'Dana H.,' a kidnapping survivor's truth hides in the shadows by Charles McNulty

The playwright gets personal in this documentary tale about his mother, a psych ward chaplain held captive by a suicidal convict. It's a sly, slippery tale.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:53PM

Why ‘Hadestown’ deserves the Tony Award for best musical of the year by Charles McNulty

Anaïs Mitchell's concept album-turned-folk opera is an exquisite marriage of story and song that advances the art of theater.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:30AM
Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Why 'Constitution' and not 'The Ferryman' should win the Tony for best play by Charles McNulty

Heidi Schreck's "What the Constitution Means to Me" is more than a performance piece: It's the most moving play of the year.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Review: David Henry Hwang’s ‘M. Butterfly’ takes flight in a more gender-fluid era by Charles McNulty

Time passes, and even a contemporary classic can use a nip and tuck. David Henry Hwang, most famous for his Tony-winning 1988 play “M. Butterfly,” performed some not insignificant cosmet…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:14AM
Monday, May 20, 2019

Review: David Henry Hwang’s ‘M. Butterfly’ takes flight in a more gender-fluid era by Charles McNulty

The modern classic on gender roles and Orientalism gets an uneven revival at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa directed by Desdemona Chiang.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:26PM
Saturday, May 18, 2019

Review: Helder Guimarães brings his philosophical magic to the Geffen by Charles McNulty

Helder Guimarães is either a magician posing as a philosopher or a philosopher posing as a magician. But however you classify him, he’s excellent company in his new show, “Invisible Tan…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:05AM
Friday, May 17, 2019

Review: Helder Guimarães brings his philosophical magic to the Geffen by Charles McNulty

Directed by Frank Marshall and featuring music by Moby, "Invisible Tango" has tricks that astonish and a storytelling charm that's more than mere magic show.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:25AM
Wednesday, May 15, 2019

‘Hillary and Clinton’ playwright Lucas Hnath meticulously masters the messiness of life by Charles McNulty

Playwright Lucas Hnath is back on Broadway with “Hillary and Clinton,” a zesty drama on America’s most picked-apart political couple that finds Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow in top f…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:35PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards