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McNeal Broadway

McNeal 2024

Run Time:
1 hour and 40 minutes, no intermission
Ages: 5+
Opened: September 30, 2024
Closing: November 24, 2024

McNeal - 2024 Broadway History , Info & More

Vivian Beaumont Theatre (Broadway)
150 West 65th St. at Broadway New York, NY 10023

Good writers borrow, great writers steal. Jacob McNeal (Robert Downey Jr.) is a great writer, one of our greatest, a perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. But McNeal also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence. Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar’s new play is a startling and wickedly smart examination of the inescapable humanity – and increasing inhumanity – of the stories we tell.


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PREVIEW McNeal - 2024 - Broadway

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McNeal
4 / 10

Or does he? It’s hard to know. Nothing in McNeal is convincing: The characters are thin, the timelines are off, the situations are at once implausible and cliché. (When McNeal is negotiating his contract, he is shown a big number on a cell phone—barely a step up from a folded paper slid across a table.) The play’s middle scenes—McNeal’s lurid confrontation with his son (Rafi Gavron) and an off-the-rails interview with a young, Black New York Times reporter (Brittany Bellizeare)—ring utterly false, and the actors elsewhere seem flat: Andrea Martin as McNeal’s agent, Ruthie Ann Miles as his doctor, Melora Hardin as his former mistress. McNeal is the only one with any dimension, but neither his dialogue nor Downey's guarded, petulant delivery suggest the charm that others impute to him. Dressed in a writerly uniform of corduroy blazer and jeans, he’s a standard-issue manchild; the play feels a bit like spending 90 minutes with Bill Maher on a crabby day.

Robert Downey Jr. is in a play about A.I. that makes no sense
2 / 10

That doesn’t make for a particularly dynamic play; aside from long conversations, nothing happens. McNeal doesn’t emerge at the end of the play having experienced a change for better or worse. None of the characters reach a new connection with him. It’s unresolved, empty and pointless – just an opportunity to see a movie star on stage.

Video: Melora Hardin Talks MCNEAL Role, Working with Robert Downey Jr.
by Josh Sharpe - November 4, 2024


Melora Hardin is going up against Robert Downey, Jr.'s McNeal. In the new play, Hardin plays Francine Blake, the retired editor-in-chief of The New York Times and McNeal's former lover. Watch her discuss the production on Good Morning America!

Exclusive: Building the Company of MCNEAL
by Nicole Rosky - October 28, 2024


What makes a great Broadway company? According to Robert Downey Jr., who made his debut earlier this season in McNeal, every person plays a huge role in the play's success. Watch in this exclusive video as he chats more about what makes the McNeal company so special.

MCNEAL on Broadway- A Complete Guide
by Sidney Paterra - October 3, 2024


Looking for all the latest info on one of Broadway's hottest shows starring Robert Downjey Jr? BroadwayWorld has the full scoop on everything that you need to know about McNeal on Broadway.

Video: Robert Downey Jr. & Company Celebrate Opening Night of MCNEAL
by Joey Mervis - October 2, 2024


In this video, watch as the whole cast checks in with BroadwayWorld after the curtain came down on opening night!

Photos: Robert Downey Jr. and Cast of MCNEAL Celebrate Opening Night
by Nicole Rosky - October 1, 2024


Last night, Ayad Akhtar’s new play McNEAL opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Check out photos from inside the big night here!

Photos: Paul Rudd, Matt Damon & More at MCNEAL Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - October 1, 2024


The Lincoln Center Theater production of McNEAL, a new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Bartlett Sher opened last night at the Vivian Beaumont Theater! See photos of stars on the red carpet!

Review Roundup: MCNEAL on Broadway - Robert Downey Jr. & More Star
by A.A. Cristi - September 30, 2024


Read the reviews for McNeal on Broadway which stars academy Award-winner and Marvel icon, Robert Downey Jr., as an acclaimed author obsessed by AI as he makes his Broadway debut alongside Brittany Bellizeare, Rafi Gavron, Melora Hardin, Andrea Martin, Ruthie Ann Miles, and Saisha Talwar. See what the critics had to say about Lincoln Center Theater’s McNEAL, from Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar.

Video: MCNEAL Cast Unpacks Their Roles
by Joey Mervis - October 5, 2024


In this video, watch as the cast of Broadway's McNeal unpacks their roles and find out even more about the new play here!

Video: Robert Downey Jr. & More in MCNEAL on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 30, 2024


Get a first look at footage of Robert Downey Jr. and more in the play McNeal at Lincoln Center Theater. The cast features Melora Hardin, Andrea Martin, Ruthie Ann Miles, and more. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.

Photos: Robert Downey Jr. & More in MCNEAL on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - September 25, 2024


Lincoln Center Theater’s McNEAL, a new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Bartlett Sher, is now in previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it is getting ready for opening night on Monday, September 30. Check out first photos of the cast in action!

Meet the Cast of MCNEAL, Now on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - September 5, 2024


McNEAL begins is now running on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, marking the first play of LCT’s historic 40th Anniversary season. Meet the cast of McNEAL here!

Photos: Robert Downey Jr. & More From MCNEAL Meet the Press
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 3, 2024


On Friday, August 23 the cast and creatives of Lincoln Center Theater’s McNEAL met the press before starting tech rehearsal for the play. See photos and learn more about the show!

Video: The MCNEAL Company Gets Ready for Broadway
by Joey Mervis - September 3, 2024


Broadway is no joke, but Robert Downey Jr., who makes his debut this season in Lincoln Center Theater's McNeal, is up for the challenge. Watch in this video as the entire company meets the press and explains more about what the play is all about.

Meet the Masterminds Behind MCNEAL
by Nicole Rosky - September 14, 2024


Almost 20 years after making his Lincoln Center Theater (and Broadway) debut with The Light in the Piazza, Bartlett Sher is back this season alongside another heavy-hitter of the theatre world, Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar. The play is McNeal and previews are already underway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Video: McNEAL, Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Begins Rehearsals
by Blair Ingenthron - August 10, 2024


On Thursday, August 1 the cast and creative team for McNEAL gathered for the first day of rehearsals. McNEAL is a new play by Ayad Aktar, directed by Bartlett Sher. See footage in the video here!

Photos: The Cast of MCNEAL Assembles for the First Day of Rehearsals
by A.A. Cristi - August 2, 2024


On Thursday, August 1 the cast and creative team for McNEAL gathered for the first day of rehearsals. McNEAL is a new play by Ayad Aktar, directed by Bartlett Sher. See photos from inside the rehearsal room.

Melora Hardin, Brittany Bellizeare Join Robert Downey Jr. in MCNEAL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - July 29, 2024


Lincoln Center Theater has revealed the complete cast for its production of McNEAL, a new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Bartlett Sher, and starring Robert Downey Jr. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Robert Downey Jr. to Make Broadway Debut in Ayad Akhtar's MCNEAL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 7, 2024


This fall, Lincoln Center Theater will produce MCNEAL, a new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Bartlett Sher, starring Robert Downey Jr. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

McNeal History

Other Productions of McNeal

2024   Broadway Lincoln Center Theater Broadway Premiere Producion
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