McNeal - Broadway Tickets, News, Info & More
Vivian Beaumont Theatre (Broadway)
150 West 65th St. at Broadway New York, NY 10023Buy Tickets to McNeal
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.
McNeal - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW McNeal - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR McNeal
McNEAL Fights AI, Audience Loses — Review
3 / 10
Downey, though lacking in stagecraft and more or less acting from beat to beat, is not without merit. He embodies the self-important asshole-yness of a 20th century literary giant with ease, and could likely have crafted a more memorable character had he been written a meatier role. But his McNeal is as wandering and ineffective as the play itself. Akhtar, whose work has always existed in the liminality between tradition and vanguard, is here lost in the slop. McNeal, the character, doesn’t land on any side of the “Is AI good for art, or killing it?” divide, instead treating it with the safe curiosity of a successful man with little to lose in his later years. (I must here grudgingly point to a titan like David Lynch archly commenting on Donald Trump’s value in waking up the national consciousness a few years back.) That’s interesting. But Akhtar does not explore that, attacking the personal choices, rather than the possible ideologies, of his largely archetypal character. McNeal, the play, therefore comes and goes; a mild thumbnail in a growing pile of decreasingly worthwhile content, featuring artists and themes we know and love, borne back ceaselessly into the archive.
‘McNeal’ Review: Ayad Akhtar New Play Artificially Grapples with the Realities of AI
3 / 10
The technology distracts from the real human drama that McNeal depicts, and the seriousness of that drama dilutes any coherent argument about the impact of machine language models on literature or life. And, no, that lack of clarity cannot be explained by Akhtar using A.I. himself in creating the text, as he insists that all the words are his alone. The hollow McNeal, after all, is only halfway to presenting as artificial intelligence. It’s got the artificial part down pat.
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Photos: Robert Downey Jr. and Cast of MCNEAL Celebrate Opening Night
by Nicole Rosky - October 1, 2024
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
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: Robert Downey Jr. & More Star In MCNEAL on Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - September 30, 2024
by A.A. Cristi - September 30, 2024
Academy Award-winner and Marvel icon, Robert Downey Jr., steps into the role of 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 in Lincoln Center Theater’s McNEAL, from Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar. Read the reviews!
Video: Robert Downey Jr. & More in MCNEAL on Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 30, 2024
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
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, Beginning Previews Tonight on Broadway
by Stephi Wild - September 5, 2024
by Stephi Wild - September 5, 2024
McNEAL begins previews on Broadway tonight, Thursday, September 5. The Lincoln Center Theater production play officially opens on Monday, September 30 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Broadway |
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