B'way Update: Robert Downey, Jr. To Make B'way Debut in MCNEAL

Oscar winner Robert Downey, Jr.
will make his B'way debut in MCNEAL.

Robert Downey, Jr., who recently won the Oscar, Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Critics' Choice Awards for Oppenheimer, will make his Broadway debut in MCNEAL, a new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar (Disgraced). Performances begin Sept. 2 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater as part of Lincoln Center Theater's 40th season, with a Sept. 30 opening for a limited run through Nov. 24. Tony winner Bartlett Sher (LCT's The King and I, South Pacific, My Fair Lady) directs. 

Downey will play the title role, Jacob McNeal, a world-famous novelist contending with his alienated son, his latest work, grudges and axes to grind, and the looming specter of Artificial Intelligence. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

2023-24 Broadway/Off-Broadway/Awards Calendar (and Beyond)
Spring 2024
May 13--Here There Are Blueberries (NYTW)
May 13--Outer Critics Circle winners announced
May 14--All of Me (The New Group/Signature Center)
May 17--Drama League Awards (Ziegfeld Ballroom)

May 20--Chita Rivera Awards Ceremony (NYU Skirball)
May 23--Outer Critics Circle Awards ceremony (Bruno Walter Auditorium/NY Public Library for the Performing Arts)

May 28--Ben Platt at the Palace

Summer 2024

June 4--What Became of Us (Atlantic Stage 2)

June 5--Home (Roundabout/Todd Haimes)

June 10--Drama Desk Awards (NYU Skirball)

June 10--Theater World Awards

June 12--The Welkin (Atlantic Theater Company)

June 12--Titanic (Encores/City Center)

June 16--Tony Awards (David Koch Theater/Lincoln Center)

June 20--Cats (Perelman Performing Arts Center)

July 11--Oh, Mary! (Lyceum)

Fall 2024

Sept. 12--The Roommate (Booth)

Sept. 24--Vladimir (MTC/City Center Stage I) (previews begin; opening TBA)

Sept. 30--MCNEAL (Vivian Beaumont/LCT)

Oct. 1--Yellowface (Roundabout/Todd Haimes)

Oct. 9--The Counter (Roundabout/Laura Pels)

Oct. 10--Our Town (Barrymore)

Oct. 20--Sunset Boulevard (St. James)

Nov. 11--What a Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical (Studio 54)

Nov. 14--Tammy Faye (Palace)

Nov. 25--Eureka Day (MTC/Samuel J. Friedman) (previews begin; opening TBA)

King Lear (Kenneth Branagh Theater Company/The Shed)

Left on Tenth

Romeo and Juliet w/Kit Connor, Rachel Zegler

Winter 2024-25

Jan. 23--English (Roundabout/Todd Haimes Theater)

Feb. 20--Liberation (Roundabout/Laura Pels)

2024-25

My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?)

Romeo and Juliet w.Tom Holland/Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (?)

Smash

Wine in the Wilderness (CSC)

Spring 2025

March 25--Old Friends (MTC/Samuel J. Friedman) (previews begins opening TBA)

Othello

April 24--The Pirates of Penzance (Roundabout/Todd Haimes Theater)

Show Boat (Target Margin/NYU Skirball)

Future--Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death; Beaches the Musical; Black Orpheus; BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical; Come Fall in Love--The DDLJ Musical; Crazy Rich Asians; Death Becomes Her; The Devil Wears Prada; Ella: An American Miracle; Everybody's Talking About Jamie; Frida, the Musical; Game of Thrones; The Griswolds' Broadway Vacation; High Noon; Imitation of Life; The Interestings; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; The Karate Kid; La La Land; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; The Mousetrap; Nancy Drew and the Mystery at Spotlight Manor; Pal Joey; Purple Rain; The Queen's Gambit; Rear Window; The Nanny; The Normal Heart/The Destiny of Me; The Queen of Versailles; The Secret Garden; Sing Street; Soul Train; Stranger Things: The First Shadow; Working Girl.

2024-25 Broadway Season Breakdown

New Plays

Left on Tenth

MCNEAL

Oh, Mary!

The Roommate

New Musicals

Old Friends

Smash

Tammy Faye

What a Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical

Play Revivals

English

Eureka Day

Othello

Our Town

Romeo and Juliet

Musical Revivals

The Pirates of Penzance

Sunset Boulevard