All the Way – Location, Tickets, Reviews
Bryan Cranston (Walter White from TV’s Breaking Bad) takes on the difficult task of portraying president Lyndon B. Johnson and speaking in a heavy Texan accent for 3 hours in his Broadway debut, All the Way, a political drama by Robert Schenkkan.
All the Way traces the first year of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “accidental” presidency, from November 1963, immediately after the assassination of President Kennedy, to November 1964, when Johnson won re-election by an unprecedented margin. It was a year Johnson spent caught between liberals, the Dixiecrats, the Civil Rights Movement, and the F.B.I, trying to pass the Civil Rights Act. Even though we know how it ends, it is still a fascinating journey that involves some important historical figures, including Martin Luther King, J. Edgar Hoover, and Hubert Humphrey.
Johnson’s colorful character is examined from all angles. The crass, vulgar Texan with an un-presidential demeanor, the savvy politician who invented “The Texas Twist,” the poor farm-boy who suffers from a severe inferiority complex, and the powerful and power-hungry president — are each displayed in all their glory.
Maxamoo
Three hours is a long run time for a show that is essentially about tedious political negotiations but if you’re interested, even the tiniest bit, in this tumultuous era of American history, this play will keep you engaged. Johnson’s complicated and conflicting character is treated with sophistication and nuance, as he manages to be likable and unlikable, impressive and ludicrous, and touching and intimidating, sometimes all in the same moment.
The ensemble – with the fantastic Bryan Cranston at the helm and Brendon J. Dirden as an uncanny Martin Luther King — is universally great. Even though Schenkkan’s play chews more than in can swallow in terms of scope and issues it attempts to address, there is a sense of historical understanding and attention to detail and complexity that is cinematic (in the best way possible).
Recommended if…
You want to see Bryan Cranston masterfully and compellingly transform into a character;
You enjoy entertainment about politics and American Presidents, à la Spielberg’s Lincoln;
You are an American history nerd (and proud of it!); OR
You value a great ensemble above extravagant stage spectacle.
Public Opinion
The standing ovation at the end was probably largely due to Cranston’s star power and showmanship, but it was overwhelming. On twitter, as expected, people are swooning over Cranston, although not everybody is 100% sold on the play:
@mks373: BRYAN CRANSTON IS MY FAVOURITE!!!! Also All The Way is phenomenal! http://instagram.com/p/kqlOV9o1zj/
@JillianAdel: I went All The Way with Bryan Cranston, and man, am I one overly satisfied customer. #alltheway… http://instagram.com/p/kn-tSLxLKR/
@parabasis: So.. ALL THE WAY is at least two different plays. Maybe up to 5 different plays.
And extra points for a positive review from Dr. Ruth Westheimer:
@AskDrRuth: Saw preview of All the Way last night. Very enjoyable. Here’s pix of me & star Bryan Cranston. Go see it. pic.twitter.com/WMrQ4ufrNJ
Have you seen All the Way? What did you think? Comment below or tweet us at @Maxamoo.
Critics’ Reviews
New York Times
Washington Power Play
New York Post
Bryan Cranston looms large as LBJ in ‘All The Way’
Time Out New York
Bryan Cranston seizes power in this muscular Presidential drama, his Broadway debut.
TheaterMania
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston makes his Broadway debut in this fast-paced political thriller about the first year of Lyndon Johnson’s presidency.
New York Magazine
Cranston (and Lyndon) in the Middle, In All the Way
New York Theater
Bryan Cranston as LBJ. Breaking Bad Meets Broadway.
TICKETS
$52-$227 (click here for tickets)
DATES
Performances through June 29, 2014
LOCATION
Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd Street
New York City
[google-map-v3 width=”250″ height=”250″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”left” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”250 West 52nd Street, New York, NY{}1-default.png{}Neil Simon Theatre” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]
RUNNING TIME
3 hours, 1 intermission
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Robert Schenkkan
Directed by Bill Rauch
Featuring Bryan Cranston, Eric Lenox Abrams, Betsy Aidem, J. Bernard Calloway, Rob Campbell, Brandon J. Dirden, James Eckhouse, Peter Jay Fernandez, Christopher Gurr, William Jackson Harper, Michael McKean, John McMartin, Christopher Liam Moore, Robert Petkoff, Ethan Phillips, Richard Poe, Roslyn Ruff, Susannah Schulman, Bill Timoney, Steve Vinovich