The Big Knife, Starring Bobby Cannavale, Calls ‘Action!’ on Broadway

It’s opening night for the first-ever Broadway revival of Clifford Odets’ The Big Knife, the showbiz drama starring Bobby Cannavale that raises its curtain on April 16 at the American Airlines Theatre. The Roundabout Theatre Company revival runs through June 2.

The Big Knife follows movie star Charlie Castle, a Hollywood golden boy whose studio has been forced to cover up a mistake that could have ended his career. When a woman with insider knowledge threatens to come forward, the studio heads must protect Charlie’s secret—and Charlie himself must decide how far he’s willing to go before quitting the business for good.

Cannavale plays Charlie Castle, with Marin Ireland as his wife Marion, Richard Kind as studio boss Marcus Hoff and Chip Zien as Charlie’s agent Nat Danzinger. The cast also includes Rachel Brosnahan, Joey Slotnick, Ana Reeder, Billy Eugene Jones, C.J. Wilson, Reg Rogers and Brenda Wehle.

The production features sets by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by James F. Ingalls and sound and original music by David Van Tieghem. This marks the first Broadway revival of the play, which premiered at the National Theatre in 1949.