The Tamesis
As always, there are a lot of exciting new musicals coming to Broadway this spring (Titanic! lost boy! Schmigadu!) to big plays from London (huge, 13 fear). One of the most anticipated releases? A new take on Arthur Miller’s classic 1949 play death of a salesmanstarring a strong cast: Nathan Lane (Nathan Lane) plays the tragic traveling salesman Willy Loman (Willy Loman); Laurie Metcalf plays Willy’s loyal wife Linda; Christopher Abbott (girls, refuge) plays the Lomans’ eldest son Biff; and Ben Ahlers (gilded age, the last of us) plays Happy, Biff’s slutty younger brother. Joe Mantello is a long-time Metcalfe collaborator – their latest joint effort, Xiaoxiongling Roadwhich opened on Broadway last fall — directed.
salesmanAn important work in the American theater canon, it has previously been performed on Broadway five times – almost once a decade since 1975. However, it was last staged three years ago, starring Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clark and directed by Miranda Cromwell. (Pearce was nominated for a Tony Award for his touching lead role of Willy.) So, what can audiences expect now from the new adaptation?
“Audiences should expect to experience salesman Through a slightly new prism,” Mantello said Fashion. “By stripping it down and freeing it from strict naturalism, we asked different questions about it and wanted the show to feel immediate and active – rather than reverent or distant.”
Of course, another obvious draw is the cast – Metcalf and Lane are two of our most important dramatic actors, and Abbott and Ahlers represent the exciting potential of a new generation. (salesman will mark Ahlers’ Broadway debut, while Abbott has not appeared on Main Stem since 2011. ) When asked what surprised him most about working with these actors, he responded, “How willing they were to interrogate the script rather than simply perform it. Everyone embraced the idea of questioning long-held assumptions about the show, and that level of curiosity was incredibly energizing.”
forward death of a salesman Previews begin March 6 at Winter Garden (opening night is scheduled for April 9), and here’s an exclusive first look at the cast, shot by Thea Traff. See you at the theater.
