And directed by Joe Mantello?! This sounds divine.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nathan-Lane-Rumored-to-Be-in-Talks-to-Star-as-Willy-Loman-Opposite-Laurie-Metcalf-20180307
We are living in the Golden Age of Laurie Metcalf and it is truly glorious.
I'd pay big money to see that.
it's the golden age of nathan lane than concerns me.
We don’t deserve either.
Sounds glorious, but I have always wanted to see a John Goodman/Laurie Metcalf Salesman. Nathan Lane can do no wrong though and I'm to see that he's being taken seriously instead of just as a musical comedian. This sounds like it will be absolutely amazing.
My favorite 20th century playwright .... a couple of my favorite actors ..... WOW
Interesting. I'm very excited and intrigued by this possibility. I love Metcalf and Lane, and I think Lane's recent work has shown him to be a very capable dramatic actor. Although, Hickey and Roy Cohn are both very theatrical, larger-than-life characters. Loman, to me, should be much more of an everyman, with a more subtle deterioration of his sanity. I'm not saying Lane can't pull it off, but it will be a very different Willy Loman, and/or a very different sort of dramatic performance from Lane than the ones we've seen.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/15/17
If this materializes, they can take all my money. Would love to see that.
I've seen Lane in two of his roles that could be called non-comic, Butley and Hickey. Both roles have aspects of the comedian about them. But something wasn't right about either of those performances. Perhaps the Miller will surprise me. Updated On: 3/7/18 at 02:21 PM
Salesman has aged in a fascinating way- when it premiered, it was what appeared to be an allegory for the common man struggling under the weight of an unattainable "American Dream," with Willy beaten down and broken by that. Seeing it today, it's increasingly difficult to see Willy as anything but a man in the early onset of dementia.
GeorgeandDot said: "Sounds glorious, but I have always wanted to see a John Goodman/Laurie Metcalf Salesman. Nathan Lane can do no wrong though and I'm to see that he's being taken seriously instead of just as a musical comedian. This sounds like it will be absolutely amazing."
That would be my dream cast as well, but if this is in fact happening with Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf, I am very excited.
Could be wonderful. But could they top the 2012 Mike Nichols production with Philip Seymour Hoffman that so many critics adored? (I didn't see it.) That revival was only 6 years ago (and it won Revival & Director), though I assume this one is still a year or two away.
On a totally different subject: Lane, Metcalf, and Mantello have got to be three of Broadway's most prolific people. In the past 5 years, Lane and Metcalf have each starred in 4 shows, and Mantello has directed 11 (& acted in 1)!
I feel like Nathan Lane as Willy is a strange bit of casting for reasons that I can't quite put my finger on.
Metcalf would steamroll awards season though. I'm so glad she continues to demonstrate that she is one of acting's most versatile performers.
Leading Actor Joined: 5/9/05
I’d love to see this happen!!!!!
Yes, please.
Lane is so much more than just a musical comedy actor (which he’s brilliant at, too!). I’m glad he’s finally being recognized as simply being a great actor, period.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/27/16
I’d much prefer to see Mark Rylance do this rather than hearing Lane scream through the role. Rylance and Metcalf would be magic
I think Lane and Metcalf would prove to find some interesting layers to both of these roles, and I'd love to see Mantello's take on it.
Y'know I'd love to see Lane in this but my poor gay heart still needs a couple more musicals out of him. Hello, Dolly! opposite Reba will remain my pipe dream for him for now. Also, Wizard in Wicked movie would be...wonderful. ![]()
Videos