SALESMAN Revival Announced with Pierce, Clarke, and DeShields

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:09pm

Broadway news: @WendellPierce will star as Willy Loman in a revival of "Death of a Salesman," reprising a role he previously played in London. Sharon D Clarke will again play Willy's wife, Linda, and @Andre_DeShields will join as Willy's brother, Ben.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/02/theater/wendell-pierce-death-of-a-salesman.html

Updated On: 5/2/22 at 12:09 PM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:17pm

Man, this next Broadway season is going to be insane. Powerhouse productions left and right.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:18pm

Sad Elliot isn’t directing. Assuming then that this will be slightly different from that production? 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:19pm

SouthernCakes said: "Sad Elliot isn’t directing. Assuming then that this will be slightly different from that production?"

Also sad that Elliott is no longer attached... but Pierce, Clarke, and de Shields! Wow!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:22pm

HOLY SH*T, NYC is in for a treat! This was the absolute BEST production of the show I’ve ever seen. Clarke will 100% win a 2nd* Tony next year for this. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:24pm

THIS CAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Updated On: 5/4/22 at 12:24 PM

[kwoc91]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:26pm

shut up and take my money!!!

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:30pm

This cast sounds amazing, but I will confess that I was hoping Denzel would take on the role of Willy. After seeing him in Fences, I thought it would be interesting to see him take on the role. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:38pm

jimmycurry01 said: "This cast sounds amazing, but I will confess that I was hoping Denzel would take on the role of Willy. After seeing him in Fences, I thought it would be interesting to see him take on the role."

Yeah, there are a lot of other Black actors who, on paper, would be my first choice for Willy. But I heard nothing but raves about this production out of London, so I'll be excited to see it here. Hudson Theatre is the rumor, right?

Also odd that Elliott is not continuing with it.

Also bodes well for Clarke's Tony chances, with voters now knowing that she has her next show lined up (not that she really needs any help)

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:40pm

As someone who would watch André De Shields read the phone book, shut up and take my money

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:43pm

jimmycurry01 said: "This cast sounds amazing, but I will confess that I was hoping Denzel would take on the role of Willy. After seeing him in Fences, I thought it would be interesting to see him take on the role."

Just wait until you see Pierce. Seriously, there’s nobody I’d rather see more than him again. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:48pm

I am not usually into seeing plays. I am more of a musical person, but this revival I will definitely see. One of my favorites!

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:49pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "jimmycurry01 said: "This cast sounds amazing, but I will confess that I was hoping Denzel would take on the role of Willy. After seeing him in Fences, I thought it would be interesting to see him take on the role."

Yeah, there are a lot of other Black actors who, on paper, would be my first choice for Willy. But I heard nothing but raves about this production out of London, so I'll be excited to see it here. Hudson Theatre is the rumor, right?

Also odd that Elliott is not continuing with it.

Also bodes well for Clarke's Tony chances, with voters now knowing that she has her next show lined up (not that she really needs any help)"

Oh, I have no doubt this production and cast will be thrilling. My curiosity stems from the idea that Fences seems to be Wilson's response to Salesman. With so many thematic similarities between the two, I have always wanted to see an actor tackle both roles. There was a time I thought the same as James Earl Jones. I think it would be interesting to contrast the performances of the same actor had done both, especially with so many rich similarities between the two characters.

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:49pm

Marianne will probably be busy with MERRILY… or who knows… a transfer of COCK. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 12:58pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "Marianne will probably be busy with MERRILY… or who knows… a transfer of COCK."

Maria Friedman is directing MERRILY.

Many a director of a London-to-Broadway transfer has not been physically present, and vice-versa. This announcement signifies that the production is moving beyond her directorial contributions to the UK production, despite her company staying on as a producer.

[lilpunkin]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 1:03pm

This is a really special production. I was working at the YV during the run so I got to see it several times, and it never lost its power.

[ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 1:09pm

I was just recently thinking of the planned Lane, Metcalf, Mantello production. I sure hope we eventually see that, it sounds like such a winning team.

With that being said, even if this arguably hurts the chances of that show ever happening, I’m extremely excited for this, absolutely gonna look into tickets.

Anyway, on the topic of Denzel, I love him, he can do no wrong. But even though I’d certainly be interested in him playing this role, and I imagine they would dress him up to downplay his features and physique, I feel like he’s too perfect looking to be Willy, a complete loser whose appearance is the subject of mockery.

Updated On: 5/2/22 at 01:09 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 1:22pm

I have no inherent qualms with Cromwell taking over as the lead director. There's no doubt that she's up to the task, and it's great that she'll be getting full reins after years of being Elliott's associate director. 

But it's an odd thing to do as far as billing and classification goes. Cromwell says in the NYTimes: “it’s the same production, but some things will shift as we refine it.” If the first part of that statement is true, it seems impossible for them to have removed all of Elliott's contributions to the production. In which case, it doesn't seem accurate to simply remove Elliott's name as the director. I'd think they should go for more detailed billing like: 

"Directed by Miranda Cromwell, with additional direction by Marianne Elliott" or "Directed by Miranda Cromwell, based on direction by Miranda Cromwell and Marianne Elliott" 

It's clear that this is happening with Elliott's blessing - in which case, it's less a question of "fairness" or what's "the right thing to do" and more a question of what's literally accurate. 

EDIT: I guess I skipped over the fact that I'm thrilled this production is coming to Broadway! Well-deserved, and I'm excited for it to receive further recognition over here in the states. Don't get me wrong - I just figured we're all on the same page about the excitement factor, so I went straight for the more specific comments I had about the billing. 

Updated On: 5/2/22 at 01:22 PM

[The Other One]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 1:44pm

"Anyway, on the topic of Denzel, I love him, he can do no wrong. But even though I’d certainly be interested in him playing this role, and I imagine they would dress him up to downplay his features and physique, I feel like he’s too perfect looking to be Willy, a complete loser whose appearance is the subject of mockery."

I don't know about that.  Denzel easily slips into the manner and appearance of the working class man.  He did so in Fences, he did so in The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three; he is better at it than any other star I can think of offhand, frankly.  It's in his roots, which he has always been true to.  

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 1:50pm

Yeah that's my confusion too. Like, if it's the same production how can you just remove Elliot?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 2:04pm

RippedMan said: "Yeah that's my confusion too. Like, if it's the same production how can you just remove Elliot?"

Maybe Elliot's working on something else - or wants to take a break for a bit.

And if crediting is an issue, I don't see why Elliot can't be given a partial credit in some way.  Like how the 1995 film of Richard III said it was "based on a National Theatre production by Richard Eyre".

Updated On: 5/2/22 at 02:04 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 2:08pm

KevinKlawitter said: "RippedMan said: "Yeah that's my confusion too. Like, if it's the same production how can you just remove Elliot?"

Maybe Elliot's working on something else - or wants to take a break for a bit.

And if crediting is an issue, I don't see why Elliot can't be given a partial credit in some way. Like how the 1995 film ofRichard IIIsaid it was "based on a National Theatre production by Richard Eyre"."

 

That's what I was saying in my post above, which I think RippedMan was responding in agreement to. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 2:24pm

Taken from the NYT article:

"The Broadway production will be directed by Miranda Cromwell, who in London directed it alongside Marianne Elliott. Elliott will remain with the show as a producer.

Cromwell, in an interview, said “it’s the same production, but some things will shift as we refine it.” She also said that, as a mixed-race woman, “there are elements of my lived experience that I’ve brought to the production.”

Since Elliott is still a producer, she definitely gave her blessing to this.  I didn't know Cromwell is mixed race. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 2:36pm

Is Elliot doing Merrily? 

[ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure]

Posted: 5/2/22 at 2:43pm

The Other One said: ""Anyway, on the topic of Denzel, I love him, he can do no wrong. But even though I’d certainly be interested in him playing this role, and I imagine they would dress him up to downplay his features and physique, I feel like he’s too perfect looking to be Willy, a complete loser whose appearance is the subject of mockery."

I don't know about that. Denzel easily slips into the manner and appearance of the working class man. He did so in Fences, he did so in The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three; he is better at it than any other star I can think of offhand, frankly. It's in his roots, which he has always been true to.

"

Troy’s a very different role from Willie. They’re both washed out losers, but totally different kinds. Troy’s alluring, charismatic, and attractive in a way that Willie isn’t. Denzel playing Troy doesn’t mean he’s right for Willie.