It’s a play considered to be one of the greatest of all time, and now we can confirm that beloved Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia will be making his Sydney stage debut as its shining star. Following a triumphant run in Melbourne, GWB Entertainment and Andrew Henry Presents’ production of Arthur Miller's timeless Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, Death of a Salesman, will open at Sydney’s Theatre Royal in May 2024.
LaPaglia will reprise his role as Willy Loman, for which he received rave reviews in the Melbourne season. This is your chance to see the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony Award-winning actor on stage at home in Australia, in one of the most iconic plays of the 20th century (though we’re sure that we’ll always know and love him best as the dad from Looking for Alibrandi).
Time Out Melbourne’s four-star review of Death of a Salesman highly commended Lapaglia’s “heart-wrenching” performance, saying: “An incredible sensitivity thrums beneath his deep bass and domineering stature. There’s a slight tremulousness to his gravelly timbre, as if every screaming outburst saps Willy’s strength a little, while his limping gait and sunken eyes make him appear more fragile by the minute.”
Legendary stage and screen director Neil Armfield will also return to guide LaPaglia and the cast through Miller’s profound and moving narrative, which explores morality, responsibility and the fragility of human relationships – especially between fathers and sons.
First performed in 1949, Death of a Salesman explores the promises and pitfalls of the American Dream. The two-act tragedy is told through a montage of memories, confrontations, arguments and dreams of protagonist Willy Loman, who tries to navigate what it means to be successful in post-war America.
LaPaglia and Armfield will be joined by a stellar Australian cast, including Alison Whyte reprising the role of Linda Loman, the complex and devoted wife of the failing salesman, and Josh Helman as Biff, Willy’s troubled son – the golden boy who has descended into self-doubt and despair. Also reprising their roles will be Tom Stokes as Bernard and Grant Piro as Stanley. Further casting announcements will be made in the lead-up to the Sydney season.
This is a production that will break your heart, and we are so ready for it. Death of a Salesman will play at Theatre Royal Sydney from May 17, 2024. Tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday, December 1, via salesmanaustralia.com.au.
