DEATH OF A SALESMAN
by Arthur Miller
Directed by John Barrett
AUDITIONS: Auditions will be held at Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre, Route 20, Wayland, MA and are by appointment Sunday, May 1 (6:30-9pm) and Monday, May 2 (7-9:30pm). Other times available by arrangement.
Please prepare a 1-2 minute monologue. Modern dramatic preferred
To schedule an appointment, please call 508-358-2011. Leave your name, phone, and preferred audition time. We will call you back.
REHEARSALS BEGIN: after Memorial Day
PERFORMANCES: July 21 through August 6 Thursday – Saturday Evenings. Matinees Saturday, July 30 & August 6
Show Description: From its first night in 1949, Death of a Salesman took its place as arguably the finest American play ever written. Uniquely American in vision and theme, Salesman is America’s mirror held up to nature, the prism through which the American Dream displays its many and varied colors. Although the passing years have altered the circumstances around us, the theme of a flawed man facing his greatest fear – failure – is truly timeless, and universal. Willy Loman is as tragic as any Shakespearean hero, but he doesn’t live in a castle; he lives next door and his troubles are a lot like yours.
CAST
Note: The play features extensive flashback sections.
Willy, Charley, and Linda play in both their 60s and 40s.
Biff, Happy, and Bernard play in both their 30s and teens
Willy Loman: A classic tragic hero, desperately trying to do the right thing but fatally flawed by his pursuit of the wrong dream.
Biff Loman: Caught between his father’s dream and his own instincts. For him, the play is a struggle to let what he knows overcome what he has been taught.
Happy Loman: A young Willy – Biff’s mirror image – committed to the American Dream – deeply flawed – misses the turning in the road that might have saved him.
Charley: Willy’s contemporary and only friend – a wise and good man – like Linda, sees Willy for what he is and loves him anyway.
Bernard: Charley’s son and Biff’s contemporary – a good student, grows to be a successful attorney – he is what Biff should have, but did not, become.
Ben: Willy’s older brother and idol, the epitome of success, appears only in Willy’s memory as mythic, gigantic.
Howard: 20s or 30s – Willy’s young boss – profit-driven but not unkind – one nice scene with Willy.
Stanley: Waiter – Wise-cracking character part.
Linda Loman: More than anything, not a dishrag – to the contrary, an extraordinarily strong character – sees Willy with an absolutely clear-eyed perception and loves him anyway – manages to keep the family together until forced to choose between her husband and her sons.
The Woman: Has an affair with Willy while he is on the road – fun-loving.
Miss Forsythe: Literally a magazine cover girl, Manhattan chic.
Letta: Miss Forsythe’s friend, along on a double date, similar.
Jenny: Charley’s secretary, small part.
