Arena Stage Presents Miller's 'Salesman' & 'View from the Bridge' in Rep

Arena Stage will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge in rotating repertory as a salute to one of America's best playwrights, Arthur Miller. Artistic Director Molly Smith is proud to bring back repertory programming after a 17-year hiatus to anchor the Arthur Miller Festival, which will also include Monday evening readings, screenings and lectures exploring his other work. Delaney Williams (HBO's The Wire) and acclaimed Washington performers Nancy Robinette, Rick Foucheux and Naomi Jacobson join a talented company of actors and designers to bring two of Miller's most renowned plays to D.C. audiences. Death of a Salesman runs March 14 - May 18 with the press opening performance on Thursday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. and A View from the Bridge runs March 21 - May 17 with the press opening on Friday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m.

For a complete list of dates and show times visit www.arenastage.com

In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, who made his living riding on a "smile and a shoeshine," is constantly haunted by missed opportunities and a troubled past. While Willy continues to chase his elusive American Dream, Linda struggles to help her increasingly desperate husband.

A View from the Bridge also examines the promise and failure of the American Dream through Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone. Eddie lives in a tight-knit Italian neighborhood with his wife Beatrice and orphaned niece Catherine, whose emerging independence disturbs him. When two of Beatrice's Sicilian cousins enter the country illegally, Catherine falls in love with one of them. Eddie is then forced to confront his feelings for his niece as he desperately tries to keep his family from unraveling.

Arthur Miller (1915-2005) was born in New York City and studied at the University of Michigan. After All My Sons, which won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and two Tony Awards, Miller gained worldwide fame with Death of a Salesman (1949), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize and another New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. Within a short period, Death of a Salesman was translated into over a dozen languages. Other plays include The Crucible, which received the Tony Award, A View from the Bridge (1955), A Memory of Two Mondays, After the Fall, Incident at Vichy, The Price, The Creation of the World and Other Business and The American Clock. He has also written two novels, Focus and The Misfits, which was filmed in 1960, and the text for In Russia, In the Country and Chinese Encounters, three books of photographs by Inge Morath. His more recent works include a memoir, Timebends, and the plays The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, The Last Yankee, Broken Glass, Mr. Peter's Connections and his final play Finishing the Picture, which premiered at the Goodman Theatre in 2004. Other published books include Echoes Down the Corridor: Collected Essays, 1994-2000 and On Politics and the Art of Acting. Mr. Miller was given the 2001 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

The director of Death of a Salesman, Timothy Bond, is currently serving as the new Producing Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University's Department of Drama and has been a leader at regional theaters throughout the U.S. for over 20 years. In his 11 years as Associate Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he directed plays by William Shakespeare, August Wilson, Suzan-Lori Parks, Edward Albee, Lorraine Hansberry, Lynn Nottage, Octavio Soliz and Pearl Cleage, among others. Prior to that, Mr. Bond spent 13 years with the Seattle Group Theatre, serving as artistic director for five. He has also directed at the Guthrie Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee and Indiana Repertory Theatres, as well as Cleveland Play House. A graduate of Howard University and the University of Washington, Mr. Bond welcomes this opportunity to return to D.C.

Daniel Aukin, director of A View from the Bridge, was Artistic Director of Soho Rep from 1999 to 2006. Mr. Aukin produced world premieres by some of New York's most iconoclastic theater artists including Adam Bock, Mac Wellman, Maria Irene Fornes, Young Jean Lee and Richard Maxwell. At Soho Rep, he directed Mark Schultz's  Everything Will Be Different, Melissa James Gibson's [sic](OBIE Award), Quincy Long's The Year of the Baby, Mac Wellman's Cat's-Paw, Marie Irene Fornes' Molly's Dream (OBIE Award) and Melissa James Gibson's Suitcase (also at La Jolla Playhouse). Other credits include Matt Smart's The Hopper Collection for The Huntington Theatre Company, Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine for The La Jolla Playhouse, Melissa James Gibson's Brooklyn Bridgefor The Children's Theater of Minneapolis and Current Nobody for Woolly Mammoth.

David Agranov is Rodolpho in View. He is a D.C. native, and his roles include Frank in This Lime Tree Bower, Edmund in King Lear and Tommy in Trainspotting (LA Drama Critics Award for both), Marchbanks in Candida and Michael in Indiscretions (San Francisco Drama Circle Award for both). Mr. Agranov created the one man show: The Chet Baker Project, which he has performed in New York, LA and Rome.

Louis Cancelmi is Bernard in Salesman and Marco in View. His D.C. credits include the world premiere of Don DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding (Steppenwolf Theatre Co. and the Kennedy Center). On Broadway and the West End, he appeared in Vincent in Brixton directed by Richard Eyre. Other New York credits include the title role in the NY premiere of John Jesurun's Philoktetes (Soho Rep), The Wooden Breeks (MCC Theater), Peninsula (Soho Rep), Night Sings Its Songs, The Vortex and Sincerity Forever (The Flea). Regional credits include Lulu (Yale Rep, dir. Mark Lamos); The Drawer Boy (Paper Mill Playhouse, dir. Anna D. Shapiro); and UntilWeFindEachOther (Steppenwolf, dir. Anna D. Shapiro).

Rick Foucheux is Willy Loman in Salesman and Louis in View. Hepreviously appeared at Arena in Born Yesterday, The Goat and Shakespeare in Hollywood. He is a member of The Acting Company at Woolly Mammoth, where he was featured last season in Dead Man's Cell Phone. Other recent credits include An Enemy of the People and The Beaux Stratagem at the Shakespeare Theatre and a solo performance, The Director: The Third Act of Elia Kazan, at Roundhouse. Last fall, Mr. Foucheux appeared as Tevye in Olney Theatre's Fiddler on the Roof, and he returns there this summer to play George W. Bush in Stuff Happens. He received the Helen Hayes Award in 2006 for Take Me Out at Studio Theatre and in 2000 for Edmond at Source Theatre.

Tim Getman is Happy in Salesman and Mike in View. He returns to Arena after appearing in this season's Christmas Carol 1941. Earlier this season, Mr. Getman appeared in the area premiere of The Unmentionables at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. He has appeared at numerous theaters in the D.C. area and the Actor's Theatre of Louisville among others. Mr. Getman is an Artistic Associate with Rorschach Theatre and a recipient of a Mary Goldwater Award.

Tara Giordano is Letta/Jenny/Secretary in Salesman and Ensemble in View. She was also in this season's Christmas Carol 1941. She has appeared locally at several area theaters, with favorite roles including Kitty in Anna Karenina, Porgy Bear in Lovesong of the Elecric Bear, Shelly in Batboy: The Musical, and Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka (first national tour). Her New York area credits include NYMF, Prospect Theatre, Potomac Theatre Project at Atlantic Stage 2, The Peoples Improv Theater, McCarter Theatre and Two River Theater (Louise in The Underpants).

Naomi Jacobson is The Woman in Salesman and Beatrice in View. She is an Arena Stage Affiliated Artist, and has performed at Arena in The Misanthrope, The Women and Agamemnon and His Daughters among others. Also a Woolly Mammoth Theatre company member, she played this fall in The Unmentionables and in last season's Dead Man's Cell Phone and Vigils. Recent credits include Abstract Nude for The DC Fringe Festival, State of the Union at Ford's Theatre and Arena Pericles at The Goodman, Carter Barron and The Shakespeare Theatre Company. She has performed at numerous D.C. theaters, at Blue Light in NYC, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company and at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. She is a Helen Hayes Award and D.C. individual artist grant recipient.

Virginia Kull is Miss Forsythe in Salesman and Catherine in View. Her Broadway credits include Old Acquaintance at the Roundabout Theatre Company and the upcoming Dividing the Estate with Lincoln Center. Off Broadway, she has appeared in Charles Grodin's At Home with Bill, at Primary Stages in Horton Foote's Dividing The Estate, and with the Keen Company in Theophilus North and The Breadwinner. Recently, she was seen in The Tempest at Actors Theatre of Louisville. She appeared regionally at Geva Theatre in Our Town, Merrimack Rep in The Breadwinner, North Carolina Stage Company in A Doll's House and at Shakespeare Festival of Dallas in As You Like It.

Jeremy S Holm is Biff in Salesman and Tony/1^st Submarine in View. Hereturns to D.C. after having first performed here as The Musketeer in The Shakespeare Theatre's production of Cyrano DeBergerac. His regional credits include John Proctor in The Crucible at The Capital Repertory; Slim in Of Mice and Men at The Cleveland Playhouse & Studio Arena; Sleuth at The Hangar Theatre; Jason in Medea at The Chamber Theatre; Vronsky in Anna Karenina for Blake Robison at The Clarence Brown Theatre; and Mat Burke in Anna Christie at The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and at The New Harmony Theatre. Most recently, Mr. Holm played Owen Musser in The Foreigner at The Pioneer Theatre Company. 

Nancy Robinette is Linda in Salesman and Mrs. Lipari in View. She is alsoan Arena Affiliated Artist, and most recently appeared at Arena Stage in Christmas Carol 1941, Well and Born Yesterday. She has recently been seen at the Studio Theatre in Frozen and in Souvenir, at Ford's Theatre in State of the Union and at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in The Beaux' Strategem and in The Rivals, and is a recent recipient of their Will Award. She is a former Fox Fellow and a Helen Hayes Award recipient.

Stephen F. Schmidt is Howard Wagner in Salesman and 1^st Immigration officer in View. He returns to Arena where he appeared in Noises Off, Damn Yankees, Camelot and Guys and Dolls. He recently appeared in Treasure Islandat Round House where previously he appeared in A Prayer for Owen Meany, One Shoe Off, Chemistry of Change and The Fantasticks. Mr. Schmidt is the recipient of the 2006 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical for Lockstock in Urinetown at Signature Theatre. At Center Stage, he has appeared in Arsenic and Old Lace, Sweeney Todd and Winter's Tale among others.

J. Fred Shiffman is Uncle Ben in Salesman and Mr. Lipari in View. He has been an Affiliated Artist at Arena for seven seasons, having appeared in over two dozen productions dating back to 1982. He was the Head Waiter in last season's She Loves Me and Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret. He also appeared in Damn Yankees, Passion Play, a cycle and Anna Christie. This past season, he appeared at The Shakespeare Theater Company in The Taming of the Shrew, at Studio Theatre in Souvenir and at Woolly Mammoth in Vigils. He played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at San Diego's Old Globe and recorded Barefoot in the Park with Laura Linney and Eric Stoltz for L.A. Theatre Works. He has been nominated for ten Helen Hayes Awards and has twice been presented with the award. Next up at Arena will be The Mystery of Irma Vep with Brad Oscar.

Noble Shropshire is Charley in Salesman and Alfieri in View. His Broadway credits include Drowsy Chaperone; Royal National Theatre's premiere of Tennessee Williams's Not About Nightingales with Trevor Nunn; and Candida at Roundabout. Off Broadway, he has appeared at La MaMa and as Parris in The Crucible at Roundabout; for CSC, he appeared in the title roles of Hamlet, Peer Gynt, Tartuffe, Leonce & Lena, as well as playing the Fool in King Lear, Mephisto in Faust, Hummel in Ghost Sonata, Robespierre in Danton's Death and Gayev in The Cherry Orchard. His credits include work at numerous regional theaters.

Cliff Williams III is Stanley in Salesman and 2nd immigration Officer in View.  He choreographed Gem of the Ocean last season. Other D.C. appearances include Antonio in Twelfth Night and Sergi in Nothing Sacred with Firebelly Productions, as well as Bubba in the premiere of Local Story with Mapcap Players. Mr. Williams has spent much time at Actors Theatre of Louisville both choreographing and acting in several of the 05-06 Humana plays, as well as others.

Delaney Williams is Eddie in View. He returns to Arena Stage where he has appeared previously in The Rainmaker, Orpheus Descending, Uncle Vanya and The Waiting Room. A native Washingtonian, he has performed locally at Ford's, Olney, Round House, Shakespeare, Signature, Studio and Woolly Mammoth, as well as with Washington Stage Guild and Washington Shakespeare Company. In film and television, he most recently appeared opposite Brian Cox in the feature film Red at Sundance '08 and is currently appearing in his regular role as Sgt. Jay Landsman on the fifth and final season of HBO's acclaimed original series "The Wire."

The creative team includes Loy Arcenas (sets), Laurie Churba Kohn (costumes), Nancy Schertler (lighting), Michael Keck (composer), Bettie O. Rogers (Hair & Wig Designer), Mark Bly (Production Dramaturg). Stage Manager for both productions is Sue White; Assistant Stage Managers are Amber Dickerson and Angelita Thomas;Directing Fellow is Vijay Mathew; Directing Intern is Jamieson Baker; Dramaturgy intern is Janine Sobeck; and Stage Management Fellow is Anna Johansson.

Tickets for Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge range from $47-66, with discounts available for students and groups. A limited number of $10 tickets for patrons 30 and under go on sale beginning on Monday for the following week of performances (Tuesday through Sunday) until all available $10 tickets sell out. Patrons may purchase $10 tickets by phone, online or in person. (All patrons must be 30 or younger.) Patrons will be required to present valid ID for age verification. HOTTIX, a limited number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets, are available from 90-30 minutes before curtain prior to every performance for all patrons. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.arenastage.org, at the Arena Stage Sales Office at 1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202, or by phone at 202-488-3300.

Patrons who simultaneously purchase tickets to both Death of a Salesman and A View from the Bridge will receive 10% off the price of the tickets (offer available by phone and in person only).

Sales Office/Subscriptions call 202-488-3300
TTY for Deaf patrons call 202-484-0247
Group Sales Hotline call 202-488-4380
Info for patrons with disabilities call 202-488-3300

For a complete list of dates and show times visit www.arenastage.com

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