Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Mamet's Return to Broadway!
#1Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:33am
Mamet to Return to Theater of Politics
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON
Published: May 10, 2007
The last time David Mamet dipped his sharp pen into presidential politics was in 1997, when he was a co-author of the screenplay for “Wag the Dog,” about a — ahem — fictional president who tries to stage a fake war to distract from a damaging sex scandal.
Anyone wondering what he would have to say about today’s fraught political environment doesn’t have to wonder much longer. Politics are the subject of Mr. Mamet’s next play, “November,” scheduled to open in January 2008 at a Broadway theater to be announced.
The play, to be directed by Joe Mantello, is a contemporary comedy about a president named Charles Smith and is set a few days before the election, in which he is running as an incumbent. The action unfolds over one day and involves, according to a synopsis provided by the producers, “civil marriage, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons and campaign contributions.”
As a chronicler of moral frailty and heartlessness in the darker corners of American culture, Mr. Mamet has written about thieves, real estate salesmen, academics and Hollywood producers, but outside of “Wag the Dog” he has generally steered clear of American politics.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. Mamet said he had written some political essays when he was much younger and had lately been drawing crude political cartoons for huffingtonpost.com.
This play, which he described as “three men in a room trying to work things out,” was inspired by the absurdity of the presidentially pardoned turkeys every Thanksgiving.
“November” would be Mr. Mamet’s sixth play to open on Broadway (plus two revivals) but the first to have its world premiere there. “It just always seemed to be a Broadway play,” Mr. Mamet said.
Much of the team behind the play has worked together before. Mr. Mantello directed the Tony Award-winning revival of Mr. Mamet’s play “Glengarry Glen Ross” in 2005. The producers of that revival, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, will be producing “November.” Scott Pask, who a co-designer of “The Coast of Utopia” this season, will design the set.
No casting has been announced, but the chatter percolating around Broadway is that Nathan Lane is under consideration for the role of President Smith.
“I can neither confirm nor deny that he is doing the role,” Mr. Richards said. “It calls for a great actor with superlative comic timing, and certainly someone like Nathan Lane fits that requirement.”
Personally, I'm very much looking forward to this one. I'm curious as to how casting will pan out over the next few months, while the company and creative are being put together. Quite an interesting piece, it'll keep a smile on this fella's face for sure. I'd love your thoughts, concerns and opinions.
Updated On: 5/10/07 at 02:33 AM
#2re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:52amIs there a part for Patti in it? Patti adores Mamet.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#2re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:57am
Nathan Lane as the president of the United States, huh?
Well, I loved Wag the Dog, and I love David Mamet, so hopefully this turns out great!
#4re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:02am
Sorry. Double post.
Updated On: 5/10/07 at 03:02 AM
#5re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 7:04amHm, I heard he was actually working on a musical for Patti to star in...
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#6re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 12:06pmIts nice to know there is actually an American playwright who can open a new play on Broadway. What a concept!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#7re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:00pmThis appeared online last night before the Times published it this a.m. I posted a thread about it below. While Lane has not been confirmed for the role, I certainly think it would be great to see a) a new play on Broadway, b) something by Mamet and c) Lane originating a role like this.
"Life is a lesson in humility"
#8re: Mamet's Return to Broadway!
Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:41pmI think that Nathan would be fantastic in a role such as this one!!! I will be definitely be there if he is in it!!
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