Interview: DEATH OF A SALESMAN to Play Wichita Community Theatre

The highly anticipated Wichita Community Theatre production of Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, opens January 27th. The process, according to the company, has been intense and academic.

Death of a Salesman, arguably the finest American play in the canon, explores universal themes, including the American dream, family, disappointment, and identity. It opened on Broadway in 1949 and won the Tony for Best Play as well as the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Directing is local favorite Bill Coleman, a respected educator, actor and, of course, director. Of the experience, Coleman says, "It's been a true pleasure to collaborate with this dedicated, talented, and creative group of artists on a play that remains the great American tragedy. We hope an audience in Wichita, Kansas, in 2016, can feel something of what the Greeks must have felt in the fifth century B.C. when watching Antigone or Oedipus Rex: growing dread, growing compassion, radiant grief."

Actor Lewis D. Mize plays Happy, the younger son, who lives in the shadow of his brother, Biff. "The show will be amazing under the brilliant direction of Bill. I cannot imagine this icon show under anyone else's guidance."

The cast is as follows:

Willy Loman - David Weills

Linda Loman - Michele Irene Janssens

Charley - Dan E. Campbell

Biff Loman - Bryan Welsby

Happy Loman - Lewis D. Mize

Bernard - Dan Overholt

Howard - Logan Buehler

Ben - Keith Boyer

The Woman - Claire Wehry

Miss Forsythe - Keely Connolly

Letta - Alison Bridget Chambers

Jenny - Zoe Burke

Stanley - Daniel Hughes

Other Waiter: Caleb Curry

Some performances are already sold out, so call for tickets before they are gone.

The show runs from January 27th through February 7th: Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday the 31st at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday the 7th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets range from $12 to $14. Wichita Community Theatre is located at 258 N Fountain. Call (316) 686-1282 for tickets.