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Death of a Salesman comes to Adelaide with Tony-winning LaPaglia
By Markus Hamence
Anthony LaPaglia stars as Willy Loman in Neil Armfield's acclaimed Australian production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman at Festival Theatre, Adelaide, from 26 September to 4 October. The Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, born and raised in Adelaide, returns to his hometown for his first local stage performance alongside Alison Whyte, Josh Helman and Ben O'Toole in a production that has drawn five-star reviews and exceeded 125,000 audience members across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Anthony LaPaglia will star as Willy Loman in the outstanding Australian staging of Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Death of a Salesman, making its much-awaited Adelaide debut at Festival Theatre from 26 September to 4 October. Born and raised in Adelaide, LaPaglia will take to the stage in his hometown for the first time.
Directed by Australia’s most celebrated stage director Neil Armfield, Death of a Salesman brings together an exceptional cast led by LaPaglia, alongside Helpmann Award and Silver Logie winner Alison Whyte as Linda Loman, Josh Helman as Biff Loman and Ben O’Toole as Happy Loman.
After seasons in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and soon Brisbane, it is now at last Adelaide’s turn to experience this extraordinary staging of Death of a Salesman, which has received widespread critical acclaim, including five-star reviews from Limelight and The Guardian. Limelight called the show “so gripping that the audience doesn’t make a sound”, while The Guardian hailed LaPaglia for leading “an electric, devastating tragedy”. The Sydney Morning Herald found LaPaglia’s performance “extraordinary”, while The Age described the play as “tragically relevant”.
LaPaglia has forged an extraordinary international career across stage and screen, winning a Tony Award for his performance in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge on Broadway. He also won a Golden Globe and Emmy Award for his role in the television series Without a Trace. His Australian screen credits for which he has won 3 AACTA Awards, include Lantana, Balibo, Holding the Man, Nitram and Boy Swallows Universe.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould: “Death of a Salesman is regarded as one of the greatest plays of the 20th Century. It is one of those rare works that continues to resonate with audiences across generations. We are thrilled to bring this remarkable staging to Adelaide.”
Adelaide-based producers Torben and Richelle Brookman of GWB Entertainment along with Andrew Henry Presents are behind the production and said: “Our production of Death of a Salesman has been a theatrical phenomenon since 2023 when it took Melbourne by storm. By the time we get to Adelaide it will have played over 130 performances to audiences exceeding 125,000, receiving some of the most glowing reviews imaginable. It is a huge source of pride to finally bring the production to our and Anthony LaPaglia’s hometown for what is likely to be its final season.”
Death of a Salesman follows Willy Loman, an ageing travelling salesman struggling to reconcile his dreams of success with the reality of his life, his family and the American Dream. More than 75 years after its premiere, Miller’s masterpiece remains one of the most powerful and enduring dramas in the theatrical canon.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN - Festival Theatre, 26 September to 4 October.
Presented by GWB Entertainment, Andrew Henry Presents with Adelaide Festival Centre
