Students bring classic “Death of a Salesman” to Prep
Death of a Salesman was presented on June 23 and 24, directed by 2017 Prep graduate Gregor Patti. Mr. Kenneth McDade was the faculty advisor for the play.
The play, by Arthur Miller, was first produced in 1949. It received Tony Awards and a Pulitzer prize and is considered an American classic.
The cast began practicing for the play in May. Once school was out, the cast started practicing every day in the evening. The cast was complete with Prep alumni and current Prep students.
Lawson Marchetti was the Assistant Director. Emily Michael was the costume designer, and Jennings Duncan composed an original score for the play.
Patti and Landfair, along with many of the rest of the cast, were responsible last summer for the student-produced version of Of Mice and Men, which also received a great deal of acclaim.
The play was performed on Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm and 7pm. Thomas McBride, who played Happy Loman, said, “During the set strike we re-enacted the scene where Willy throws a mug at the cabinet, except with each other character throwing the mug. We destroyed a lot of perfectly good mugs that day, but it was totally worth it.”
Polly Watkins, who played The Woman, said, “Performing in Death of a Salesman was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever experienced. With Gregor’s help, daily encouragement, and passion for the theater, we were all able to grow so much as both actors and humans. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.”
There were many people from the Prep community who helped put together the wonderful set, and the attention to the minute details was incredible. The New York City skyline was made from wooden buildings, the cabinets had intentionally chipped paint, and the costumes were amazing.
