Nathan Lane Says “Death of a Salesman” Revival ‘Could Be My Farewell to Broadway’

Nathan Lane stars as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, a role he spent decades preparing for

NEED TO KNOW

• The demanding role requires Lane to perform nearly three hours nightly, navigating intense emotions and minimal breaks

• Lane, 70, hinted this production could mark his farewell to Broadway after more than 40 years on stage

Nathan Laneis taking on one of theater’s most demanding roles, and he’s not ruling out that it could be his last.

The three-time Tony Award-winning stage icon, 70, is currently starring as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’sDeath of a Salesman, a role he toldThe Guardianhe spent decades preparing to feel ready to tackle.

“It’s taken this long to feel worthy of doing it,” Lane said in the interview about the drama, published on Wednesday, April 8. “I’m doing eight shows a week and I haven’t keeled over.”

That grind, he admits, is no small feat. “This eight-a-week stuff, it’s crazy,” Lane shared. “A play like this takes a toll and costs you to do it. It’s also the reason you want to do it.”

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The role’s intensity is part of its legend.

In Miller’s 1949 classic, Willy Loman is a struggling traveling salesman unraveling under the weight of his own expectations, chasing an American dream that no longer fits. The character is widely considered one of the most demanding in theater, requiring actors to remain onstage for most of the nearly three-hour play while navigating emotional collapse, memory and delusion in real time.

That grueling performance leaves little room to breathe. “It’s hard to explain unless you’re doing it," Lane said. "Nobody understands."

Even his intermission offers little relief.

“It’s, like, 10 minutes,” he said. “I pee, I have a cup of tea, I put the jacket back on and I go out and fight my way to the death.”

Over the years, Willy Loman has been defined by towering performances, beginning with Lee J. Cobb, who originated the role, and later interpretations by actors includingDustin Hoffman,Brian DennehyandPhilip Seymour Hoffman.

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Lane, for his part, is well aware of that legacy, referencing “Cobb’s wounded lion, Dustin’s tiny tyrant” and “Dennehy’s bipolar mountain of a man” when considering how others have approached the character.

Each performance has reshaped Willy Loman — a man who must balance charm, denial and quiet desperation, often all within the same scene.

The play also holds deep personal significance for Lane, who recalls being drawn to it as a child with after a 1966 televised broadcast of Cobb's performance.

“Other children were watchingGilligan’s Islandand I was more drawn to Miller’s indictment of capitalism,” he joked.

Lane made his Broadway debut in the 1982 production ofPresent Laughterand has since built one of the stage’s most celebrated careers. Equally revered for his comedic brilliance and dramatic range — from his scene-stealing performance as Max Bialystock inThe Producersto his haunting Roy Cohn inAngels in America— he has remained a defining presence in American theater, with a career that continues to evolve even now.

But more than four decades in his stage career, Lane is unclear about what comes next — or whether there is a next chapter on stage at all.

“Oh, Jesus, who the hell knows?” he toldThe Guardian. “This could be my farewell to Broadway.”

Death of a Salesmanopens on Thursday, April 9 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. The play also stars Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, Ben Ahlers, Jonathan Cake, K. Todd Freeman, John Drea, Tasha Lawrence, Jake Silbermann, Michael Benjamin Washington, Joaquin Consuelos, Jake Termine, Karl Green, Jack Falahee, Katherine Romans, Mary Neely, Aidan Cazeau, Charlie Niccolini, Alexis Bronkovic, Erik Kilpatrick and Brendan Donaldson.

The revival runs through August 9.

Tickets toDeath of a Salesmanare now on sale.

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April 12, 2026

Nathan Lane Says “Death of a Salesman” Revival ‘Could Be My Farewell to Broadway’

Nathan Lane stars as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman , a role he spent decades preparing for NEED TO KNOW The d...

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T‑Pain, The Killers, Janelle Monáe headline massive First Amendment music festival

The inauguralFreely Festivaldrew thousands to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena to celebrate freedom and the First Amendment with live music and special performances.

The new music festival made its debut in Nashville on April 8, a day filled with music, interactive experiences and performances by some of the industry’s biggest names across genres. Presented by the nonpartisan nonprofit Freedom Forum, theFreely Festivalhighlighted the power of music alongside the fundamentalfreedoms protected by the First Amendment— speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

The sold-out event featured a lineup of performances inside Bridgestone Arena’s 20,000-capacity venue, with artists including The Killers, T-Pain, Dominic Fike, Janelle Monáe and more. Singer-songwriter Avery Anna kicked off the evening around 5:30 p.m., opening the show with a series of country music ballads.

"The freedom to speak my mind and talk about my emotions and also practice whatever I believe in and my faith, that's like the foundation of my whole life. I don't know what I would do without that. And I think it's a beautiful thing to not only exercise that myself, but understand that I need to give other people the opportunity to as well," Anna told The Tennessean prior to the event.

Monáe followed Anna's set, bringing fans to their feet with a high-energy performance that opened with her 2023 track "Float."

"Nashville has had some of the best musicians come through here. This is a Music City," Monáe told the crowd.

During her set, she paused to underscore the significance of the event and share a personal message with the crowd: "I'm proud, so proud, to be Black. I'm so proud to be a part of the LGBTQI+ community. I'm proud to be non-binary, pansexual. I am so proud to just be in community with you, and I'm proud to protect other marginalized groups and stand alongside you and amplify your voice." Monáe said. "We will not sit back and allow innocent babies and people to be murdered in Gaza, Palestine, Sudan, the United States, and anywhere else."

Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose hosted the event and reminded fans of the five core freedoms in between performances.

"The music we love exists because the First Amendment protects us from government interference," DeBose said in between performances.

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Fike emphasized this notion during his set, saying "I dig this idea as a festival—freedom of speech—I think that's really dope."

As one of the night’s headliners, T-Pain delivered a high-energy set late in the show, opening his segment with his 2005 breakout hit "I’m Sprung." He kept the momentum going with fan favorites like "Booty Wurk," the "2 Step" remix, his 2007 collaboration with Kanye West, "Good Life," and more, with each track drawing loud sing-alongs and cheers from the crowd.

The Killers closed out the show with a performance to a packed arena, taking the stage around 9:45 p.m. with their hit "Mr. Brightside." They kept the momentum alive with several other fan favorites such as "Somebody Told Me," "Human," "A Dustland Fairytale," "Runaways," "Read My Mind," and "All These Things That I’ve Done," just to name a few.

"Nashville how do you feel? You feel better? You feel like you might've got healed tonight?" the band's frontman, Brandon Flowers, asked the crowd before performing the band's last song of the night, "When You Were Young."

Nashville-based artists and musicians were also spotlighted throughout the night between sets, including Morgxn, Marcella Simien, Bobby Cannavale, Javier Muñoz, and Kyshona. Kyshona sang "Travelin' Soldier," a song famously covered by The Chicks in 2002, which she dedicated to the soldiers overseas.

Before the performance segment, the festival offered a full day of public experiences and live activations on the Bridgestone Arena plaza from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring live music, free food, and giveaways related to the First Amendment theme. Interactive experiences woven throughout the festival included trivia games and a "wish wall" where attendees could add sticky notes answering the question, "Who are you speaking freely for?"

Freely Festival was shaped by award-winning director Bruce Cohen as its creative director.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network and The Tennessean's music reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay.

The Tennessean's First Amendment reporter Angele Latham can be reached by email at alatham@gannett.com or onXat @angele_latham.The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Freely Fest debuts in Nashville, celebrates First Amendment

byCustos Caelorum

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April 12, 2026

T‑Pain, The Killers, Janelle Monáe headline massive First Amendment music festival

The inauguralFreely Festivaldrew thousands to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena to celebrate freedom and the First Amendment with live ...

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McDonald’s CEO Blames His Mom’s Advice for His Viral Reaction to Trying the Big Arch Burger

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski blamed his mom’s parenting for his tiny bite and now-viral reaction to trying the fast food chain’s new Big Arch Burger

NEED TO KNOW

• The CEO recalled finding out about his viral moment from his kids before receiving an influx of calls, emails and texts

• “I’m definitely not a vegetarian,” he quipped while responding to a theory about his reaction to tasting the burger

The CEO of McDonald’s is blaming his mother for his viral reaction to trying the newBig Arch Burger.

In an interview withThe Wall Street Journalshared on Instagram on Monday, April 6,Chris Kempczinskirevealed why he took such a small and seemingly awkward bite while trying one of the fast food chain’s new menu items in anow-viral videothat he posted on Feb. 3.

“I’m definitely not a vegetarian,” the CEO quipped while responding to some of the theories surrounding his reaction to tasting the burger. “I blame it all on my mom because she told me, ‘Don’t talk with your mouth full.’ ”

“I think probably, in that case, I should have just said, ‘You know what? To hell with it, I’m gonna go talk with my mouth full.’ ”

As for why the CEO’s taste test went so viral? Many commenters claimed that Kempczinski’s reaction to tasting the burger — including saying “I love this product” — seemed to indicate that he was “acting” for the video while not actually enjoying the tiny bite he took of the burger.

“Not a single calorie was consumed in this video,” one user wrote in the comments, while another added, “Is the BIG BITE in the room with us??”

After the Feb. 3 video went viral, Kempczinski toldTheWall Street Journalthat he learned of his newfound social media fame when his kids called him and said, “Dad, you’ve gone viral — and not in a good way.”

“That’s when I knew, ‘Okay, something’s going on,’ ” he recalled. “And then I started getting texts and emails and calls. Invariably, they were all like ‘Hey, have you seen this?’ And it’s like, by the thousandth time, ‘Yeah, I’ve seen it.’ ”

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Although the response to his promotional video wasn’t all positive, Kempczinski said he was happy that people were “talking about the Big Arch” nonetheless.

“I think when you go on to social media in general you have to have a thick skin,” he added.

Beyond reactions from both fans and critics, other fast food chains — includingBurger Kingand Wendy’s — were quick to take advantage of Kempczinski’s viral moment.

On March 2, Tom Curtis, the president of Burger King U.S. & Canada, got his own viral moment when he shared avideoof himself taking an enthusiastic bite of a Whopper.

“Thought we’d replay this,” the brand wrote in the caption.

Commenters were quick to make the connection between the two videos, writing, “Now compare this to the McDonald’s CEO.”

Read the original article onPeople

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April 11, 2026

McDonald’s CEO Blames His Mom’s Advice for His Viral Reaction to Trying the Big Arch Burger

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski blamed his mom’s parenting for his tiny bite and now-viral reaction to trying the fast food chain’s ne...

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Noah Wyle addresses HBO changes to 'The Pitt' controversial ICE episode

Noah Wyle, star doctor on"The Pitt,"says he only found out about changes to the show's controversial ICE episode after the edits had been negotiated with HBO.

The March 19 episode, titled "5:00 p.m.," featured ICE agents bringing a detained patient into the Pittsburgh emergency room, causing fear and disruption for the patients and medical staff, and resulting in the arrest of a nurse.

Executive producerJohn Wells previously revealedthat HBO had requested changes to the episode spotlighting the hot-button political topic.

Speaking toVarietyin a story published April 9, Wyle, who is an executive producer on the show, said he was initially alarmed when he learned about the changes.

"The negotiation was being driven by political reasons, creative reasons, fear, uncertainty, all sorts of legitimate reasons," Wyle said. "I’ll be honest and say that I was concerned about the edits we were making initially."

But the slightly toned-down final result ended up being "show the bear" as opposed to "poke the bear," said Wyle. It made for a better episode.

"I actually think we arrived at something more elegant and a little bit more restrained, which leaves a little bit more ambiguity in it than we may have started out with," Wyle said. "It’s healthier for the storyline in the long run."

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Away from "The Pitt," Supriya Ganesh is an awards show star, attending the 32nd Annual Actor Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 1.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "The Pitt" won best ensemble at the SAG Actor awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Isa Briones and Supriya Ganesh dance at The Actor Awards Netflix afterparty.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

'The Pitt' star Supriya Ganesh, fan-favorite Dr. Samira Mohan, exits

The episode was conceived and filmed in December. But before it premiered in March, the issue of ICE agents in emergency rooms had grown even more politically charged afterPresident Donald Trump escalated enforcement in Minnesota, and the fatal shootings ofRenée GoodandAlex Prettiintensified national scrutiny of ICE.

Wells told"The Town" podcastin February that HBO was supportive of the show: "We showed them the research and they said, 'That looks like a good story.' " But the company sought changes.

"They just wanted to make sure it was balanced," said Wells. "The thing we have to be careful about in showing any of these issues ... is to make sure we're presenting both points of view."

Wyle agreed that the attention on the topic allowed for a slightly more subtle approach.

"Because the context came out after we’d filmed that episode, we didn’t have to do half of what we had done," said Wyle. "That had already been imprinted into the mind of most Americans."

The reverberations of the ICE episode are still felt on "The Pitt," with the staff emotionally reeling as the award-winning series moves to its Season 2 finale on April 16.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Noah Wyle talks 'The Pitt' ICE episode controversy, HBO's changes

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April 11, 2026

Noah Wyle addresses HBO changes to 'The Pitt' controversial ICE episode

Noah Wyle, star doctor on"The Pitt,"says he only found out about changes to the show's controversial ICE episode after th...

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LFO's Brad Fischetti Shares Heartbreak Over the Tragic Early Deaths of All Three Of His Bandmates: 'How Could This Happen?'

Brad Fischetti originally started LFO with Rich Cronin and Brian 'Brizz' Gillis

NEED TO KNOW

• When Gillis left the group, he was replaced by Harold 'Devin' Lima, who became one of Fischetti's best friends

• Fischetti opens up about the death of all three of his bandmates before they reached the age of 50

Brad Fischetti has experienced tremendous loss in his time in a boy band.

In ID'sBoy Band Confidential,Fischetti speaks candidly about being the last surviving member of LFO. The trio "started as a rap group," and evolved as the original lineup — Fischetti, Rich Cronin and Brian "Brizz" Gillis — got their start.

In 1998, Gillis left the group and was replaced by Harold 'Devin' Lima. The new trio "wrote a lot of our songs ourselves," which was uncommon for the landscape at the time.

"'Summer Girls,' it's an anthem. It's this classic... the video could be shot today, you know? We did the ocean, the beach scene. At the end, Devin and I had our arms around each other and walked into the ocean. It's really timeless."

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Not only was "Summer Girls" a hit, but their second single, "Girl on TV," also charted, inspired by the fact that Cronin "was infatuated with Jennifer Love Hewitt," who they got to appear in the music video.

When it came to their third single, however, the band started seeing their momentum slow down. "It got added to a bunch of radio stations, but it didn't really hit. When the sales didn't hit, I think the label was like, 'Well, that's that. Time to move on.' "

The group disbanded and in 2005, Fischetti got a call from Cronin's brother with heartbreaking news.

"He's like, 'Hey Brad, I got some bad news. Rich has leukemia.' I had heard that Rich was having trouble with his legs. So I texted him like, 'Hey man, I heard you were having some trouble walking. I figure there's two ways to get you out of bed — one is a beautiful blonde, or a tour.' I said, 'What do you think? You want to tour again?'"

Fischetti never got a response. "A few weeks later, I found out from a fan, actually, that he had died."

The loss was hard for Fischetti, but he still had a close relationship with Lima, who was living with him at the time.

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"We just started making music together. So we did a tour, it's amazing," Fischetti recalls. "We were going to do two more legs, but I remember one day, I was at my office and Alan, who played acoustic guitar for us, he came in and goes, 'Can you talk? Devin's in the hospital.' "

He continued, "Devin was never sick. I run to the hospital and he's not in his bed. He's sitting on a chair, meditating. But then, on the desk, they hav a list of doctors and one of the doctors listed was an oncologist. And I was like, 'Oh my God.' "

Fischetti tearfully explained that Lima had a "very rare cancer, called primary adrenal cancer," adding, "Your adrenal gland's like a little acorn-sized organ on top of your kidney, and it just engulfed his entire kidney."

The cancer spread throughout Lima's body and, "For the next year, nothing worked."

"I used to yell at God, like, 'Please don't take him. Please.' He passed away and he was not only my bandmate, but my best friend."

Fischetti took himself to a doctor, looking into his own health. When he got good news for himself, he thought it was the end of a painful saga, but that didn't prove to be the case. In 2023, Fischetti received a call from his manager with more difficult news.

"He goes, 'I don't think you're ready for this.' Then he goes, 'Brian's dead.' "

The news was devastating for Fischetti, who recalls, "I cried like the way I died when Devin died... How could this happen? How is this possible, that these three guys under 50 are all dead?"

"If you look from the outside, people say, 'Oh, LFO is cursed.' I don't really believe in that kind of stuff. But who knows? Maybe by the time this airs, I'm gone," he said.

Today, Fischetti keeps the band's legacy going, performing LFO's biggest hits with members of O-Town.

Boy Band Confidential: A Hollywood Demons Eventpremieres Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID, with both titles available to stream on HBO Max. The second season ofHollywood Demonspremieres Monday, April 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID.

Read the original article onPeople

byCustos Caelorum

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April 11, 2026

LFO's Brad Fischetti Shares Heartbreak Over the Tragic Early Deaths of All Three Of His Bandmates: 'How Could This Happen?'

Brad Fischetti originally started LFO with Rich Cronin and Brian 'Brizz' Gillis NEED TO KNOW When Gillis l...

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