More than three decades later, movie fans are still familiar with the 1992 classic,Glengarry Glen Ross. The movie was directed by James Foley and written by David Mamet — adapted from his own play which had premiered almost a decade earlier, in 1983.Glengarry Glen Rossfollows a group of realtors who are determined to keep their jobs during tough times. The movie has an extraordinarily strong cast, with leading roles for Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, and Jonathan Pryce — to name but a few.
An extremely well-received movie, it would seem a strange decision to recast such incredible actors. Except, these were not the original actors fromGlengarry Glen Ross. The original cast was that of the 1983 United Kingdom production of the stage play, and featured British actors in all the roles. The following year, the show transferred to Broadway, at which point some major names were in the cast — notably, Joe Mantegna played Richard Roma, who would go on to be portrayed by Pacino in the movie eight years later. Now, in 2025,Glengarry Glen Rossis coming back to Broadway — and the new cast just about matches the 1992 movie’s star power.
Leading the new production of the play areBob Odenkirkas Shelley Levene (Lemmon in the movie),Bill Burras Dave Moss (originally Ed Harris),Michael McKeanas George Aaronow (following Alan Arkin), andKieran Culkinas Richard Roma, the part who, on screen, was played by Al Pacino. Three out of these four actors have a connection through theBreaking Baduniverse, although Bill Burr was only inBreaking Badand McKean only inBetter Call Saul.
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Either way,Odenkirk’s chemistry with both Burr and McKeanis utterly brilliant, and it’s certain that all three actors will bring their talents as fellow shared universe alumni. Meanwhile, Culkin has more than proved himself an incredible performer, especially through his amazing work appearing as Roman Roy inSuccession; his recent role inA Real Painalongside writer-director Jesse Eisenberg has brought him a Golden Globe, and is likely to earn him an Oscar. All four actors feel like perfect new versions of the movie’s casting, and seeing all of them on stage together is a tantalizing prospect.
But What About Alec Baldwin’s Character?
Fans of the film unfamiliar with the play will be confused about one thing — the lack of Blake.Alec Baldwin’s phenomenal performance was, in fact, constructed entirely around a character who doesn’t appear in the stage play. Blake was written solely for the movie version of the story, as a way to make the context of the severity of the real estate industry even clearer to the audience. His performance was utterly gripping, and it earned him a number of award nominations, both alone and alongside the rest of the cast.
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Blake’s monologue in the film (the “Always Be Closing” speech) has become one of the most famous in cinema history, and it has since been parodied and referenced in many films, TV series, and other media. However, audiences should fear not — the stage version ofGlengarry Glen Rossworks perfectly well without Blake, and with Culkin, Odenkirk, Burr, and McKean treading the boards, there’s unlikely to be a shortage of similarly incredible moments. It is always important to bear in mind that, although the story is the same, the play and the film do have some differences — but this is by design.
One of America’s Greatest Modern Plays
Glengarry Glen Rossthrives in its simplicity. The story revolves around four regular middle-class real estate vendors in their attempt to sell plots of land — the name came from two of the sites mentioned in the script: Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. As well as highlighting aspects of the real estate industry which outsiders may not be aware of, the play functions for those who have no interest in that part of the story by thematically straddling a number of different concepts. Masculinity and capitalism’s corruption of the American dream are recurring themes throughout, and the show uses subtext to build up to so much more than it appears on the surface.
The new production is directed by Patrick Marber, an English director who previously won an Olivier Award for his production ofCloser, which premiered at the National Theatre in London, England, the same theatre whereGlengarry Glen Rossfirst opened. Marber is an experienced theatrical director and is certain to bring his own angle when working with a cast of such strong performers. It’s sure to be a landmark production — and this is a play which has regularly had stellar casts. Supporting the four leads are Donald Webber Jr (who will shortly be appearing inSeveranceSeason 2), Howard W. Overshown, and John Pirruccello.Get tickets and information here.
Glengarry Glen Ross
In a high-pressure real estate office, desperation drives a group of salesmen to extreme measures to secure their jobs. As they navigate deceit, betrayal, and cutthroat competition, each character’s moral compass is tested. With tensions escalating and stakes at an all-time high, the salesmen grapple with the consequences of their actions. Amidst a backdrop of intrigue and manipulation, the story unfolds over two intense days, culminating in surprising revelations and poignant moments of reflection.
Glengarry Glen Rossplays at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in a strictly limited run from March 10th to May 31st, 2025. Tickets are on sale now.
