Sam Interviews Nathan Lane on ‘Fresh Air’

**Terry Gross** (0:03)
From WHYY in Philadelphia, I'm Terry Gross with Fresh Air.
Today, Nathan Lane, he just received a Tony nomination for his starring role as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Lane is a veteran of the stage, often in comedic and musical roles. But in the role of Loman, which he does eight times a week, he's noticed something different in the audience.

**Nathan Lane** (0:25)
There's an old joke, it's just my job is just to keep 1,600 people from coughing.
It's kind of true. But when you hear what we hear during Salesman, you hear people weeping in the dark.

**Terry Gross** (0:39)
At the age of 70, Lane says, this production of Salesman is the thing he's most proud of.
Later, Kentucky reviews new songs by Ella Langley, Robin and Alison Russell.
This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. Our guest today is three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane. He was just nominated for a Tony for his starring role as Willy Loman in the new Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. The role is a departure from the comedic larger-than-life performances Lane is best known for, like in The Birdcage, Guys and Dolls, and The Producers. Lane spoke with guest interviewer Sam Fragoso, host of the interview podcast, Talk Easy. Here's Sam.

**Sam Fragoso** (2:00)
Since his Broadway debut at the tender age of 26 and Noel Coward's present laughter, Tony winner Nathan Lane has long been regarded as one of the great entertainers of the stage in the tradition of Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel, and Bill Silvers. But in the last decade, Lane couldn't help but think of Peggy Lee singing, Is That All There Is? Which inspired Lane to pivot to more dramatic roles. Hickey in the Iceman Cometh, Roy Cohn in Angels in America, and now Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. In the hit new Broadway revival, Lane transforms as the prideful patriarch and traveling salesman, oscillating back and forth between bravado and desperation, an emblem of the dissolution of the American family and their dreams. Arthur Miller's 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winning play has had several acclaimed productions led by great actors like Lee J. Cobb, Dustin Hoffman, Wendell Pierce, and the late Brian Dennehy, who was a mentor to Lane.
The Guardian has praised his portrayal as, quote, the crown jewel in a life spent on stage, end quote. The Tonys seem to agree when the nominations were announced earlier this week.
Nathan Lane, welcome back to Fresh Air.

**Nathan Lane** (3:15)
Thank you. Thanks for having me.

**Sam Fragoso** (3:17)
You were nominated this week for a Tony for your performance as Willy Loman and Death of a Salesman. This marks, I think, your seventh nomination, is that right?

**Nathan Lane** (3:26)
That is correct.

**Sam Fragoso** (3:27)
I've heard there are pre-show rituals that performers have before they go on stage. Are there rituals or traditions you have the morning of Tony nominations?

**Nathan Lane** (3:41)
I sleep.
I try to get as much sleep as possible because this is a big mountain to climb, so I don't have any rituals in the hopes of Tony nominations. I just hope for the best.

**Sam Fragoso** (3:56)
Why don't we hear a little bit of what that performance that you're nominated for sounds like? The play alternates between the past and present, and so in this flashback, Willy has just come home from a sales trip up along the East Coast, where he's met by his two young boys.
Where'd you go this time, dad?

**Nathan Lane** (4:13)
Well, I got on the road and I went north to Providence, met the mayor.

**Terry Gross** (4:16)
The mayor of Providence.

**Nathan Lane** (4:18)
He was sitting in the hotel lobby. What'd he say? He said, morning, and I said, you got a fine city here, mayor, and then he had coffee with me. And then I went to Waterbury. Waterbury is a fine city. Big clock city. The famous Waterbury clock. Sold a nice bill there, and then Boston. Boston is the cradle of the revolution, a fine city and a couple of other towns in Massachusetts, and on to Portland and Bangor and straight home.

**Sam Fragoso** (4:44)
Gee, I'd love to go with you sometime, dad.

**Nathan Lane** (4:46)
As soon as summer comes.

**Sam Fragoso** (4:47)
Promise.

**Nathan Lane** (4:48)
Ho ho, you and Happ and I, and I'll show you all the towns. America is full of beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people, and they know me, boys. They know me. This summer, huh? We'll take our bathing suits.

**Terry Gross** (5:20)
Carry your bags, Pop.

**Nathan Lane** (5:21)
Oh, won't that be something, me coming into the Boston stores with you boys carrying my bags.