Theater News

Mamet Meets his Makers: An All Female Cast Set to Live-Read Glengarry Glen Ross

Allison Janney, Catherine O’Hara, Mae Whitman, and more will Occupy Mamet’s all-male sales floor.

Maria Bello as Dave Moss/Ed Harris and Allison Janney as George Aaronow/Alan Arkin
Maria Bello as Dave Moss/Ed Harris and Allison Janney as George Aaronow/Alan Arkin
© Kelley L. Smith

We’re willing to bet “Always be closing” is not a new idea to this group of Los Angeles elite.

Academy Award nominee Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) has chosen to direct David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross as the script for his acclaimed Live Read series in Los Angeles – gender-swapping the all-male cast with the finer sex.

“It’s the perfect candidate as there is no reason this script needs to be read by men outside of our own social stereotypes,” Reitman told Entertainment Weekly. Glengarry tells the story of a group of a group of cutthroat, foulmouthed, unhappy real estate salesmen (saleswomen!) involved in a high-stakes competition. The actresses will be using Mamet’s screenplay of Glengarry Glen Ross, rather than the stage version on which his film was based.

Robin Wright as Ricky Roma/Al Pacino
Robin Wright as Ricky Roma/Al Pacino
© Kelley L. Smith

According to Entertainment Weekly, the current cast includes Golden Globe nominee Robin Wright (House of Cards) as Ricky Roma, Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone) as Shelley Levene, Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello (A History of Violence) as Dave Moss, Emmy and Drama Desk Award winner Allison Janney (The West Wing) as George Aaronow, and Mae Whitman (Parenthood) as John Williamson. The only stage veteran of the cast, Allison Janney, was also Tony nominated for her 2009 Broadway turn in 9 to 5.

The women-only February 21 reading is already sold out.