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Danielle Peleg Gallery
presents Original Paintings,
Drawings and Lithographs by 13 Year Old
ALEXANDRA NECHITA
wind up on Broadway. "It wasn't even
a far-fetched thought," says Witt.
Like the rest of the cast, he was cer-
tain Salesman would enjoy a limited
Midwest run. This was just one play
in the Goodman Theater Production
series. We never had any illusions or
dreams of taking the play to
Broadway.
However, after the rave reviews hit
the newsstands, prominent producers
began showing up, and plans were made
to move the show to New York. Before
they knew it, most of the original cast
members wereperforming Miller's great
drama on the New York stage.
"I feel a terrific responsibili-
ty to do the best I can in this
play," said Witt, who met
Miller while in rehearsal both
in Chicago and in New York.
"We all feel obligated to our-
selves as well as to Arthur
Miller. This is not simply a
play — it's great literature."
Ironically, Death of a
Salesman was the first play Witt
ever saw. And, in the span of
his theatrical career, he has por-
trayed several of the roles —
including Willie and Biff.
Born and raised in Chicago,
Witt had always wanted to be
an actor. He attended the
Goodman Theater SChool in
Chicago and moved to New
York after graduation. He
hooked up with Joseph Papp,
and wound up doing
Shakespeare in the Park.
After marrying and starting
a family, Witt, who has three children
but has since divorced, moved back to
Chicago to direct community theater
and become an actor-in-residence at
the Goodman Theater School.
Like many serious thespians, his
work has taken him to many places,
including Washington, D.C, where
he and his family spent several years.
He has performed in regional theaters
across the United States, and returned
to the New York stage, including
Broadway, to play Shelley in David
Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, a role he
reprised in Edmonton, Canada.
His other credits include Uncle
Vanya, Twelfth Night, Love's Labour
Lost, Waiting for Godot, Our Town and
All My Sons, another Miller. play.
All tolled, Witt has appeared in
more than 300 plays, spanning every-
thing from drama to comedy. "I can't
even count how many I have done,
he laughed
He's been offered a bevy of televi-
"
"Mozart with a paintbrush"
Charles Osgood
"She's a child prodigy"
Newsweek
"... a budding Picasso"
USA Today
•
Reception for the Artist
Saturday, June 12 from 6 pm to 9 pm
For Reservations, call 248.626-5810
Danielle Peleg Gallery
4301 Orchard Lake Rd. at Lone Pine • Crosswinds Mall • West Bloomfield
248.626.5810
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30-6:00, Sun 12:00-5:00
unica
Unique gifts, accessories and
340 East Maple Road
furniture. Extensive selection of
Birmingham, Michigan 48009
"
books on design, architecture,
p: 248.593.9085
art glass and studio pottery.
f: 248.593.9087
We also offer bridal & gift registry.
w: http://www.un icahome.com
6/4
1999
Dp_troif lEwish_Niewc
.
sion roles as well, and has guest-starred
on more than 75 series. His list of TV
credits includes Law and Order, Alice,
Hill Street Blues, The Rockford Files and
The Bob Newhart Show.
Although he grew up in a Jewish
home, and his grandparents were
strictly kosher, Witt was not raised
religious. "I have always identified
myself as a Jew, but it wasn't until I
visited the Soviet Union in 1973 that I
felt much closer to Judaism," he said.
"I made arrangements to visit dissi-
dents, and I got to know one man in
particular. He had been thrown in jail
0
Brian Dennehy (Willie Loman)
and Howard Witt (Charlie), both
nominated for their performances
in "Death of a Salesman."
several times and we talked about his
relationship to God. That experience
made me feel closer to my religion.
"It's interesting. My kids didn't
grow up with any religion — their
mother is not Jewish — but one of
my daughters wears a Star of David
and my son considers himself a Jew.
My kids and I have even talked about
having our bar and bat mitzvahs
together.
For now, Witt is busy concentrat-
ing on Death of a Salesman. "It's a very
moving play to do each night," said
Witt, who is so emotionally involved
during every performance that he
barely notices when the likes of Meryl
Streep is sitting in the audience, as she
was on a recent evening.
As for walking off with the coveted
statuette at the 53rd annual Tony
Awards, Witt said, "It would be won-
derful, but I can't let myself even
think about it.
"\X"e'll just have to w ait and see."Pl
)1