SEATTLE-- In his directorial debut for the company, new Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein stages Arthur Miller's classic American drama Death of a Salesman as the opening show of A Contemporary Theatre's 1998 season, starting previews May 22, and opening May 28.

The Pulitzer Prize winning drama tells the heart-wrenching story of the failure of the American dream through the story of an aging salesman who has to face the sorry truth about the life he has lead.

In the pivotal role of salesman Willy Loman, John Aylward, a veteran Seattle actor returns to a local stage for the first time since creating the role of Dr. Anspaugh on the hit NBC TV series E.R.. Film and television actor D.B. Sweeney plays Biff, with Steve Cell as Happy, and Marianne Owen as Linda. Others in the cast include Laurence Ballard, Jeramy Byford, Karen Kay Cody, Julie Gustafson, Kimberly Helms, John Holyoke, Michael Kevin, Paul Kramer, and Larry Paulsen.

Death of a Salesman runs May 27-June 21, with curtain times Tues.-Thurs. at 7:30 PM, Fri. and Sat at 8 PM, Sun at 7 PM, with matinees Sat. and Sun. at 2 PM. Preview tickets are $19, regular run tickets range from $25-$38, with special discounts for groups, seniors and students, and people of 25 years of age and younger may purchase tickets for any performance with valid I.D. ACT is located at 700 Union St., downtown Seattle, and performances will be in the Allen Theatre. For reservations call (206) 292-7676, or Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS.

--David-Edward Hughes
Seattle Correspondent