Glengarry Glen Ross

Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1983 stage play written by the American playwright David Mamet. It is a two-act tragedy that depicts two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary—to sell real estate to unwitting prospective buyers.

Glengarry Glen Ross explores themes of capitalism, morality, and masculinity. The play's title comes from the two real estate developments frequently mentioned by the characters; Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. The former is the prime real estate that all of the agents are trying to sell, while the latter was very lucrative for those who sold it several years ago. Glengarry Glen Ross premiered at the Cottesloe Theatre, the smallest house of London's National Theatre, on 21 September 1983. The production was directed by Bill Bryden and was acclaimed as a triumph of ensemble acting.

Glengarry Glen Ross debuted on Broadway on 25 March 1984, at the John Golden Theatre, and closed on 17 February 1985, after 378 performances. Among its four nominations at the 38th Tony Awards, including Best Play and Best Director for Gregory Mosher, Joe Mantegna was named Best Featured Actor in a Play for his portrayal of the top salesman, Richard Roma. Mamet won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama that same year. A film adaptation, directed by James Foley and featuring an extended screenplay by Mamet, was released in 1992 to critical acclaim.

Since its premiere, Glengarry Glen Ross has been revived on Broadway three times, under the direction of Joe Mantello, Daniel J. Sullivan, and Patrick Marber. Mantello's production, led by Liev Schreiber as Roma, won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2005. Sullivan and Marber's adaptations received less favourable reviews from critics.