nobel prize for literature and called the father of theater paving the way for arthur miller, tennessee williams and tony kushner. his life was hard -- his mother a morphine addict and brother an alcoholic -- but o'neil channeled his life into his work. "the iceman cometh" is one of his biggest. it focuses on the regulars of a new york city saloon who numbed themselves with alcohol and delayed acting on dreams. it was in chicago in 2012. currently at the brooklyn academy of music. the "new york times" says it is enacted by a cast not likely to be bettered this season. joining me, two tony award winning actors at the center of the production, nathan lane who plays hickey and brian dennehy who plays larry slade. pleased to have them at the table. welcome. >> thank you always a pleasure. >> rose: there's a story i read that you saw this production was going to take place and you said this is right for nee me, i want to be hickey, and you notified the director? >> yes. it actually started with ken brenna in a bar who said to me, you know nathan, you can't just talk about these great parts you have to do them