- Performances: 1,793.
- Open / Close: February 26, 1978 – June 13, 1982
- Theater: Music Box Theatre, moved to the Biltmore Theatre on January 7, 1982.
- Tony Awards: Nominated for 4, including Best Play and Best Director. Victor Garber who played Clifford and Marian Seldes who played Myra were nominated for Best Featured. The big winner in the play categories that season was “Da” which won 4 awards.
- Fun Fact: A famous aspect of “Deathtrap” lore is that Marian Seldes appeared in all 1,793 performances; it’s a story that gained her a “Guiness Book of World Records” mention. But this was not 100% true as there are mentions in the trades of her returning to the show after short vacations. Her involvement in the show from beginning to end was likely given an extra marketing push leading to the enhanced story.
Podcast
It is spoooky season, the perfect time of year to consider “Deathtrap.” The popular post-modern murder thriller ran for 4 years on Broadway but, even more impressive, continues to get regularly produced all over the country 50 years after its debut.
I hadn’t seen “Deathtrap” on stage until last year and I was honestly surprised what a rollicking good time it was. Expecting something old and creaky – oh, say like “Night Must Fall” – I was instead treated to a twisty tale that had me second-guessing my assumptions until the end. Oh, and it was super funny as well.
The Richmond-area staging of “Deathtrap” also marked the further assertion of Nathan Whitmer as an actor to watch in central Virginia. He was a highlight of “Murder on the Orient Express” last season and also garnered a RTCC award nomination (one of many to come, I expect) for his starring supporting turn in “Safety.”
Nathan is thoughtful and insightful about this show, specifically, and acting and directing in general. I had a great to talking to him and I know you’ll have an even better time listening to him.