The Adobe Opens 2016 with Ira Levin's DEATHTRAP Tonight

A wickedly funny comedy thriller -- DEATHTRAP by Ira Levin -- opens tonight, January 8th, at The Adobe Theater.

Seemingly comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a "dry" spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student (Clifford Anderson) in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college-a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. Sidney's plan, which he devises with his wife's help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.

One of the great popular successes of recent Broadway history, this ingeniously constructed play offers a rare and skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients -- gasp-inducing thrills and spontaneous laughter. Written in 1978, it holds the record for the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

The cast of five features William Lang as Sidney Bruhl (who recently performed on The Adobe stage in Dancing At Lughnasa and Love Letters); Debi Kierst as his wife, Myra Bruhl; newcomer to The Adobe stage, Shawn King as the young writer, Clifford Anderson. Carolyn Wickwire (recently seen in Mother Road's Enchanted April) plays Helga ten Dorp, the Dutch psychic; Rick Huff plays Sidney's attorney, Porter Milgrim.

DEATHTRAP is directed by Hal Simons, well-known for recently directing NINE, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and GYPSY. Not only is he a masterful director, but his acting ability includes the one-man shows I AM MY OWN WIFE and FULLY COMMITTED.

DEATHTRAP opens at The ADOBE Theater on Friday, January 8th and runs 4 weekends through Sunday, January 31st. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm, with a special 'Pay What You Will' performance (to benefit the cast and crew) on Thursday, January 21st, at 7.30pm. Tickets are $17, seniors and students $15. Reservations 505-898-9222 or online at www.adobetheater.org.