Arsenic and Old Lace 1941 - Articles Page 2

Opened: January 10, 1941

Arsenic and Old Lace - 1941 - Broadway History , Info & More

Hudson Theatre (Broadway)
141 W. 44th St. New York, NY

Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

Arsenic and Old Lace - 1941 - Broadway Cast

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Arsenic and Old Lace - 1941 - Broadway Articles Page 2

East Lynne Theater Company Announces Auditions in NYC, Philly, and Cape May
by Julie Musbach - Jan 24, 2018


East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) will have three Equity open-call audition days for its 2018 Season. Non-union actors will be seen, as long as no members of Actors' Equity are kept waiting. The theater is located in Cape May, NJ where all shows will be rehearsed. The company operates under an Equity SPT 3 Contract.

'TRENCHES', SILENT SKY and More Set for East Lynne Theater Company's 2018 Season
by BWW News Desk - Dec 8, 2017


The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company announces its 2018 Season. As usual, it includes classic gems, a world premiere, and a radio-style show. This year's theme is 'The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.'

Berkeley Rep Presents Hellman's WATCH ON THE RHINE
by Julie Musbach - Oct 19, 2017


Berkeley Repertory Theatre presents Watch on the Rhine, Lillian Hellman's 1940s political thriller about loyalty, family, and sacrifice. The play, directed by Berkeley Rep's associate director Lisa Peterson, begins previews on Thursday, November 30, 2017 and runs through Sunday, January 14, 2018. Individual tickets begin at $30 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone at 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Monday, December 4.

Don't Try the Wine at Long Beach Playhouse's ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Julie Musbach - Oct 17, 2017


In 1941, Joseph Kesselring offered this sage advice: If you are a lonely, elderly gentleman steer clear of the old Victorian rooming house that Abby and Martha Brewster run - it may be your last room on Earth!

BWW Review: Mirthful Murder and Mayhem Take Center Stage in Granite's ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Veronica Bruscini - Sep 16, 2017


ARSENIC AND OLD LACE is one of the brightest jewels in the crown of comedic storytelling, and Westerly's Granite Theatre stages a real gem of a production.

BWW Review: ARSENIC AND OLD LACE - A Most Potent Showcase for Sheelagh Cullen And Jacque Lynn Colton
by Gil Kaan - Aug 28, 2017


The 1941 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE gets a dusting off from the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble providing a wonderfully expressive vehicle for the acting talents of Sheelagh Cullen and Jacque Lynn Colton as Abby and Martha Brewster, the seemingly harmless and most delightful murderers of their single unattached male boarders. Cullen and Colton totally charm while dithering on ever so casually describing their deadly deeds as calmly as sharing a recipe of elderberry pie.

Laugh Out Loud with ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Odyssey
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 22, 2017


Two murderous old ladies, a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, a Boris Karloff look-alike and a theater critic in love. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Joseph Kesserling's infectiously funny black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Elina de Santos, opening night is August 26 at the Odyssey Theatre.

BWW Interview: Renown Actress of the Screen and Stage, Harriet Harris, On Arsenic and Old Lace and Letting Yourself Laugh
by Courtney Savoia - Aug 15, 2017


Renown actress of the screen and stage, Harriet Harris (Tony Award; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Bebe Glazer on the hit show, Frasier) joins Berkshire Theatre Group this summer in the classic Joseph Kesselring's play, Arsenic and Old Lace. A play that has gone down in history for its dark humor, Arsenic and Old Lace revolves around the crazy lives of the Brewster family. Harris plays one half of a dynamic sister duo, Abby Brewster, who believes that they are doing the population of lonely, old gentleman a service by offering them their arsenic-laced wine. These twisted acts of charity are just one example of the casual nature that the play presents when it comes to death and other taboo subjects that give audience members permission to laugh at its absurd nature.

Laugh Out Loud with ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Odyssey
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 18, 2017


Two murderous old ladies, a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, a Boris Karloff look-alike and a theater critic in love. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Joseph Kesserling's infectiously funny black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Elina de Santos, opening night is August 19 at the Odyssey Theatre.

Joshua Jackson-Led CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, Helmed by Kenny Leon, Opens Tonight at BTG
by BWW News Desk - Jun 24, 2017


Berkshire Theatre Group announces the final production of its upcoming 2017 Summer Season will be Mark Medoff's Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning play, Children of a Lesser God, which began performances on Thursday, June 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening night is set for tonight, June 24 at 8pm.

Graham Rowat, Mortimer Brewster and More Sign on for BTG's 2017 Summer Season
by BWW News Desk - Apr 14, 2017


Berkshire Theatre Group announces additional casting for BTG's 2017 Summer Season, including Broadway actor, Graham Rowat (most recently featured in the Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard) as Mortimer in Arsenic and Old Lace.

Joshua Jackson, Stephen Spinella, John McGinty and Lauren Ridloff to Lead BTG's CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, Helmed by Kenny Leon; Summer Casting Set!
by BWW News Desk - Mar 15, 2017


Berkshire Theatre Group announces the final production of its upcoming 2017 Summer Season will be Mark Medoff's Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning play, Children of a Lesser God, which will begin performances on Thursday, June 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening night is set for Saturday, June 24 at 8pm.

Gregg Edelman-Helmed ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, THE MUSIC MAN and More Set for BTG's Expanded 2017 Summer Season
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 17, 2017


Hot off the heels of its critically acclaimed revival of Fiorello!, which was named a Critic's Pick by The New York Times, Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) and Kate Maguire (Artistic Director/CEO) have announced BTG's 2017 Summer Theatre Season.

BWW Review: ACT 1's Outdated ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Jeffrey Ellis - Oct 16, 2016


Joseph Kesselring's Arsenic and Old Lace, a genteel and sometimes beguiling 'suspense comedy,' is a favorite among the nation's various and sundry community theater companies. And for good reason: It's slyly amusing, despite its age, and it features some genuinely engaging (if somewhat despicable, depending upon your perspective) characters who have entertained audiences for 75 years (it bowed on Broadway in 1941).

BWW Review: Georgetown Palace at the Playhouse Theatre Brings the Classic ARSENIC AND OLD LACE to the Stage
by Amy Bradley - Oct 2, 2016


ARSENIC AND OLD LACE by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, is a classic staple for modern Theatre enthusiasts. Taking into account the context of the political humor and dark comedy, it is hard to believe this show was first brought to the stage in 1941. A New York Times review of it's opening night stated the play was, 'so funny that none of us will ever forget it.' Best known for it's film of the same decade, this adaptation stars Cary Grant and is directed by the celebrated Frank Capra. After hitting the big screen, this dark comedic farce has been brought to a much wider audience and became a local theatre favorite.

BWW Review: Welk Resort Presents Sturdy ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Don Grigware - Aug 22, 2016


Joseph Kesselring's dark comedy farce Arsenic and Old Lace dates back to 1941 and was made into one hilarious film starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra in 1944. Nevertheless, the comedy is timeless, so it still holds up quite deliciously in 2016. One never tires of murder especially when it's played out in a spooky old Brooklyn mansion adjacent to a cemetery...and most of the Brewster family who inhabit it are most definitely certifiable. Elderly Abby Brewster (Robin LaValley) and her sister Martha (Eliane Weidauer) dispose of over the hill lodgers all alone in the world - to bring them peace and eternal happiness. They offer homemade Eldeberry wine laced with arsenic and think they're doing the old codgers a favor. It seems perfectly harmless to them. In fact, they already have 11 bodies buried in the cellar and are about to embark on a funeral service for number 12 who is resting comfortably in the window seat of their living room. It helps when their nephew Teddy (Robin Thompson) - who thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt - carries out their orders and buries the bodies, convinced that he's digging locks of the Panama Canal. When brother Mortimer (Tim Benson) - a drama critic for a local paper - discovers the body by accident, he automatically assumes it's Teddy who has killed the man, never dreaming that his sweet aunts are responsible.

ARSENIC & OLD LACE Opens Tomorrow at Derby Dinner Playhouse
by Tyler Peterson - May 17, 2016


Derby Dinner Playhouse kicks off their 2016-2017 season with the popular comedy ARSENIC & OLD LACE, opening May 18 and running through June 26, 2016.  For ticket information please call 812-288-8281 or visit www.derbydinner.com

The Candlelight Theatre Presents ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, Beginning Tonight
by BWW News Desk - May 7, 2016


This wildly popular comedic farce written by Joseph Kesselring revoles around two elderly sisters who are famous in their Brooklyn neighborhood for their numerous acts of charity but are as crazy as loons. Mix in a dollop of Teddy Roosevelt, a dash of Albert Einstein, and stir with an assortment of quirky characters and you get a lethal cocktail of murder, mayhem, and laughter. Come see what the N.Y. Times called 'a play so funny you will never forget it.'

The Candlelight Theatre to Present ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Tyler Peterson - May 2, 2016


This wildly popular comedic farce written by Joseph Kesselring revoles around two elderly sisters who are famous in their Brooklyn neighborhood for their numerous acts of charity but are as crazy as loons. Mix in a dollop of Teddy Roosevelt, a dash of Albert Einstein, and stir with an assortment of quirky characters and you get a lethal cocktail of murder, mayhem, and laughter. Come see what the N.Y. Times called 'a play so funny you will never forget it.'

Cary Grant Musical DEAR CARY Heading to Broadway?
by Caryn Robbins - Apr 7, 2016


Grant's ex-wife Dyan Cannon has been hard at work over the last several years on a musical adaptation of her best selling book 'Dear Cary.'

Laurel Little Theatre to Continue Season with ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Tyler Peterson - Dec 2, 2015


LLT continues its 'Fifty-Fifth & Fabulous' Season with the classic comedy chiller ARSENIC AND OLD LACE directed by Lacy Cockrell.

BWW Review: GCT Revives Still Delicious ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
by Don Grigware - Nov 1, 2015


Joseph Kesselring's dark comedy farce Arsenic and Old Lace dates back to 1941 and was made into one hilarious film starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra in 1944. Nevertheless, the comedy is timeless, so it stills holds up quite deliciously in 2015. One never tires of murder especially when it's played out in a spooky old Brooklyn mansion adjacent to a cemetery...and most of the Brewster family who inhabit it are most definitely certifiable. Elderly Abby Brewster (Mannette Antil) and her sister Martha (Sylvia Alloway) dispose of over the hill lodgers all alone in the world - to bring them peace and eternal happiness. They offer homemade Eldeberry wine laced with arsenic and think they're doing the old codgers a favor. It seems perfectly harmless to them. In fact, they already have 11 bodies buried in the cellar and are about to embark on a funeral service for number 12 who is resting comfortably in the windowseat of their living room. It helps when their nephew Teddy (Jim Barkley) - who thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt - carries out their orders and buries the bodies, convinced that he's digging locks of the Panama Canal. When brother Mortimer (Jordan Byers) - a drama critic for a local paper - discovers the body by accident, he automatically assumes it's Teddy who has killed the man, never dreaming that his sweet aunts are responsible. The biggest problem for the family arises when Teddy's and Mortimer's brother Jonathan arrives on the scene. Jonathan (Brian Middleton) disappeared years ago, leaving a long trail of crimin

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE to Open Albuquerque Little Theatre's 86th Season
by Nora Dominick - Jul 21, 2015


Albuquerque Little Theatre will open their 86th season with the laugh-a-minute, screwball comedy ARSENIC AND OLD LACE by Joseph Kesselring. The show revolves around the Brewster family, descended from the 'Mayflower,' but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy family and local police in Brooklyn, NY, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men, a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home, and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery to conceal his identity and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff. Classic farce at its best!!

ARSENIC & OLD LACE Begins Tonight at Sherman Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Jul 10, 2015


Tonight, July 10, The Sherman Playhouse will premiere Joseph Kesselring's classic theatrical chestnut, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a four-week run.

ARSENIC & OLD LACE Begins 7/10 at Sherman Playhouse
by Tyler Peterson - Jun 25, 2015


On Friday, July 10, The Sherman Playhouse will premiere Joseph Kesselring's classic theatrical chestnut, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a four-week run.

Arsenic and Old Lace FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Arsenic and Old Lace have there been?
Arsenic and Old Lace has had 3 productions including Broadway which opened in 1941, Broadway which opened in 1986 and Broadway which opened in 1986.

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