Show Summary

by Ira Levin

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 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. Dealing with the devious machinations of a writer of thrillers whose recent offerings have been flops, and who is prepared to go to any lengths to improve his fortunes, Deathtrap provides twists and turns and sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be held spellbound until the very last moment.

Meet the Actors & Crew

ROBERT PETKOFF
'SIDNEY'

Broadway: All The Way with Bryan Cranston, Anything Goes, Ragtime, Spamalot, Fiddler On The Roof and Epic Proportions. London credits: The Royal Family with Dame Judi Dench and Tantalus. Tours: Bruce in Fun Home, Spamalot. Regional: Title roles in Sweeney Todd, Hamlet, Troilus & Cressida, Romeo & Juliet, and The Importance Of Being Earnest, among others, at theatres such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Old Globe, DCPA and The Mark Taper Forum. Film and TV work include Irrational Man, Vice Versa, Milk and Money, Gameday, “Madam Secretary,” “Elementary,” “Forever,” “Law and Order,” and “The Good Wife.” Robert is an award winning audiobook narrator with over 200 titles recorded so far.

Robbie Simpson
'Clifford'

Robbie is thrilled to return to The Cape Playhouse! Off-Broadway credits include the original cast of Afterglow at The Davenport Theater and The Younger Generation at The Mint. Regional credits include 12 productions at The Old Globe including Freddy in Pygmalion; the world premiere of Nonsense and Beauty at The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Pip in Great Expectations at Syracuse Stage, What The Butler Saw and Misalliance at The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, A Class Act at Berkshire Theater Festival, The Last Five Years at The Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA., and most recently, Nick in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at New Century Theater in Holyoke, MA. Television credits include AMC’s “Dietland,” Hulu’s “The Path”, and SyFy’s “Horror Movie”. As a director, Robbie has worked on the 2018 national tours of Chicago and A Christmas Story the musical, as well as on last season’s Sylvia and South Pacific at The Cape Playhouse. Training includes a BFA from Syracuse University and an MFA from The Old Globe/USD. Many thanks to Michael, Marcia, agents at HCKR, and manager Chris Silveri at CSM. Robbie is the Assistant Artistic Director of The Cape Playhouse. www.RobbieSimpsonActor.com

Dathan B. Williams
'Porter Milgrim'

Cape Playhouse debut. Recent Regional Credits: Proposals (Lewis Barnett); Prince of Egypt (Pharaoh Seti), Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Rev. Peters/Uncle Terry/Station Policeman/Station Guard/Voice Four); The Count of Monte Cristo (Abbé Faria. US Premiere); The Secret Garden (Ben Weatherstaff); The Sable Series: The History of Black Shakespearean Actors (Ira Aldridge/Paul Robeson) and As You Like It (Jacques). Broadway: Show Boat; Off-Broadway: Christmas in Hell; On Kentucky Avenue. Carnegie Hall: Show Boat in Concert; Nathan The Wise; Buffalo Gal plus five others. Nat’l Tour: Show Boat plus three others. International: The Stratford Festival-(‘91 Guthrie Award). Other Regional: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Baltimore Center Stage; Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; Maine State Theater; The Goodman Theater and 42 others. Film/TV/Web: Better Left Unsaid, M Theory, “Sex and the City,” and Romeo and Juliet (CBD). Associate Artistic Director of The Harlem Shakespeare Festival.

Susan Wands
'Myra'

Susan Wands has appeared on “Boardwalk Empire”, “ The Good Wife”, “Law & Order” and several daytime dramas. Recently she appeared in the indie film Bite Me. Other films include: Imagine I'm Beautiful, Come Home Raquel and Fade To Black. She has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway and in many off-off Broadway productions from the Joe Papp Public Theater to Primary Stages. In repertory theater, she has had leading roles in Camille, An Ideal Husband, Julius Caesar, The Negro Of Peter The Great, and Troilus & Cressida at regional theaters including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Alison Fraser
'Helga'

Ms. Fraser is a two-time Tony Award nominee for playing Martha in The Secret Garden and Josefine/Monica in Romance/Romance.  Other Broadway roles include  Dorine in Tartuffe; Born Again, Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Tessie Tura in Arthur Laurents' production of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. She won the 2018 Callaway Award for Best Actress in a Classical Play for playing Lady Utterword in last fall’s Heartbreak House. She originated the role of Sharon in Aaron Mark’s horror monologue play Squeamish and Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford in Michael John LaChiusa’s First Daughter Suite, both Off-Broadway, both the recipient of multiple award nominations. She co-starred with Shirley Knight in the world premiere of Tennessee Williams’ In Masks Outrageous and Austere and with Nathan Lane and Marion Seldes in the NY premiere of Terrence McNally’s Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams. Other Off-Broadway roles Alison has created include Trina in William Finn’s March of the Falsettos and In Trousers, for which she also did vocal arrangements,  Sister Walburga in Charles Busch’s The Divine Sister, Arsinoè in David Ives’s The School For Lies, and Miss Drumgoole in Todd Rundgren’s Up Against It. She has performed at The George Street Playhouse many times, including opposite Shirley Knight in Arthur Laurents’s last play, Come Back, Come Back, Wherever You Are. Recent  film and TV credits include “Happy!”, “Gotham,” “Happy-ish,” “High Maintenance,” Family Games, Commentary, Socks and Bonds, Blowtorch, and the upcoming The Sound of Silence.

IRA LEVAIN (Playwright) was twenty-two when he wrote his first novel, the award-winning thriller "A Kiss Before Dying," and twenty-five when, fresh from military service, he wrote his first play, the smash-hit adaptation of Mac Hyman’s "No Time for Sergeants." In the years since, he has continued to work both sides of the literary street. His plays include the comedy hit Critics Choice, the musical Drat! The Cat!, and the thrillers Veronica’s Room and Deathtrap. Among his novels are "Rosemary's Baby," generally credited (or blamed) for having sparked the current revival of occultism, "The Stepford Wives," and the international best-seller, "The Boys from Brazil," all of which have been made into successful films. His later plays include Footsteps and Cantorial, which enjoyed runs both Off-Broadway and in Florida. His best-selling novel "Sliver" has been made into a film. A native-born New Yorker, Mr. Levin is an alumnus of New York University and has three sons. In addition to his other accomplishments, he is a four-time winner (retired) of the "New York Magazine" Competition. Mr. Levin’s Deathtrap garnered a 1978 Tony Award nomination for Best Play and was awarded a special Edgar Award by Mystery Writers of America. www.iralevin.org

MARCIA MILGROM DODGE (Director) is a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominated director and choreographer for her Kennedy Center/Broadway revival of Ragtime (she received the Helen Hayes Award for Best Director).  New York/National Tours: Curious George Seussical  (Theatreworks/USA),  Ragtime (Phoenix Entertainment), Cookin’  (Minetta Lane), Venus Flytrap (Active Theater),  Radio Gals  (Houseman), Maltby & Shire’s  Closer Than Ever (original production) and William Finn's  Romance In Hard Times  (The Public). Cape Playhouse: Crimes of the Heart, Accomplice and Angel Street. Regional:  TUTS, Olney Theatre, Cleveland Play House, The Muny, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Pioneer Theatre, Ford’s Theatre,  Cincinnati Playhouse, Center Stage, St. Louis Rep, Denver Center, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Glimmerglass Festival, Bay Street Theatre, Music Circus, Goodman Theatre, Lyric Stage, Goodspeed, Huntington Theatre and Arena Stage.  Abroad: De Tres Musketeres (Fredericia Teater, Denmark), Goosebumps-Live On Stage (Wintergardens Theatre, Blackpool, England), The Music Man (Royal Opera House, Oman) Dodge is also a wife, a mother, a teacher, a proud executive board member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society and a published and produced playwright. For more, visit www.marciamilgromdodge.com

MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (Set Designer) For The Cape Playhouse:  Footloose, Legally Blonde, Kiss Me Kate, Sweet Charity, Spelling Bee.  Regional Theater (Selected):  Portland Center Stage; Ford’s Theatre; The Old Globe; Cleveland Playhouse; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Asolo Repertory Theatre; The MUNY; Papermill Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theater and multiple productions for Goodspeed Musicals including Fiddler On The Roof, Carousel, and Showboat.  Selected Off-Broadway:  The Bus and the American Premier of Frank McGuinness’ Gates Of Gold (59 E 59); Bloodsong of Love (Ars Nova); The Black Suits (The Public Theater); Things to Ruin (Second Stage, The Zipper Factory); The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks (Theaterworks USA at The Lortel).  Michael recently designed productions of Marie Antoinette The Musical and Phantom for EMK International in Seoul, South Korea. www.msportfolio.com

GAIL BALDONII (Costume Designer) NYC credits include My Fair Lady at The New York Philharmonic, Wonderful Town at New York City Opera and an Emmy nomination for NBC’s Another World. Film work: Mermaids, Starring Cher and The Boy in the Bathtub. Numerous shows for Papermill Playhouse, The Goodspeed Opera, The Ahmanson Theater, North Shore Music Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, The Boston Ballet and The Cleveland Playhouse. 13 Off-Broadway shows to date. Other favorite projects include The Rockettes Christmas Show, Disney on Ice and The Ringling Bros. Circus. Gail is currently teaching at SUNY Purchase in the Conservatory of Dance Department. 21 Cape Playhouse productions including: South Pacific, Spelling Bee and Gypsy.

 JARON KENT HERMANSEN (Lighting Design) Jaron is Salt Lake City based lighting & projection designer, among his credits are: Clue, Altar Boyz, Steel Magnolias, Art, RED, The Foreigner, Murder for Two (The Cape Playhouse, MA). The Music Man, Wizard of Oz, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fiddler on the Roof (Sundance Eccles Theater, UT). Eleemosynary (The Brooks, CA). The King’s Men, Private Ear, Hedda Gabler, The Weird Play (Rose Wagner, UT). Bride of Frankenstein, Sonder, A Streetcar Named Desire (Found Spaces, UT). THE BRIDGE (Kingsbury Hall, UT). Jaron sits on the Board of Directors for the United States Institute of Theater Technology Intermountain Desert Region, Jaron is a lecturer at Utah Valley University, and is a nominee of the USITT Young Professionals Rising Star award.

JOSEPH PALERMO (Sound Design) Joseph Palermo is a Chicago based Sound Designer and Digital Technologist who is quite pleased to be here for your listening pleasure. He’s been recognized at the Cannes Film Festival, the Chicago Merit Awards, and University of Glasgow for excellence in Design and Design Concepts. His next projects include the rest of The Cape Playhouses’ season, Cambodian Rock Band at The City Theatre and The Merrimack Theatre, and The Polar Express with Warner Brothers and Amtrak. His most recent creative obsessions include recording things in an underwater environment,  and applying the concepts of Quantum Physics to composition.  Joseph is a proud member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

RICK SORDELET (Fight Choreographer) Rick Sordelet and his son Christian Kelly-Sordelet are the creators of Sordelet INC, a combat company with 73 Broadway credits including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Wolf Hall. They have worked on over 1,200 episodes of stunt coordination for television as well as feature films including the recently released Ben is Back. They have over sixty international production credits including Ben Hur Live (Rome, European tour). Rick teaches at Yale School of Drama. Christian teaches at CUNY Harlem and HB Studio. Both teach for the William Esper Studio in NYC. Rick and Christian, along with their partner David Blixt, also run an e-publishing company called Sordelet INK for the emerging author. www.sordeletinc.com

 KATE ANN WILSON (Stage Manager) is excited to join The Cape Playhouse family! National Tour: School of Rock (First National), Nice Work If You Can Get It (First National). Off Broadway: OCTET (Signature Theatre), The Mar Vista (Signature Theatre), All is Calm (Sheen Center), The Whale Play (The Drama Book Shop), Sleep No More. Regional: Tell Them I'm Still Young (SOPAC), The Last Five Years, The Who's Tommy, Funny Girl, Footloose, Hairspray, The Full Monty, Chicago, A Streetcar Named Desire, Carousel. Kate dedicates all of her work to her mother and father, Dave and Tracy Wilson.

TAYLOR WRIGHT(Don) is beyond excited to join a new company of A Chorus Line in his debut at The Cape! Select credits: A Chorus Line Nat’l Tour and Chinese Premiere (Don); Afterglow at The Davenport Theatre (Swing); The View UpStairs at Uptown Players (Dale); Godspell (Jesus) at New London Barn Playhouse; Gypsy (Tulsa) at Hangar Theatre. More gratitude than I can give to my mother, who without question has always been my biggest supporter, Michael, Baba, Geoff, Jimmy, EJ, and endless thanks to the creative team for giving me this opportunity to play. Training: BFA Coastal Carolina, SITI. Taylor joins Actors’ Equity Association with this production. Visit jtaylorwright.com or follow @jtaylorwright

JOYCE CHITTICK (Director)  took her first dance class in Skowhegan, Maine at 7 years old, after that she was hooked! Joyce’s professional career would begin 10 years later with the National tour of Catswhile still in high school. She then went on to perform in 11 Broadway shows, including original companies of Big, Seussical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, original revivals of Cabaret (‘98), Wonderful Town (‘03),Sweet Charity (‘05), The Pajama Game (‘06), and Anything Goes (‘11), and the original Las Vegas company of Jersey Boys. She has worked alongside numerous legendary performers such as Joel Grey, Harry Connick Jr, Julie Andrews to name a few, and has had the distinct honor of performing with Spinal Tap at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Having stepped to the other side of the footlights a few years ago, she restaged Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for productions in Japan and Australia, and serves as the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway and US Tour productions of Beautiful. Last summer, she had the pleasure of choreographing The Cape Playhouse’s production of South Pacific. Other productions include co-directing/choreographing My Way at Ivoryton Playhouse with husband, Rick Faugno, choreographing the 2016 Drama League Gala honoring David Hyde Pierce, as well as choreographing National tours of Grease and Wonderful Town, two seasons as on-screen choreographer for Lifetime's “AUDC,” and the film Virgin Alexander. Favorite production, daughter Lena, age 5.

RICK FAUGNO (Choreographer)  is very excited to be choreographing A Chorus Line at The Cape Playhouse and weaving some of his own ideas with the legendary Michael Bennett’s. He recently played the role of Hortensio, in the Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate!, his 7th Broadway show. He received a Chita Rivera award nomination, for Best Male Dancer, for his work in this production. He also owns a Fred Astaire award for his performance in the Broadway revival of On The 20th Century. Rick was also named ‘Best Singer’ for his portrayal of Frankie Valli, in the original Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys and Best Actor at the Orlando Film Festival for the role of Alexander in the film Virgin Alexander. TV appearances include: “The Newsroom,” “The Following,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Conan O’Brien,” “The TONY Awards,” and others. Rick also performs his one-man show on cruise ships and at cabaret venues in various locations. Follow him on Instagram: @rickfaugno or find him on YouTube. His favorite production, much like his wife Joyce, is his daughter, Lena.

GARRETT TAYLOR (Music Director) is thrilled to return to The Cape Playhouse for a third summer of music directing. Broadway: Wicked, Annie (2012). National Tours: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Grease, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Joseph, Sweet Charity, Annie. Regional: The Fulton Theatre, Flatrock Playhouse, The John W. Engeman, Broward Stage Door Theater, Gateway Playhouse. TV: CBS’s “A New York Christmas to Remember.” Garrett has been lucky to work at NYU, Manhattan School of Music, Marymount, Queens College, and AMDA. When residing in New York City, he operates a busy voice studio with many Broadway performers and promising singers. Special thanks to artistic director, Michael Rader. www.garrett-taylor.com

ADAM KOCH (Scenic Design) Previous Cape Playhouse credits include Clue! Live on Stage. International credits include Dreamgirls (Seoul, Korea). United States credits include Signature Theatre (Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Helen Hayes Award nomination), Serenbe Playhouse (outdoor Titanic production), Ford’s Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Paper Mill Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Music Theatre of Wichita, Cincinnati Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Geva Theatre Center, Fulton Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and Portland Stage. Adam would like to dedicate this show to William and Mary Koch. See more at adamkochassociates.com and on Instagram @instadamkoch.

MOLLY WALZ (Costume Design)  is thrilled to be designing for The Cape Playhouse for the first time this season! After touring the world as a wardrobe supervisor, Molly relocated to NYC and now works as an associate designer, production wardrobe supervisor, and tailor for Broadway, tours, and TV/Film.  Molly has designed for companies spanning the country, including Ogunquit Playhouse, Barrington Stage and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, among others, and is currently the associate designer for the national tours of Rent and White Christmas. Molly was born in raised in Beavercreek, OH and now calls New York City home.  MollyWalz.com

JOSEPH PALERMO (Sound Design)  (from Book 1)

KIRK BOOKMAN (Lighting Design) For The Cape Playhouse: Million Dollar Quartet Once. Broadway: The Sunshine Boys (with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall), The Gin Game (Julie Harris & Charles Durning), and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  Off-Broadway:  Charles Busch’s The Confessions of Lily Dare and Shanghai Moon9 Circles, God Of Vengeance, Closer Than EverRight You AreRecent Tragic EventsThe Green Heart (Manhattan Theatre Club), Havana Is Waiting, Force Continuum, My One Good Nerve (starring Ruby Dee), The Shawl, Rude Entertainment, The Book of Liz (David & Amy Sedaris), Les MIZrahi (Isaac Mizrahi’s), As Thousands CheerJune Moon, The Playboy of the Western WorldEclipsed, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Major BarbaraAunt Jack at Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale. Ballet: English National Ballet, Santiago Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Budapest Ballet. Stage production to large screen video: The Thomasheskys and Company with the New York Philharmonic.

KATE ANN WILSON (Production Stage Manager) is excited to join the Cape Playhouse family! National Tour: School of Rock (First National), Nice Work If You Can Get It (First National)Off-Broadway:OCTET (Signature Theatre), The Mar Vista (Signature Theatre), All is Calm (Sheen Center), The Whale Play (The Drama Book Shop), Sleep No More. Regional: Tell Them I’m Still Young (SOPAC), The Last Five Years, The Who’s Tommy, Funny Girl, Footloose, Hairspray, The Full Monty, Chicago, A Streetcar Named Desire, Carousel. Kate dedicates all of her work to her mother and father, Dave and Tracy Wilson.

HOLLACE JEFFORDS (Assistant Stage Manager) Broadway: Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryKinky BootsThe Last ShipVioletDoctor Zhivago. National Tours: FalsettosKinky Boots. Pre-Broadway: An American in Paris. New York: A Chorus Line (NYCC), Avenue QA Taste of Things to ComeLittle Miss SunshineNobody Loves YouThe Memory Show. Regional: South PacificGypsyThe Mousetrap(Cape Playhouse), A Taste of Things to Come (Bucks County Playhouse). Love to Derek and my family. Proud member of AEA.

CASSIE MCKAY (Assistant Stage Manager) Cassie grew up on the Cape, and is a current sophomore pursuing a BFA in Stage Management from Point Park University. Past credits include: Student Choreography Project, Raymond Laine Memorial One Acts (Pittsburgh Playhouse); EvitaShowboatLa Cage aux FollesNewsies (Interlakes Summer Theatre); Oklahoma (Cotuit Center for the Arts); andDetective SketchesBig FishOnce on This IslandA Wrinkle in TimeThe Love of Three Oranges (Sturgis Charter Public School). Thank you to her friends and family for their support, and to the Cape Playhouse for the opportunity to work on incredible theatre. Enjoy the show!

CAROLINE PASTORE (Assistant Stage Manager) is incredibly excited to be joining The Cape Playhouse team this summer! Caroline lives in Shelburne, VT and was a Stage Manager for FlynnArts for five years. Some of the productions she worked on there include: Cry-Baby, Cabaret and Once on This Island. She currently attends SUNY Purchase as a Theatre Design/Technology student and worked onWe’re Gonna Be Okay this year as the Assistant Stage Manager. Caroline would like to thank the Cape Playhouse team for being so welcoming and her family and teachers for all their support.

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