The Dark Tower
(1933)
By Alexander Woollcott and George S. Kaufman
Cast size: 9 men, 5 women; two sets
In a rare collaboration with his Algonquin Round Table comrade, Alexander Woollcott, Kaufman wrote his only murder mystery.
Manuscript only; contact: laurence.maslon@nyu.edu
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The Plot
In a rare collaboration with his Algonquin Round Table comrade, Alexander Woollcott, Kaufman wrote his only murder mystery. Woollcott, who was obsessed with murder and mayhem, instigated this drawing-room mystery, about a devious killer whose penchant for disguise allows him to commit what seems to be the perfect crime; a well-crafted thriller that anticipates Sleuth.
Other Plays in the Catalogue
Kaufman and Ferber to the backstage life of theater, this time in a theatrical boarding house in New York, where the "star performer" is a Hungarian émigré, a playwright who dreams of recreating his brilliant theatrical troupe in America.
The original 1922 production of Merton ran for 398 performances, at a time when half that number of performances could make a hit. It has been rarely revived, although a production at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater in 1974 starred Michael Moriarty and a successful version was performed in Los Angeles' Geffen Theater in 1998, directed by John Rando.
Kaufman's first hit comedy was also his initial collaboration with Marc Connelly. Based on a well-known comic heroine made popular in Frank Pierce Adams' column, Dulcy is an engaging comedy about an incipient business deal among suburban neighbors that nearly falls apart.
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Contact Us Today
Interested in bringing George S. Kaufman’s timeless plays to your stage?
Please refer to the contact information for each specific play on the various collection pages for direct amateur and professional licensing information.
Plays are represented by Concord Theatricals and Music Theatre International respectively.
If you are interested in first-class performance or film/television rights:
In the US, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
CPK Artists, LLC
In the UK, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
Alan Brodie Representation
For more information about George S. Kaufman or this website, contact:
Laurence Maslon
Literary Trustee, George S. Kaufman Estate
