Off-Broadway’s longest-running play is still at it after 36 years! Perfect Crime – indeed the perfect whodunnit murder mystery – has been around for over three decades. People can’t keep coming back for this show, and it’s one of New York City’s trademarks. Whether you’re a resident of the Big Apple, or just coming to visit, it’s definitely a show you must see!
Perfect Crime is still running at Off-Broadway’s Anne L. Bernstein Theater in Times Square’s The Theater Center, and you can get tickets to dates where you’re available. This show isn’t just for theatre lovers, it’s also for people looking to have a good time with the perfect thriller!
When you come to the show, expect the unexpected. Who’s the real murderer? Find out at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater! Tickets are on sale. It’s best to score your tickets while it’s early to ensure your preferred date hasn’t been sold out. Click ‘GET TICKETS’ to secure yours!
Perfect Crime Tickets:
The longest-running play in NYC history!
Perfect Crime has quite an intriguing backstory. New York Magazine dubbed it “a true New York mystery,” and even the New York Times hailed it as “an urban legend.” This whole saga began when author Warren Manzi was busy portraying Mozart in the Broadway production of Amadeus back in 1980. You won’t believe this – his play got the Broadway treatment while he was still treading the boards! Warren Manzi secured the distinction of being the youngest American to have a play optioned for Broadway at the time.
Now here’s the juicy part. When prospective producer Morton Gottlieb wanted to change the title to Guilty Hands and cast either Mary Tyler Moore or Elaine Stritch, Manzi put his foot down. Instead, he headed to Hollywood and dabbled in screenwriting, even crafting two versions of the movie Clue for John Landis. The script for Perfect Crime, well, gathered some dust in Manzi’s drawer for a good seven years.
Fast forward to 1987, Manzi, now an artistic director of a theater company, decided it was time. The play initially hit the stage as an Equity Showcase on April 18th at The Courtyard Playhouse. It was meant to run for just four weeks. But here’s the jaw-dropper – Perfect Crime didn’t just break records; it shattered them! It’s now the reigning champion as the longest-running play in the annals of New York theater, whether on Broadway or off. Quite the journey, wouldn’t you say?
A funny and romantic thriller about a psychiatrist who may have killed her husband…
Here’s a fun fact: Catherine Russell, the leading lady of the show, has been an absolute powerhouse. She’s been a part of the performance lineup since day one in 1987, and what makes her even more special is she hasn’t taken a single sick day or vacation day in all that time! Her remarkable dedication even earned her a spot in the Guinness World Records. This jaw-dropping streak of hers has made headlines on Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. Not to mention, it’s been featured in esteemed publications like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, and many others. People magazine even gave her the title of “The Cal Ripken of Broadway.”
And if you thought that was impressive, here’s more. Since Perfect Crime’s grand opening in 1987, Catherine Russell has been on that stage for over 17,000 hours. She’s “shot” a whopping 89 different men and shared 57 on-stage kisses with others. Can you believe over 83,000 bullets have been “fired” on-stage, and they’ve munched on more than 5,000 prop coffee cakes? Talk about dedication to the craft! Over the course of its nearly 36-year run, the show has seen a whopping 237 actors pass through its curtains. It’s truly a theatrical legend!
“Kept me chuckling and interested throughout the entire show!” – Fan Review
“This is a clever thriller that will have you guessing all the way to the end. It is full of surprises as each clue is unravelled.” – Darren Dalgish
Perfect Crime was also the first theatre show in New York City to reopen post-COVID. Catherine Russel really fought a legal battle to get the show back and running. She has dedicated so much time and effort to her craft, and she has no plans on stopping any time soon. “A lot of people didn’t feel ready to go back, both on Broadway and off-Broadway, to the smaller theater circuit. But I thought we were ready … I don’t think I’m a visionary. Maybe I’m just a little less scared than the others, but I also have less to lose. I’m a little off-Broadway show,” she declared.
Perfect Crime is running at Off-Broadway’s Anne L. Bernstein Theater in Times Square’s The Theater Center, and it’s been its home since 2005. Prior to this, the show ran in different venues around New York City. It all began at The Courtyard Playhouse in Greenwich Village, where it made its debut from April to August 1987. From there, it moved to The Second Stage, where it graced the stage from August to October 1987. Then, the show found a new home at The Forty-Seventh Street Theater, captivating audiences from October to December 1987. The following year, in 1988, it continued its run at Intar, thrilling theatergoers from January to April. The Harold Clurman Theater was its next stop, hosting the production from May 1988 to August 1990.
But the journey didn’t end there; it returned to The Forty-Seventh Street Theater for an encore from August to December 1990. Theater Four was the venue of choice from January 1991 to September 1993, followed by another stint at The Forty-Seventh Street Theater from September 1993 to January 1994. Finally, the Duffy Theatre became its stage, where it proudly ran from January 1994 all the way to April 2005.
Right now, Perfect Crime is ready to dazzle you at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater and tickets are already on sale. Secure your seats at the show by clicking ‘GET TICKETS’! Remember that it’s always safe to book your tickets while it’s early to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.