Arsenic and Old Lace Tickets

Arsenic and Old Lace Tickets

If you're looking for Arsenic and Old Lace tickets, you're planning a night with one of American theater's great dark comedies — a fast-moving black farce that has entertained audiences since its 1941 Broadway premiere. Written by Joseph Kesselring, the play became a major commercial success in its original run, lasting 1,444 performances and earning a lasting reputation for macabre humor, escalating misunderstandings, and unforgettable family chaos.

This page covers everything you need — from what the show is and what to expect, to finding the right seats and buying with complete confidence.

Show Information

Arsenic and Old Lace premiered on January 10, 1941, at the Fulton Theatre on Broadway in New York City. The play was written by Joseph Kesselring, with the original Broadway production produced and substantially shaped by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, who are often credited with reworking the script into its successful comic form. The original production was staged by Bretaigne Windust.

The show is a dark comedy and black farce built around a single Brooklyn household where respectable appearances hide shocking secrets. The original Broadway run is closed, but Arsenic and Old Lace remains frequently revived and performed by professional, regional, community, and educational theater companies worldwide. Productions typically run approximately 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on staging, and usually include one or two intermissions in a three-act structure.

The play is widely regarded as a classic of American black comedy and remains one of the most frequently produced plays in American theater. Its original Broadway run lasted 1,444 performances, making it one of the longest-running Broadway plays of its time, and its 1944 Frank Capra film adaptation starring Cary Grant helped cement its lasting popularity. Boris Karloff originated the role of Jonathan Brewster on Broadway, adding to the play's theatrical legacy.

If you're searching for Arsenic and Old Lace tickets or want to check the current Arsenic and Old Lace show schedule, Box Office Ticket Sales carries inventory across touring and available productions.

Story Summary

Arsenic and Old Lace is set in the Brewster family home in Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1940s. Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic, is newly engaged to Elaine Harper when he discovers a horrifying secret: his sweet elderly aunts, Abby and Martha Brewster, have been poisoning lonely old men with elderberry wine laced with arsenic and burying them in the cellar as an act of what they consider charity.

As Mortimer tries to contain the situation, the household grows more chaotic. His brother Teddy believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and charges up the stairs as though storming San Juan Hill, while another brother, the sinister Jonathan Brewster, returns home with his accomplice Dr. Einstein. The result is a tightly wound farce in which every entrance, discovery, and misunderstanding raises the stakes.

The play balances macabre subject matter with charm, speed, and comic timing, exploring appearance versus reality, family loyalty, madness, morality, and the absurdity of trying to manage the unmanageable. Arsenic and Old Lace stands completely on its own; no prior knowledge of the film or any source material is needed to enjoy it, and its sharp comic setup lands clearly for audiences across generations.

Story Highlights

Arsenic and Old Lace is packed with signature scenes that turn shocking discoveries into classic farce:

• "The Elderberry Wine Revelation" — Mortimer's discovery of a body in the window seat sets the entire comedy in motion. The moment works because it collides horror with affection: the aunts remain gentle and gracious even as Mortimer realizes the full truth.
• "\"Charge!\" — Teddy's Staircase Charge" — Teddy Brewster's repeated cry of “Charge!” as he storms up the stairs like Theodore Roosevelt attacking San Juan Hill is one of the play's most memorable running gags. It also feeds directly into the household's frantic rhythm.
• "Burying the Bodies in the Cellar" — Teddy believes he is digging locks for the Panama Canal, unknowingly creating graves for the aunts' victims. The joke is dark, precise, and central to how the play turns grim facts into farcical machinery.
• "Jonathan's Arrival" — The return of Mortimer's dangerous brother Jonathan, accompanied by Dr. Einstein, brings real menace into the Brewster home. His presence shifts the comedy into suspense while keeping the misunderstandings moving.
• "The Count of Victims" — As the number of bodies in the cellar becomes clear, the comedy escalates into dawning horror. The scene is a classic payoff, giving the audience the thrill of realizing the situation is even bigger than Mortimer imagined.

Other Theater Shows You Might Like

If Arsenic and Old Lace is your kind of show, the following productions tend to appeal to the same audience — witty comedies, clever mysteries, classic farces, and stage stories with sharply timed ensemble chaos.

• The Mousetrap Tickets
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• Noises Off Tickets
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• Blithe Spirit Tickets
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• Harvey Tickets
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How Much Do Tickets to Arsenic and Old Lace Cost?

Arsenic and Old Lace ticket prices vary by seat location, performance date, venue size, and whether the production is staged by a professional, regional, community, or educational theater company.

Arsenic and Old Lace ticket prices vary based on venue, city, seat location, date, and performance time. Premium orchestra and front sections are in high demand, while rear and upper-level sections offer excellent value.

Weekend performances, popular local runs, opening-week interest, and stronger theater markets can all affect what you see in available listings. Buying earlier usually gives you a wider choice of orchestra, mezzanine, balcony, and rear-orchestra options before the best-value seats are gone.

No hidden fees. At Box Office Ticket Sales, the price you see is the price you pay. All fees are shown before checkout — no surprise charges when you reach the final step.

How to Buy Arsenic and Old Lace Tickets

Getting your Arsenic and Old Lace tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and straightforward. Here's how the process works:

• Browse Arsenic and Old Lace performances — Search for Arsenic and Old Lace tickets and select the city, venue, and date that work for your schedule
• Pick your seats — Use the interactive seating map to compare sections, rows, views, and real-time pricing side by side
• Secure checkout — Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Affirm for flexible payment options
• Receive your tickets — Digital tickets are delivered to your email or mobile wallet before the show, ready to scan at the theater entrance

Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and everything you need before curtain time.

Arsenic and Old Lace Seating Guide

Arsenic and Old Lace is frequently performed in traditional theater venues of varying sizes, from regional stages to community and educational theaters. Because the play is character-driven and often staged in the Brewster family home, where you sit can shape how clearly you catch the facial reactions, quick timing, and ensemble movement.

Best Seats for Arsenic and Old Lace

For a dialogue-rich comedy like Arsenic and Old Lace, strong sightlines and clear sound matter as much as proximity.

• Best value: Upper mezzanine and rear orchestra sections — these seats often provide a clear full-stage view at a lower price point, making them a smart choice for a comedy built around entrances, exits, and timing.
• Closest to the stage: Front orchestra sections — these seats put you nearest the actors, helping you catch expressions, comic pauses, and the physical details of the farce.
• Best overall experience: Mid-orchestra and front mezzanine sections — many theatergoers favor these areas because they balance proximity with a full view of the set and ensemble staging.
• For groups: Coordinate contiguous seats early, since blocks in popular orchestra and mezzanine sections can sell through quickly for well-attended performances.

Arsenic and Old Lace Seating Chart

You can view an interactive seating map for Arsenic and Old Lace performances directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections, check row depth and distance from the stage, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.

Can I See Where My Seats Are?

Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your angle to the stage, your distance from the front, and whether you're in the orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony — so the seats you choose match exactly what you're looking for before the curtain rises.

Getting Ready for Show Night

Once your tickets are confirmed, a little preparation makes the full experience run smoothly from arrival through the final bow.

• Download your tickets before you leave. Cell service around the venue can be congested on busy performance nights. Save your tickets to your phone's wallet or screenshot them before heading out so you're ready at the door without needing a signal.
• Charge your phone fully. Digital ticketing is standard at most theaters. A portable battery pack is worth having, especially if you're combining the show with dinner or other activities.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain. Theater doors open well before the show begins; arriving early gives you time to find your seats and settle in before the house lights go down — and avoids the disruption of late seating, which many theaters restrict.
• Plan for the intermission. Arsenic and Old Lace is typically performed with one or two intermissions in its three-act structure, depending on the production. Lines for concessions and restrooms often build immediately after an act break, so planning ahead helps keep the evening relaxed.
• Know the venue's phone and photography policy. Most professional theatrical productions ask audiences to silence phones and refrain from photographing or recording during the performance.
• For families. The play treats murder and themes of insanity comically and is generally suitable for most audiences, including teens. Parents bringing younger theatergoers may want to be aware of the dark subject matter before attending.

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Arsenic and Old Lace is one of the most consistently in-demand classic comedies in live theater, and popular performance dates, weekend shows, and strong regional runs sell through fast. The best-value listings disappear first. If you have a specific date or city in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Arsenic and Old Lace tickets now and lock in your seats before inventory tightens.

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