'Rope' by Patrick Hamilton, at the Zipper Theatre

Drama Dept and The Zipper presents Rope, a murder thriller by Patrick Hamilton, opening at the Zipper Theatre on the 4 Dec 2005, following previews from the 21 Nov and running through to the 15 Jan 2006.

Rope tells the story of two young Oxford men who attempt �the perfect murder� to prove that they are above ordinary people. After killing a college friend, Brandon and Granillo hide the body in a trunk in their living room and host a cocktail party, serving dinner off of the trunk. The play has many similarities with the Leopold and Loeb murder case from Chicago.

Alfred Hitchcock adapted the play (which, originally titled Rope�s End, opened at The Theatre Masque in September 1929) for his celebrated 1948 film. In keeping with Drama Dept.�s mission of rediscovering neglected works, this production will mark the first revival of the play in New York in more than 40 years.

The cast for Rope, directed by David Warren, features: Ginifer King, John Lavelle, Zak Orth, Sam Trammell. Further cast to be announced.

Rope has set design by James Youmans, costumes by Gregory Gale, lighting by Jeff Croiter and sound by Kai Harada.

This play is the the first of three productions to be co-produced by the Drama Dept and The Zipper.