BUCKHANNON, West Virginia —   From the stage to the big screen, “DeathTrap” by Ira Levin has been popular from the 1980s to today, even being made into a movie starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.  West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present its adaptation of “DeathTrap” April 9-11 in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts.

Directed by Dr. Gregory Mach, “DeathTrap” provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.”

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 that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? 

Production Designer and Technical Director is Boyd Wolz with stage manager Sarah Farlow ‘29, of Webster Springs, West Virginia,  and costume designer Jody Wolz.

The cast includes Elijah W. Dickey ‘27, of Chloe, West Virginia, as Sydney Bruhl; Leigh Rice 28, of Philippi, West Virginia, as Myra Bruhl; DeAndre Jones ‘29, of Morgantown, West Virginia, as Clifford Anderson; Rhyan Sebring ‘27, of Caldwell, Ohio, as Helga Ten Dorp and Heath Gilliam ‘29, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, as Porter Milgrim. 

Showtimes are April 9-11 at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC and a 2 p.m. matinee on April 11. General admission is $10 with $5 for seniors or those with a WVWC ID. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for 135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.