Groff Talks Deathtrap, GLEE, and More

With his West End debut quickly approaching, Jonathan Groff recently sat down with The Independent to talk about his upcoming role in Deathtrap, his involvement with GLEE, and everything in between.

In reponse to the highly controversial Newsweek Article which compared his performance on GLEE to that of 'an average theater queen' Groff said, "It's just one of those things. You just have to take it like any good or bad review, and try to let it roll off your back. I've played all kinds of characters, with all kinds of sexuality, and I hope to go on doing that. It's all pretty much the same. People will say, 'so-and-so can't play this role because of this or that'. As an actor, it is great if you can leave your personal life at the door, but it is inevitable that the public is going to come to know more about you."

On his character in Deathtrap, Groff says, "I was totally fascinated by the dynamic between the two men, but I don't want to give too much away. The character seems to be one thing at one moment, then changes to be another. He seems playful, then innocent, then evil."

Groff also talked about his popularity since joing GLEE in saying, "For the first time in my life, people recognise me in the street, but it is not like the paparazzi are following me, so it is sort of nicerejection is pretty intense, so you have to have faith in yourself."

To read the full article, visit: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jonathan-groff-rock-hudson-for-the-21st-century-2058851.html

"DEATHTRAP" will open in London on at the Noël Coward Theatre on Tuesday 7 September, following previews from 21 August. Anna Massey returns to the West End stage after a twelve year absence to co-star opposite Simon Russell Beale and "DEATHTRAP" will introduce "Glee" television star Jonathan Groff to both to the West End stage and the British public.

Simon Russell Beale, currently starring in the National Theatre's sell-out production of Dion Boucicault's "London Assurance" directed by Nicholas Hytner, will play 'Sidney Bruhl' and multi-award winning actress Anna Massey will play 'Helga Ten Dorpe'. Jonathan Groff, award-winning Broadway musical star of "Spring Awakening" and new leading man and star of American television series "Glee", will star as 'Clifford Anderson' opposite Simon Russell Beale. Prolific author and playwright Ira Levin, who is probably best-known for the Roman Polanski film "Rosemary's Baby", is also the author of "The Stepford Wives" and "The Boys From Brazil".

This will be the first London revival of "DEATHTRAP" since its original production in 1978 when the play opened to rave reviews and smash-hit business, subsequently running for two and a half years at the Garrick Theatre. "DEATHTRAP was then filmed by Sidney Lumet with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve in the starring roles.

With design by Rob Howell, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and original music by Gary Yershon, "DEATHTRAP" will be directed by Matthew Warchus, whose more recent credits include "Art" and "God of Carnage", both by Yasmina Reza and both produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers. "DEATHTRAP" will preview from 21 August and will open on Tuesday 7 September at the Noël Coward Theatre.

"DEATHTRAP" will be produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers.

Performance times at the Noël Coward Theatre will be Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3.00pm. Tickets, priced from £19.50 - £49.50, with preview tickets priced from £15.00 - £35.00, with no booking fee whatsoever, are available from the Noël Coward Theatre Box Office on 0844 482 5140.