Compulsion 
A Michael Myerberg PresentationDramatization (Producer's Version) by Meyer Levin
Production Staged by Alex Segal
A fictionalized account of the Leopold and Loeb trial. The story concerns two wealthy Chicago teenagers, Judd Steiner and Artie Straus, who kidnap and murder a young boy, become suspects because of glasses found with the boy's body, confess, and are defended by the brilliant lawyer, Jonathan Wilk.
Performances
| Belasco Theatre Broadway | New York, NY | October 14, 1957 |
| Ambassador Theatre Broadway | New York, NY | October 24, 1957 to February 22, 1958 140 performances |
Cast (In Order of Appearance)
Judd Steiner (today) ..................... Chris Gampel A Prison Guard ........................... Joseph Beruh Sid Silver (today) ...................... Gerald Gordon Judd Steiner (1924) .................... Dean Stockwell Artie Straus ........................... Roddy McDowall Charles Kessler ............................. Ben Astar Elsie Kessler .......................... Gina Petrushka A Drugstore Clerk ........................ Joseph Beruh Horn, the Prosecuting Attorney ........ Howard da Silva Sid Silver (1924) ....................... Gerald Gordon Al, Owner of a Speakeasy .......... Michael Constantine Myra Seligman ............................ Barbra Loden Ruth Goldenberg ............................. Ina Balin A Waiter ................................. Joseph Beruh A Bartender ............................... Mark Gordon Oliver Steger .............................. Ben Yaffee McNamara, a Detective ................. Elliot Sullivan Padua, Assistant to the Prosecutor ....... Paul Stevens A Girl on the Telephone .................. Patricia Roe Mr. Farmer ............................... James Greene A Medium .............................. Dorothy Raymond Billy Straus .................. Luchino Solito de Solis Mrs. Straus .............................. Joan Croydon James Straus ............................. Earl Hammond Jonathan Wilk, The Defense Attorney ...... Frank Conroy First Girl ............................. Muriel Higgins Second Girl .............................. Patricia Roe Third Girl ............................. Barbara Miners Fourth Girl ......................... Suzanne Pleshette Judah Steiner, Sr. ..................... Bernard Lenrow Aunt Bertha ........................... Dorothy Raymond Ferdinand Feldscher .................... Roger de Koven Max Steiner ........................... Stefan Gierasch Sandra Mannheimer ......................... Helen Baron Swasey, a Detective ....................... Ted Gunther Tom Daly, a Reporter ..................... James Bender Mike Prager, Another Reporter ............. John Marley Lyman, a Third Reporter ..................... James Ray Prison Guard .............................. Mark Gordon Danny Mines, a Reporter .................. Joseph Beruh Peg Sweet, a Newspaper Woman .......... Maybelle Wright Willie Weiss ............................. Julian Barry Raphael Goetz ............................... James Ray Milt Lewis ............................. D. J. Sullivan Emil, the Steiners' Chaffeur ............. Chris Gampel Dr. Stauffer ........................... Reynolds Evans Dr. Allman .................................. Ben Astar Dr. McNarry ............................... Lloyd Gough Dr. Ball .......................... Michael Constantine Dr. Vincenti ............................. James Greene Judge Matthewson ........................ Edward Cullen
Production
Assistant to the Producers: Robert ThomSettings by Peter Larkin
Costumes by John Boxer
Lighting by Charles Elson Co-Producer: Len S. Gruenberg
Original Music and Musical Direction by Cy Coleman
| Article by M.L. Zambrana |