'How To Succeed' Stagehand Found Dead of Possible Overdose

By Marc Schneider Posted Jun 23rd 2011 01:30PM

The Daniel Radcliffe-starring musical 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' will go on with the show Thursday night, a day after their 100th performance was canceled after a stagehand was found dead backstage at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

A 29-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was found dead right before the curtain was about to rise on the hit show, which features a Tony-winning performance by John Larroquette. Producers have been quick to say that the incident was not caused by an "accident related to the production," and police are saying the man died of a drug overdose.

Two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the New York Times that it was a "personal tragedy" that had nothing to do with the production.

"It was a stagehand who had done something terrible to himself," a theater industry executive told the Times. "Apparently it happened in a bathroom backstage, and it was very, very serious."

After being found in cardiac arrest, the stagehand was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. A spokesperson for the medical examiner's office said an autopsy is pending.

Inside the theater, confusion, uncertainty and dialogue from Radcliffe and Larroquette. The NYT:

Two announcements of a delay in the 8 p.m. performance were made on the theater's public address system, at about 8:20 p.m. and 8:50 p.m., Ms. Jewell said. At about 9 p.m. the two stars of the show, Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, stepped out on stage to address the audience, who were there to see what would have been the show's 100th performance. Audience members said they could tell by Mr. Radcliffe's and Mr. Larroquette's tone that something grave had happened.

According to audience member Barbara Germain, the actors spoke directly to them. "They said they debated it for a long time, and that there was a tragedy and they didn't feel comfortable performing."

Another audience member, Suzanne Jewell, said the men "apologized to everyone, but said it wouldn't be fair to us because they would not have been able to give a good performance."

Those in attendance will receive full refunds.

Tags: Daniel Radcliffe, how to succeed in business without really trying, john larroquette

Comments

(9)

Thursday 23 June

By stu

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What happen to the Broadway saying "The show must go on"!

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gosh...is the play that bad?

By Jim

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No! The show is great! You try smiling, singing and dancing after some one know and liked just die!

By jheid67

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We just saw the show on Saturday and it was amazing. So sorry for the cast and crew and for the young man's family. Also sorry for those who may not be able to make it to another performace, but cancelling the show for the evening was the right move.

By KR

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'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'?? Isn't that a musical based on Kim Kardashian & Co.??

By mkultra776

What's sad is that more people know about this than what is going on their own country/government!

By BeerBelly

Harry Potter sings too?

By Ed

D--KHEAD

By Laura

Sounds like an episode of Columbo and or Monk! Oh, that's right, it was.

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