

It was nominated for five Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Featured Actor (Pat Hingle), Best Featured Actress (Eileen Heckart), Best Scenic Design (Ben Edwards), Best Director (Elia Kazan). The drama was reworked by Inge from his earlier play Farther Off from Heaven, first staged in 1947 at Margo Jones' Theatre '47 in Dallas, Texas.

to R.: Timmy Everett, Eileen Heckart & Frank Overton in a scene from the stage production The Dark at the Top of the Stairsĭirected by Elia Kazan, the play opened Decemat New York's Music Box Theatre and ran for a total of 468 performances, closing on January 17, 1959.
