Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, Machinal is a gripping drama by American journalist and playwright Sophie Treadwell. Golden Globe nominee Rebecca Hall (The Town, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) stars in this sensational new production helmed by acclaimed British director Lyndsey Turner.
It’s America’s Golden Age, a time of happiness, freedom and prosperity––or is it? For one young woman in the industrial, male-dominated world of the 1920s, life is nothing like she hoped it would be. Restless and unfulfilled in a passionless marriage and an unwanted motherhood, she finds her only joy in the form of an illicit love affair. But when reality sets in and she must return to her routine existence, she’ll go to any lengths to regain her freedom.
A groundbreaking work in the landscape of American theatre, Machinal is a riveting look at the danger that can come from a life unlived.
![A woman in a gray dress sits behind bars of a jail cell. She speaks to the audience. Behind her in the cell is a priest clutching a bible.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0585r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman with short brown hair in a purple 1930s dress sits behind a witness stand. A man in a suit leans onto the stand in an intimidating manner.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0527r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall, Jeff Biehl, and Arnie Burton
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman in a yellow floral dress and 1930s hat sits at a small table at a bar with a man who smokes a cigarette.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0107r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman with short brown hair sits behind a desk with a typewriter on it, blankly staring into the distance.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0244r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall and Ryan Dinning
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman in white sits up in a simple bed and stares into the distance, as vertical lines are projected over her face.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0342r1.jpg)
Rebecca Hall
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman in a white top slipping off her soldier sits up in bed. A single spotlight shines on her face. She is frightened and speaks out to the audience.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0399r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman in a white bra and underwear sits on a bed. Next to her, a man in a white tank top and shorts kneels and caresses her face.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0124r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman sits on a sofa next to a man. They both read newspapers, but she looks out past her newspaper into the audience with an uneasy expression.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0512r.jpg)
Rebecca Hall and Michael Cumpsty
Photo by Joan Marcus![A woman in a 1930s skirt and top sits on the lap of a man in a vest and tie. He smiles and places an arm around her wait, but she looks uncomfortable.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_450,q_auto:eco,w_800/v1/placeholders/Production-Photos/Machinal/Machinal0038r.jpg)
Michael Cumpsty and Rebecca Hall
Photo by Joan MarcusMachinal Cast
- Young Woman
- Rebecca Hall
- Mother
- Suzanne Bertish
- Husband
- Michael Cumpsty
- Lover
- Morgan Spector
- Company
- Damian Baldet
- Company
- Ashley Bell
- Company
- Jeff Biehl
- Company
- Arnie Burton
- Company
- Ryan Dinning
- Company
- Scott Drummond
- Company
- Dion Graham
- Company
- Edward James Hyland
- Company
- James Loughlin
- Company
- Maria-Christina Oliveras
- Company
- Daniel Pearce
- Company
- Henny Russel
- Company
- Karen Walsh
- Company
- Michael Warner
![The empty house of the Todd Haimes Theatre with a wash of purple light over the seats, and a chandelier hangs at the top of the theatre.](https://res.cloudinary.com/roundabout-theatre-company/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_340,q_auto:eco,w_440/e_grayscale/e_tint:100:391f55:0p:ea5297:100p/v1/Venues/AA_Venue.jpg)
Presented at
Todd Haimes Theatre
227 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
between 7th and 8th Avenues