In honor of the revival, Playbill revisits the original production, which starred Uta Hagen and Arthur Hill in Tony-winning performances. New York Times reviewer Howard Taubman found the new play "wry and electric" and hailed Albee's "furious skill as a writer." This Playbill from opening night — Oct. 13, 1962 — features a headshot and bio of a young Edward Albee, a rising star playwright making his Broadway debut after coming to prominence Off-Broadway with The Zoo Story.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won the 1963 Tony for Best Play and received the Pulitzer Prize committee's recommendation for the drama award. However, the Pulitzer board rejected the nomination on the basis of vulgarity and opted to present no award that year.
Click here to read this vintage Playbill in the Playbill Vault.