Lansbury recently told Variety columnist Army Archerd, "This is it for me. . . . People have no idea what eight shows a week are. It's OK when you're young — but at 81 [it's a different story]." Lansbury said that post-Deuce she see plans to "see a lot of other people work." She will also be honored by the Museum of TV and Radio Nov. 14.

For her performance as former tennis champion Leona Mullen in Deuce, Lansbury received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play. She also received unanimous raves for her work from the critics: In fact, the New York Times called Lansbury "vitally and indelibly present," while Variety added, "[She] can floor us with an eye roll or a subtle double-take, turning mildly clever lines into acerbic zingers with apparent nonchalance."

Though physically challenging, Lansbury previously told Playbill.com that her experience in Deuce has been a good one: "[It has] been one wonderful moment after another," Lansbury said. "I mean, it's been incredible — quite unexpectedly dramatic and glamorous and filled with the most wonderful, positive help from the audience and from everybody. It's been amazing."

Perhaps best known her for work as TV sleuth Jessica Fletcher on "Murder, She Wrote," Lansbury is one of the most celebrated stars of the Broadway stage. She received Tony Awards for her performances in Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Dear World and Mame, and she also appeared on The Great White Way in Hotel Paradiso, A Taste of Honey, Anyone Can Whistle, The King and I and A Little Family Business. Her numerous film credits include "Gaslight," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Manchurian Candidate," all of which brought the actress Academy Award nominations.

Deuce, which co-stars Tony Award winner Marian Seldes, plays the Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street.