Photo Flash: Jill Paice Joins THE 39 STEPS

Jill Paice (Curtains, The Woman in White, A Little Night Music) recently joined the cast of Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS, Broadway's longest running comedy, playing the roles of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret. Now in its second smash year, the Tony Award-winning quick change comedy version of Hitchcock's classic film thriller is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre (240 West 44th Street). The production also recently played its 500th performance on Broadway.

Paice's Broadway credits include Niki Harris in Curtains and Laura Fairlie in The Woman in White. Her West End roles include Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind and Laura Fairlie in The Woman in White and Night of 1000 Voices at Royal Albert Hall. Her other credits include Anne in A Little Night Music (Roundabout Theatre Company gala performance), Elizabeth in ACE at Signature Theatre for which she received a Helen Hayes nomination for best actress, Betty Haynes in Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Fox Theatre Detroit) Niki Harris in Curtains (Ahmanson Theater), Sophie in Mamma Mia (Las Vegas), national tour of Les Miserables, The Gig (Lucy, York Theater), Weird Romance (Delphi/Susan, York Theater). Regional: Gypsy (Great Lakes Theater Festival). Original Cast Recordings: Curtains, The Woman in White, The Gig, Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway. Jill is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College.

THE 39 STEPS is adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken. The production is based on an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon and on the book by John Buchan.

Seeking a frivolous night out at the theatre, Richard Hannay is lured into a world of intrigue by a mysterious woman claiming to be a spy. When she winds up dead in his flat, he flees London with the police hot on his trail.

THE 39 STEPS features a cast of four actors who, against all odds, breathlessly and hilariously attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock's 1935 film thriller with just a few props and a lot of theatrical ingenuity and split second quick changes.

The production stars Arnie Burton (Man #2), Jeffrey Kuhn (Man #1), Sean Mahon (Richard Hannay) and Jill Paice (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret). The company also includes Rob Breckenridge, Claire Brownell and Cameron Folmar.

THE 39 STEPS opened to deliriously ecstatic reviews. Ben Brantley, New York Times, called the production, "Absurdly enjoyable! This gleefully theatrical riff on Hitchcock's film is fast and frothy, performed by a cast of four that seems like a cast of thousands. The actors themselves seem to be having a helluva good time. As does the audience." Clive Barnes, New York Post, pronounced THE 39 STEPS "Inventively astonishing, riotous & marvelous." Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News, exclaimed, "Hitchcock probably never imagined his thriller had the makings of a hilarious comedy, but this show is a dizzy delight and an ingenious spoof, inventively directed by Maria Aitken. A fast-paced fun ride!"

THE 39 STEPS features sets and costumes by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Kevin Adams and sound by Mic Pool. Dialect coach is Stephen Gabis. Original movement created by Toby Sedgwick. Additional movement created by Christopher Bayes. Production management is by Aurora Productions. Production stage manager is Nevin Hedley.

THE 39 STEPS has been a runaway hit in London's West End, playing to sell-out houses at the Criterion where it continues to delight and thrill audiences. The first production of THE 39 STEPS was directed by Fiona Buffini and produced on stage by North Country Theatre in April 1996 at the Georgian Theatre, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The production received its American debut at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA. The Broadway premiere began previews on January 4, 2008 and officially opened on January 15 at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre.

THE 39 STEPS is produced by Bob Boyett, Harriet Newman Leve/Ron Nicynski, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Manocherian Golden Prods., Olympus Theatricals/Douglas Denoff, Pam Laudenslager/Pat Addiss, Tim Levy/Remmel T. Dickinson, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Managing Director; Julia Levy, Executive Director), Huntington Theatre Company (Nicholas Martin, Artistic Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) and Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd. Associate producer is Marek J. Cantor.

Tickets are available from TeleCharge at 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com and at the Helen Hayes Theatre box office. Performances are Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM.