Sam Robards will step into the stylish Harris Tweed of leading man Richard Hannay on Tuesday, July 8 in the critically acclaimed hit Broadway production of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. The show, which has been nominated for six 2008 Tony Awards including Best Play, is playing at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). Charles Edwards, who originated the role of Hannay in the Olivier Award-winning London production, will play his final performance on Sunday, July 6.
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.
Robards received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations and a Clarence Derwent Award for his Broadway debut in Roundabout Theatre Company's production of
Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All The Luck. He also appeared on Broadway in MTC's Absurd Person Singular. Off-Broadway: The Overwhelming, Misalliance (Roundabout), The Altruists (Vineyard), Moonchildren, Flux (2nd Stage), Album (Cherry Lane), Taking Steps (York). Film: Perestroika, Guerilla, Awake, Surviving Eden, Catch That Kid, Life as a House, A.I., Bounce, American Beauty, Beautiful Girls, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Pret-A-Porter, Casualties of War, Bird, Dinner and Driving, Bright Lights Big City, Not Quite Paradise, Fandango, Tempest. TV credits include "Gossip Girl," "The West Wing" and "Sex and The City".
The 39 Steps has been nominated for six 2008 Tony Awards including Best Play and Best Director (Maria Aitken) and won two 2008 Drama Desk Awards, including Unique Theatrical Event.
The 39 Steps features
Arnie Burton (Man #2),
Charles Edwards (
Richard Hannay),
Jennifer Ferrin (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret).and
Cliff Saunders (Man #1). The company also includes Claire Brownell, Cameron Fulmar and
Mark Shanahan.
Charles Edwards is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance with this production.
Mix Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic masterpiece with a juicy spy novel. Then, add the manic dash of vintage Monty Python and you have
The 39 Steps – equal parts hilarious whodunit, espionage thriller and quick-change comedy, adapted for the stage from Hitchcock's famous 1935 film and John Buchan's 1915 novel.
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 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 production 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., from September 14, 2007-October 14, 2007. 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, 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.
Tickets are available from TeleCharge at 212-239-6200, online at
www.telecharge.com or at the Cort Theatre box office (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). 39 tickets at $39 are available at every performance. 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.
Photo Credit Ben Strothmann
