What are THE 39 STEPS? You have only 39 performances left to discover the secret before Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS plays its final performance on Broadway. The hit Tony Award-winning production ends its run on January 10, 2010 at the Helen Hayes Theatre (240 West 44th Street). The production will have played 771 performances - the longest running Broadway play in seven years.
THE 39 STEPS received its American premiere in September, 2007 at the
Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. The Broadway premiere began previews on January 4, 2008, officially opening on January 15 at
Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre. The show moved to the Cort Theatre on April 29, 2008 and then to the
Helen Hayes Theatre on January 21, 2009.
THE 39 STEPS is now in its third smash year in London and a US national tour is currently on the road.
Adapted by
Patrick Barlow and directed by
Maria Aitken, THE 39 STEPS is based on an original concept by
Simon Corble and
Nobby Dimon and on the book by
John Buchan.
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,
Cameron Folmar and
Nisi Sturgis.
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!"
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, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 PM.
