Broadway’s THE 39 STEPS, the Tony Award-winning quick change comedy, will welcome Halloween next Friday, October 31, with a special ticket offer and the Hitchcock-themed “39 Shrieks Halloween Costume Contest”. THE 39 STEPS is currently playing at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues).
$39 tickets for the performance on Friday, October 31 at 8:00PM can be ordered through www.broadwayoffers.com using the code: 39SHRKS. That night will also mark the “39 Shrieks Halloween Costume Contest”. Audience members who come dressed in an
Alfred Hitchcock-inspired costume will be entered to win the coveted title of “Best Hitchcock Costume Contest Winner” and take a bow on a Broadway stage after the performance, in addition to winning other fabulous prizes.
Judging will take place outside of the Cort Theater from 6:30 - 7:30 PM, prior to the 8:00 PM performance. Anyone with a ticket to that performance will be eligible to enter and win. Three finalists will be notified at intermission, and will be given further instruction at that point. The audience will be asked to stay briefly after the performance and help choose the winner.
THE 39 STEPS, the winner of two Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, 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.
THE 39 STEPS plays through January 11 at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street) and moves to the Helen Hayes Theatre (240 West 44th Street), resuming performances on January 20.
The show features
Arnie Burton (Man #2),
Jennifer Ferrin (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret),
Sam Robards (
Richard Hannay).and
Cliff Saunders (Man #1).
Francesca Faridany and
Jeffrey Kuhn will join the cast on Tuesday, October 28, replacing
Jennifer Ferrin and
Cliff Saunders, respectively. The production also features
Rob Breckenridge,
Claire Brownell and Cameron Folmar.
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 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 Cort Theatre box office. Tickets for performances after January 20 will go on sale November 3 through Telecharge and at the
Helen Hayes Theatre box office on January 5. 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.
www.39StepsOnBroadway.com
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
