THE 39 STEPS National Tour to Launch in New Haven, 11/5

Broadway's hit comedy, The 39 Steps, makes it National Tour Debut at the Shubert Theater in New Haven during an exclusive Connecticut engagement running November 5-7, 2009. The four performances, running Thursday and Friday at 8pm, and Saturday at 2 & 8pm are sponsored by Lexus of New Haven, Whitney Center and media sponsors, New Haven Register and WTNH, News Channel 8.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. This two time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winner is adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by Maria Aitken and features sets and costumes by Peter McKintosh. 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. This is a classic portrayal of one man's flight from wrong accusation through a series of misadventures and old fashioned romance.

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 original Broadway production premiered on January 15, 2008 at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre and opened to deliriously ecstatic reviews. Ben Brantley, The 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 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 39 Steps features 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.

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.November 5-7, 2009