TheatreSquared Presents THE 39 STEPS, 9/3

TheatreSquared's inaugural production of the 2010/11 Fifth Anniversary Season, Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS, opens this Friday at Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios. Community organizations will join in the celebration with Hitchcock-themed events beginning Thursday, with participants including First Thursday, Phunbags Comedy Improv, KUAF 91.3FM, Smoke & Barrel Tavern, Ella's Restaurant, The Wine Cellar, and the Inn at Carnall Hall. A special "Pay What You Can" Preview of THE 39 STEPS is also scheduled for 7:30 on Thursday, September 2, at which patrons are invited to pick their own ticket price. Regular performances of The 39 Steps are scheduled Friday, September 3 through Sunday, September 19, 2010 in the Studio Theater at Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios (505 W. Spring St, Fayetteville). Tickets range from $22-$24 ($10/under 30) and can be purchased by visiting the Theatre's website at theatre2.org or by calling the Box Office at 479.571.2728.

The weekend is packed with Hitchcock-themed festivities. At Fayetteville' First Thursday festival on the downtown Square, Ozarks at Large host Kyle Kellams will lead an Alfred Hitchcock trivia contest in the New Belgium Charity Beer Garden at 6:45pm. The winning team or individual will receive two front-row tickets to TheatreSquared's production of The 39 Steps and two bottles of wine to share at The Wine Cellar, next to Nadine Baum Studios, on the evening of the show. Later in the evening, Phunbags Comedy Improv will perform Hitchcock-inspired sketches in a free, interactive performance, also in the Beer Garden. On Friday, Film Score Friday host PJ Robowski will play a selection of music from Hitchcock's films and other classic thrillers, and select a winner for the TheatreSquared Fifth Anniversary Giveaway. The winner of the KUAF giveaway will receive two Prime Weekend Season Subscriptions, dinner for two at Ella's Restaurant, and a weekend stay at the Inn at Carnall Hall. Friday evening, The 39 Steps opens at 7:30 for its three-week run at Nadine Baum Studios, continuing with a 2:00 Saturday matinee and 7:30 evening performance. On Sunday, following a 2:00 matinee of The 39 Steps at Nadine Baum Studios, Smoke & Barrel Tavern on Dickson Street will host The 39 Steps Movie Marathon at 4:30pm, featuring Hitchcock's original and two other classic favorites. Dead Guy Ale will be offered on special for $3.00.

Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best New Comedy, THE 39 STEPS has been a popular and critical success on Broadway, in London's West End, and on regional stages throughout the nation. When a femme fatale is murdered in the home of a dashing Englishman, he escapes being framed only to find a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" hot on his trail. The play features an on-stage plane crash, a high-speed pursuit, and a classic Hitchcock "strangers on a train" romance. The TheatreSquared production is directed by Michael Landman and features an all-star creative team of working professionals from Northwest Arkansas, New York and Chicago.

The professional cast for THE 39 STEPS includes: Avery Clark (Richard Hannay), who previously appeared in TheatreSquared's Rabbit Hole; Sabrina Veroczi (Annabella/Pamela/Margaret); Jason Guy (Clown #1); and Kristopher Stoker (Clown #2), who appeared in TheatreSquared's World Premiere production of MY FATHER'S WAR. Full cast biographies are available at theatre2.org.

The creative team for The 39 Steps includes: Michael Landman (director), head of M.F.A. Directing at University of Arkansas; Shawn Irish (scenic and lighting design), in his tenth TheatreSquared production; Mike Tutaj (sound design), two-time winner of Chicago's prestigious Jeff Award; Morgan Hicks (props and costume design); Doug Patton (stage manager); and Steve Wilhelm (technical director).

For the first time, TheatreSquared will offer a "Pay What You Can" preview night on Thursday, September 2. Patrons at this special preview are invited to pay whatever they can-from $1 to $100. Tickets are first come, first served and available only upon arrival at the theatre. Prospective ticket buyers are encouraged to arrive early as availability is limited to 150 seats.

During its three-week run from September 3-19, performances are scheduled Thursdays at 7:30; Fridays at 7:30; Saturdays at 2:00 and 7:30; and Sundays at 2:00. Tickets for The 39 Steps are $22-$24 for adults ($10/under 30), and can be purchased by calling the T2 Box Office at 479.571.2728 or by visiting the Theatre's website at theatre2.org. Discounted prices are available for groups.

The 39 Steps is the first production of TheatreSquared's Fifth Anniversary season, which continues with Every Christmas Story Ever Told, the World Premiere of Sundown Town, and Reasons to Be Pretty. Season subscriptions are available starting at $74 for the full four-play package. TheatreSquared is Northwest Arkansas's regional theatre, dedicated to creating exceptional works on stage and innovative educational programs. For further information, call 479.445.6333 or visit theatre2.org.

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