THE 39 STEPS Opens Long Beach Playhouse's 86th Mainstage Season Tonight

The 39 Steps, a suspenseful-romantic-comedy, based on the 1935 movie by Alfred Hitchcock, opens the Mainstage Season tonight, Sept. 27. Four actors play over 100 characters in this Tony-winner that kept Broadway rollicking for the past three years. It is part juicy spy novel, part Monty Python, and it preserves the brilliance originally created by the master of suspense.

Jeremy Bear plays our suave hero Richard Hannay who learns from a beautiful spy about a plot of international espionage. The woman is killed in Hannay's flat and he suddenly finds himself caught up in a race from London to Scotland in hopes of stopping military secrets from being smuggled out of the country. As he searches for the secret of "The 39 Steps" he is doggedly pursued by the police who believe he is a murderer. Three of the female roles will be played by Madeleine Heil while the remaining multitude of characters (spies, policemen, inn keepers, traveling salesmen, etc.) are played by just two actors credited as clown #1 (Mark Davidson) and clown #2 (Michael Chiboucas).

Leading the artistic team is Director Dale Jones who returns to the Mainstage after paying Mr. Mushnik in 2013s production on Little Shop of Horrors. Scenic Designer is Sean Gray, technical director, Costume Designer is Donna Fritsche, Lighting Designer is Daniel Driskoll, Sound Designer is Larry Mura, playing double duty as he is also the show's Prop Master.

The play remains very close to the film, particularly in terms of its frenetic timing. But putting the movie - a farce-like whirlwind adventure - on stage requires ingenious theatrical devises to instantly go from a chase scene on a train, to a plane crash, transform into a luxurious Scottish manor, then to a London flat, or suddenly become The London Palladium. Also occurring at breakneck speed are nearly one-hundred costume changes, which often happen right before the audience in the blink of an eye.

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

• Pay what you can Thursday Sept. 25 - community can see this production for whatever they can afford
• Two for One Preview Friday Sept. 26 - Tickets are $12.00
• Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on Sept. 27- Tickets are $27.00

Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00. Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Pictured: Madeleine Heil (ANNABELLA/PAMELA/MARGARET), Jeremy Bear (RICHARD HANNEY). Photo by Mike Hardy.

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