Bristol Riverside Theatre Opens 28th Season with THE 39 STEPS Tonight

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, the hilarious whodonit opening Bristol Riverside Theatre's season tonight, September 30-October 26. Directed by Gus Kaikkonen, the ensemble cast features Dan Hodge, Matt Leisy, Karen Peakes, and Adam Sowers.

Previews begin Tuesday, September 30 with opening night on Thursday, October 2. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday until October 26. Tickets start at $31, with discounts for students, groups and military personnel. Tickets are available by visiting brtstage.org or calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100. Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA.

The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan, from Alfred Hitchcock's movie, features over 150 zany characters (played by a very talented cast of four), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance. The Tony Award-winning comedy follows the dashingly handsome Richard Hannay, who, after meeting the mysterious and beautiful Annabella Schmidt at a London theatre, is plunged head first into an adventure that will see him being chased by the police for a murder he did not commit.

Gus Kaikkonen (Director) returns to BRT where he directed Absurd Person Singular. His other local directing credits include the Barrymore Award-winning Fully Committed at Philadelphia Theatre Company and at Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival. He has been the artistic director of Peterborough Players since 1996 and a resident director at The Juilliard School for the last eight years. Kaikkonen has been a frequent guest director at Geva Theatre and Asolo Theatre, and has also worked at Ford's Theater and Goodspeed Opera House. His New York credits include multiple productions at Mint Theatre, Pearl Theatre, and Playhouse 91.

Dan Hodge (Clown #2), who last appeared at BRT in Absurd Person Singular, reprises the role which won him a Barrymore nomination at Walnut Street Theatre. He is the recipient of a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in Around the World in 80 Days and for Best Ensemble in Glengarry Glen Ross. Regionally he has also been seen at Walnut Street Theatre in The Real Thing and Our Class, Delaware Theatre Company in The Exonerated, InterAct Theatre Company in The Exit Interview, and Theatre Exile in Mr. Marmalade.

Matt Leisy (Richard Hannay) won a Barrymore Award nomination for The History Boys at Arden Theatre Company, a role he also performed at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. After graduating from Northwestern University, he appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest at Arizona Theatre Company, Ghostlight at Signature Theatre, Pride and Prejudice at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and A Christmas Carol at Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Karen Peakes (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret) last appeared at BRT in Moon Over Buffalo. She has received a Barrymore Award for Best Ensemble in Equus at Mum Puppet Theatre, a Barrymore nomination for her work in Noises Off and Born Yesterday, and is currently nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a play for The Real Thing at The Wilma Theatre. She has also performed locally at Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, People's Light and Theatre Company, and Act II Playhouse.

Adam Sowers (Clown #1) makes his Philadelphia area debut, having appeared off-Broadway in Donogoo. He has also been featured in nine productions at Peterborough Players, including Laughing Stock, Scapino!, and Little Men, all directed by Gus Kaikonnen. As a member of the comedy troupe Glaundor while at the University of Houston, he won the 2013 National College Improv Tournament.

The 39 Steps brings together the creative team of BRT newcomers set designer Charles Morgan, lighting designer John Eckert, and sound designer Benjamin Marcum along with returning BRT favorite costume designer Linda Bee Stockton.

BRT's Mainstage subscription season continues with Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Lost in Yonkers (November 11 - November 30, 2014), Always...Patsy Cline about the Grammy Award-winning singer (January 27 - February 22, 2015), the Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynne Ahrens (March 17 - April 12, 2015), and the timeless drama An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Brian Johnston and Rick Davis (May 12 - May 31, 2015).

Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintains a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 68 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by Theatre Philadelphia. In addition to its Mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker, Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson, and Managing Director Jameson Gilpatrick, BRT enters its 28th season. For information, visit www.brtstage.org.

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