Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to Present THE 39 STEPS, 7/2-14

Just four actors portray 150 characters and tell one unforgettable story in The 39 Steps running June 19 through July 14 at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. A mystery-thriller described as "where Hitchcock meets hilarious," The 39 Steps previews June 19th and 20th, and opens June 21st.

The wild quick-change comedy of espionage and murder is based on the spy "shocker" novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film thriller of Alfred Hitchcock, as adapted by Patrick Barlow.

Directed by Matt Pfeiffer, an award-winning Philadelphia artist, the play features an exceptional cast. Portraying an ordinary man swept into an international chase - with his life on the line is William Connell as Richard Hannay. Hannay's mid-life funk quickly dissipates when he catches the eye of a mysterious woman at the theatre, played by Genevieve Perrier.

Steve Burns (of Blue's Clues renown) and Anthony Reimer play "Clown 1" and "Clown 2" -- reenacting all of the characters and famous scenes from Hitchcock's film with a few props and innumerable costume changes.

Samina Vieth designed the set for multiple locations in 1935 London and Scotland, while Lisa Zinni designed the costumes. Voice and text coach is Dudley Knight. Lighting is designed by Thom Weaver and sound by PSF's resident designer Matthew Given. Marguerite Priceserves as stage manager.

Performances: Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm - except for Saturday, June 22. Sunday, June 23 and July 7 at 7:30pm. No performance will be held on July 4.

Tickets: $25-55. Discounts for students, seniors, subscribers and groups.

Box Office: 610.282.WILL [9455] Order online at: www.pashakespeare.org.

The Festival's 22nd season also features Oklahoma! (through June 30), The Importance of Being Earnest and Measure for Measure (in rep July 10 - August 4) Henry VIII (July 24 - August 4), and the children's productions Beauty and the Beast and Shakespeare for Kids.

The production sponsors for The 39 Steps are Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan. Season sponsors are Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Szarko, and associate season sponsors are Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth.

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is the Official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth and a professional, not-for-profit, theatre company. An independent 501 c 3 organization, PSF receives support from DeSales University and relies on contributions from individuals, government agencies, corporations and foundations. PSF is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Lehigh Valley Arts Council and the Shakespeare Theatre Association.

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