Dianne Pilkington Joins Cast of 39 STEPS, April 26

Dianne Pilkington, currently starring as Glinda in Wicked, will be appearing in The 39 Steps beginning April 26. The comedy will feature Pilkington in the roles of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret.  Joining her will be David Bark-Jones as Hannay, and Timothy Speyer and Jeremy Swift as Man 1 & 2.

After spending almost three years in Wicked, Pilkington will be succeeded by Louise Dearman. Her stage roles include ‘Hope' in the London workshop production of Urinetown, directed by John Rando; ‘Tonya' in the workshop of Dr Zhivago directed by Des McAnuff; the title role in Helen of Troy - a new musical, directed by Gary Griffin; ‘Charlotte' in Charlotte - Life or Theatre? and appearing with Boy George in Concert at the Albert Hall.

Winner of several coveted awards, including the Best New?Comedy Olivier Award and 2 Tonys, the blissfully funny show follows the incredible adventures of dashingly handsome hero Richard Hannay - complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache - as he goes on the run from police accused of a dastardly murder, dodges double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, becomes entangled with several devastatingly beautiful women.

The 39 Steps contains every single legendary scene from Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 classic film thriller, from Hannay's nerve-jangling chase along the roof of the Flying Scotsman steam train, his death-defying escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational explosive finale in the London Palladium - as well as the memorable, intimate and controversial ‘stockings and suspenders' scene with the hero and heroine handcuffed together.

The 39 Steps is produced by Edward Snape and plays the Criterion Theatre. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. It's currently booking through October 23, 2010.