PERFORMANCES FOR ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S
THE 39 STEPS
BEGIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE CORT THEATRE
IN (SLIGHTLY LESS THAN) 39 HOURS!
ALL SEATS $39 FOR FIRST PERFORMANCE!
39 SEATS AT $39 AVAILABLE AT ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES!
OPENING NIGHT IS MAY 8
Performances begin tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 29 for Alfred Hitchcock’s THE 39 STEPS, the critically acclaimed 2007 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Comedy. The production will begin performances at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues) in (slightly less than) 39 hours! All seats will be $39 for the first preview. 39 seats at $39 are also available for all other performances. Tickets are available by phone at 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com and at the Cort Theatre box office.
The Broadway premiere of THE 39 STEPS opened earlier this season at Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre to deliriously ecstatic reviews. Ben Brantley, New York Times, called the production, “Absurdly enjoyable! This gleefully theatrical riff on Hitchcock’s film is fast and frothy, performed by a cast of four that seems like a cast of thousands. The actors themselves seem to be having a helluva good time. As does the audience.” Clive Barnes, New York Post, pronounced THE 39 STEPS “Inventively astonishing, riotous & marvelous.” Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News, exclaimed, “Hitchcock probably never imagined his thriller had the makings of a hilarious comedy, but this show is a dizzy delight and an ingenious spoof, inventively directed by Maria Aitken. A fast-paced fun ride!”
THE 39 STEPS is adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken. The production is based on an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon and on the book by John Buchan. The Broadway production has been nominated for three 2008 Drama Desk Awards including Unique Theatrical Experience, Lighting Design (Kevin Adams) and Sound Design (Mic Pool), three 2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Play, Director of a Play (Maria Aitken), and Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), and a 2008 Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play.
THE 39 STEPS features Arnie Burton (Man #2), Charles Edwards (Richard Hannay), Jennifer Ferrin (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret).and Cliff Saunders (Man #1). The company also includes Claire Brownell, Cameron Fulmar and Mark Shanahan. Charles Edwards is appearing with the permission of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance with this production.
Mix Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic masterpiece with a juicy spy novel. Then, add the manic dash of vintage Monty Python and you have THE 39 STEPS – equal parts hilarious whodunit, espionage thriller and quick-change comedy, adapted for the stage from Hitchcock’s famous 1935 film and John Buchan’s 1915 novel. Seeking a frivolous night out at the theatre, Richard Hannay is lured into a world of intrigue by a mysterious woman claiming to be a spy. When she winds up dead in his flat, he flees London with the police hot on his trail.
The production features sets and costumes by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Kevin Adams and sound by Mic Pool. Dialect coach is Stephen Gabis. Original movement created by Toby Sedgwick. Additional movement created by Christopher Bayes. Production management is by Aurora Productions. Production stage manager is Nevin Hedley.
THE 39 STEPS has been a runaway hit in London’s West End, playing to sell-out houses at the Criterion where it continues to delight and thrill audiences. The first production of THE 39 STEPS was directed by Fiona Buffini and produced on stage by North Country Theatre in April 1996 at the Georgian Theatre, Richmond, North Yorkshire.
THE 39 STEPS received its American debut at Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company. The Broadway premiere production began previews on January 4, 2008 and officially opened on January 15 at Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre.
THE 39 STEPS is produced by Bob Boyett, Harriet Newman Leve/Ron Nicynski, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Manocherian Golden Prods., Olympus Theatricals/Douglas Denoff, Pam Laudenslager/Pat Addiss, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Managing Director; Julia Levy, Executive Director), Huntington Theatre Company (Nicholas Martin, Artistic Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) and Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd.
Tickets for THE 39 STEPS are available from TeleCharge at 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com or at the Cort Theatre box office (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). Performances are Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM.
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BIOGRAPHIES:
Arnie Burton (Man #2) Broadway: Amadeus. Off-Broadway: Mere Mortals (Primary Stages, J. Houseman Theatre), The Last Sunday in June (Rattlestick, Century Theatre) Jew of Malta/Merchant of Venice (TFANA), The Venetian Twins, The Cherry Orchard (Pearl Theatre). UK: The Merchant of Venice (RSC). Regional: All in the Timing (L.A. premier, Geffen Playhouse), I Am My Own Wife (St Louis Rep), The Seagull, Taming of the Shrew (Old Globe), also The Huntington, The Alley, Berkeley Rep, Philadelphia Theatre Co., Berkshire Theatre Fest., among others. Film; Igby Goes Down, Game 6 T.V.: “Frasier,” “Six Degrees,” “Hope & Faith”, “L&O,” “Caroline in the City,” “Sister, Sister,” “Drift” (pilot).
Charles Edwards (Richard Hannay). Charles played Hannay for the original London production. Theatre includes Sandy in Hay Fever with Judi Dench (dir. Peter Hall); Victor in Private Lives (dir. Thea Sharrock); Antonio in The Duchess of Malfi opposite Janet McTeer (dir. Phyllida Lloyd); George in All My Sons with Julie Walters and Laurie Metcalf (dir. Howard Davies), and Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (dir. Peter Hall). Television includes Conan Doyle in “The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes” opposite Ian Richardson; Edward VIII in “Bertie and Elizabeth” with Eileen Atkins and Alan Bates, and the new series of “Midsomer Murders.” Film includes Batman Begins, Mr Yates in Mansfield Park, and Charles Sturridge’s Longitude.
Jennifer Ferrin (Annabella Schmidt/PamelaMargaret). Making her Broadway debut, Jennifer is best known for her work on “As The World Turns,” for which she garnered two Daytime Emmy nominations. After graduating from North Carolina School of the Arts in 2003, Ferrin has also appeared on “Rescue Me,” as Stanley Tucci’s love interest on “3 lbs,” and in Hallmark’s “The Locket” alongside Vanessa Redgrave. Most recently, Ferrin appeared on Spike TVs “The Kill Point” opposite John Leguizamo. She is thrilled to be working with such an incredible cast and crew. Love and gratitude to family and friends.
Cliff Saunders (Man #1). Theatre includes Bilbo Baggins in the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings, Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre); Habeas Corpus (CanStage); The Drowsy Chaperone (Winter Garden); A Flea in Her Ear (Soulpepper Theatre Company); Crackwalker and A Wind in the Willows (The Grand Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Princess of Wales Theatre); Possible Maps (Tarragon Theatre); A Servant of Two Masters, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Pinocchio (Young People’s Theatre); and Biloxi Blues and The Foreigner (Royal Alexandra Theatre). Film and TV includes Outlander, Roxy Hunter (both upcoming), Chicago, A Lobster Tale, Open Range, Spider, The Fool, “The Music Man,” “Midwives,” “Joan of Arc,” “Eloise,” “Eloise at Christmas Time,” “Harlan County War,” “Catch a Falling Star,” “Flowers for Algernon,” “The Crossing,” “Deathlands,” “Monk,” “Doc,” “Sue Thomas F.B.EYE,” “La Femme Nikita,” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
Patrick Barlow (Adaptation) Patrick is probably best known in the UK for his hilarious two-man National Theatre of Brent which has become a legend in British theatre, television and radio. Their comedy epics include Zulu, The Charles and Diana Story, Messiah and The Wonder of Sex. They have won two Sony Gold Awards, a Premier Ondas Award for Best European Comedy and the New York Festival Gold Award for Best Comedy. Other screenwriting includes: Adrian Mole, Christopher Columbus, Queen of the East, Van Gogh (Prix Futura Berlin Film Festival), Revolution!! (Best Comedy Jerusalem Film Festival), and the BAFTA-winning Young Visiters, starring Jim Broadbent. Publications include: “Shakespeare: The Truth!” and “The Complete History of the Whole World.” Screen and theatre acting credits include: Wind in the Willows, “Absolutely Fabulous,” “Clatterford,” Shakespeare in Love, Notting Hill, The Diary of Bridget Jones and Nanny McPhee. The 39 Steps won Patrick an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.
Maria Aitken (Director). Productions in America and the UK include the Olivier Award-winning West End production of The 39 Steps (also currently running in Israel and Italy); Simon Gray’s Japes (Bay Street Theatre), Rattigan’s Man and Boy (Duchess Theatre, London), Coward’s Easy Virtue (Chichester), Vita and Virginia (Sphinx Theatre), Lady Bracknell’s Confinement (Vineyard Theatre, NY), School for Scandal (Clwyd Theatr), As You Like It (Regent’s Park), Ludlam’s The Mystery of Irma Vep (Leicester Haymarket, & Ambassadors, London), Are You Sitting Comfortable (Watford Palace), The Rivals (Court Theatre, Chicago), After the Ball Was Over (Old Vic, London), Private Lives (Oxford Playhouse), and Happy Family (Duke of York’s, London). As a leading actress, roles include Blithe Spirit, Bedroom Farce (Royal National Theatre), Travesties, Waste, and The Happiest Days of Your Life (RSC), and West End productions of Humble Boy, Sylvia, Hay Fever, Other People’s Money, The Vortex, The Women, Sister Mary Ignatius…, Design for Living, Private Lives, and A Little Night Music. Film credits include A Fish Called Wanda. She is a visiting teacher at BADA, Juilliard, Yale School of Drama, NYU, The Actors Center in NYC, and The Academy for Classical Acting. She is the author of two books, A Girdle Round the Earth and Style: Acting in High Comedy.
