Behlmann, Folmar, Jackson & MacCluggage Begin Rehearsals for 39 STEPS

The new company of the Tony Award-winning comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS began rehearsals today in preparation for the first performance at New World Stages on March 25, 2010.

THE 39 STEPS will open officially on Thursday, April 15 at New World Stages / Stage 1 (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

The cast features John Behlmann as Richard Hannay, Cameron Folmar as Man #2, Jamie Jackson as Man #1 and Kate MacCluggage as Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret. The production also features Greg Jackson.

Adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken, THE 39 STEPS is based on an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon and on the book by John Buchan.

Set and costume design is by Peter McKintosh, lighting design is by Kevin Adams and sound design is by Mic Pool. Original movement was created by Toby Sedgwick. Additional movement is created by Christopher Bayes. Production stage manager is Nevin Hedley.

THE 39 STEPS features a cast of four actors who, against all odds, breathlessly and hilariously attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock's 1935 film thriller with just a few props and a lot of theatrical ingenuity and split second quick changes.

THE 39 STEPS opened 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." 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 produced by Bob Boyett, Harriet Newman Leve, Jane Dubin, Richard Winkler/Dan Frishwasser, Pamela Laudenslager/Douglas Denoff, Olympus Theatricals, Tim Levy/Jennifer Isaacson, Manocherian Productions, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Remmel T. Dickinson, True Love Productions, Kevin Lyle, Marek J. Cantor, Lary Brandt/Meredith Lucio/Probo Productions, in association with 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 ($89.50 - 69.50) are available through Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. Student rush is available for $27.50. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Performances are Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 3:00 and 8:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 and 7:00 PM.

John Behlmann (Richard Hannay) Broadway: Journey's End. Off Broadway: Ghosts at the Pearl Theatre Company. Regional: Orlando in As You Like It, Shakespeare Theatre Company; The Glass Menagerie with Amy Irving at Guild Hall; Doubt at Portland Center Stage; Pride & Prejudice at the Eastman Theatre; three seasons as company member with the Denver Center Theatre Company; and the world premiere of Bill Pullman's Expedition 6, which was performed at the Magic Theatre, Kennedy Center and NY Stage & Film. Television: "3 lbs.", "All My Children" and "Guiding Light". Film: Revolutionary Road, Pretty Bird, and Unstoppable. John is also a trained trapeze artist and Artistic Associate of Matchbook Productions. He received his BA from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and his MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO.

Cameron Folmar (Man #2) was in Broadway's The 39 Steps. He originated Candy Delaney in Five by Tenn at MTC (NY Drama League nom.). Other credits: TFNA's Merchant of Venice and The Jew of Malta in NYC and the RSC in England; Waiting for Godot (NY Fringe); Don Juan (Seattle Rep.); Scapin (Denver Center); The Tempest (McCarter Theatre); Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre in D.C.). Juilliard School Graduate.

Jamie Jackson (Man #1) National Tour: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence Jameson). New York Theatre: Babes in Toyland (Lincoln Center), Laughing Liberally (NY Town Hall). Regional: Annie (Fulton Theatre), Treasure Island (Beef and Boards), Dial M for Murder (Fulton), Great Expectations (Goodspeed). TV: "The Flight of the Concords", "Adventures of Flipper". Film: Daydream Believer, Portrait of a Whig, Chicken Punch. Graduate NYU and NIDA, Australia. Love always to wife and composer/collaborator SoHee, family, friends and thanks to About Artists. www.jamiejackson.com

Kate MacCluggage (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret) NYC: The Farnsworth Invention (U/S, Broadway); Stuck (Theatre Row); Three Sisters (The Assembly); King Lear (NYClassical); Evanston (Wolf 358/ HERE); Victoria and Frederick for President (NYCFringe/ MOSON); the world premiere of Down Goes Rocky. Regional: Midsummer Night's Dream (North Carolina Shakespeare); The Importance of Being Earnest (Portland Center Stage); Noises Off (Denver Center); Twelfth Night and The Cherry Orchard (Chautauqua). TV: "All My Children". Film: Natural Causes. BA: Wesleyan University. MFA: NYU Grad Acting. 

Greg Jackson (Understudy Hannay/Man #1/Man #2) co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in the off-Broadway hit "DUET!" with creative partner Erin Purcell. The duo received a Jonathan Larsen grant for their underwater musical fantasia "A Fish Story" and the award for Most Outstanding Overall Production in the 2005 International Fringe Festival with their biker-babe-boobfest "Go-Go Kitty, GO!" Regional credits: Geva, Pioneer, Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Acting Co.