Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS Debuts in Columbus 1/19-24/2010

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. In this Drama Desk Award winner and two-time Tony Award winner, a cast of four breathlessly and hilariously reenact over 150 characters from Hitchcock's 1935 film thriller with just a few props, a lot of theatrical ingenuity, and split second quick changes.

Presented by CAPA and Broadway Across America, Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps comes to the Palace Theatre (34 W. Broad St.) January 19-24. Show times are Tuesday, January 19, 8 pm; Wednesday, January 20, 8 pm; Thursday, January 21, 8 pm; Friday, January 22, 8 pm; Saturday, January 23, 2 pm and 8 pm; and Sunday, January 24, 1 pm and 6:30 pm. Tickets are $57.50, $52.50, $27.50, and $22.50 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Palace Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance.

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. This is a classic portrayal of one man's flight from wrong accusation through a series of misadventures and old fashioned romance.

The 39 Steps opened to deliriously ecstatic reviews. Ben Brantley of The 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 of The New York Post pronounced The 39 Steps "Inventively astonishing, riotous, and marvelous." Joe Dziemianowicz of The Daily News exclaimed, "Hitchcock probably never imagined his thriller had the makings of a hilarious comedy, but this show is a dizzy delight and ingenious spoof, inventively directed by Maria Aitken. A fast-paced fun ride!"

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 production received its American debut at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. The Broadway premiere began previews on January 4, 2008, and officially opened on January 15, at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre.

The 39 Steps is adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by Maria Aitken, and features sets and costumes by Peter McKintosh. The production is based on an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon and on the book by John Buchan. The 39 Steps features 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.

www.39StepsOnBroadway.com

CAPA and Broadway Across America present Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS
January 19-24, Palace Theatre (34 W. Broad St.)
Tuesday, January 19, 8 pm
Wednesday, January 20, 8 pm
Thursday, January 21, 8 pm
Friday, January 22, 8 pm
Saturday, January 23, 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, January 24, 1 pm & 6:30 pm
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. In this Drama Desk Award winner and two-time Tony Award winner, a cast of four breathlessly and hilariously reenact over 150 characters from Hitchcock's 1935 film thriller with just a few props, a lot of theatrical ingenuity, and split second quick changes. Tickets are $57.50, $52.50, $27.50, and $22.50 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Palace Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance. www.capa.com

Photo credit: Craig Schwartz

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