The 39 Steps Hits 400 Performances on Broadway Feb. 20

By Kenneth Jones
20 Feb 2009

The 39 Steps star Sean Mahon
The 39 Steps star Sean Mahon
Photo by Joan Marcus

Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, the longest-running comedy currently on Broadway, plays its 400th performance Feb. 20.

Now in its second year, the Tony Award-winning quick change comedy version of Hitchcock's classic film thriller is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre on West 44th Street. Its Broadway life began at the American Airlines prior to a move to the Cort Theatre, followed by a move to the current, intimate Hayes.

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.

"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," according to production notes. "When she winds up dead in his flat, he flees London with the police hot on his trail."

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 production currently stars Arnie Burton (Man #2), Francesca Faridany (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret), Jeffrey Kuhn (Man #1) and Sean Mahon (Richard Hannay). The company also includes Rob Breckenridge, Claire Brownell and Cameron Folmar.

The comedy features sets and costumes by Peter McKintosh, lighting by Kevin Adams and sound by Mic Pool. Dialect coach is Stephen Gabis. Original movement is created by Toby Sedgwick with additional movement created by Christopher Bayes. Production management is by Aurora Productions. Production stage manager is Nevin Hedley.

The 39 Steps has been a hit in London's West End, playing to sell-out houses at the Criterion, where it continues. The first production 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, MA. The Broadway premiere began previews on Jan. 4, 2008, and officially opened on Jan. 15 at the not-for-profit Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre.

The commercial run 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, Tim Levy/Remmel T. Dickinson, 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. Associate producer is Marek J. Cantor.

Tickets are available from TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com and at the Helen Hayes Theatre box office.

Performances are Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM, Sunday at 3 PM.

For more information visit www.39StepsOnBroadway.com.