Will Broadway's 39 Steps Move to Off-Broadway?
By Kenneth Jones
10 Nov 2009
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Sean Mahon in Broadway's The 39 Steps.
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Bob Boyett, lead producer of the hit Broadway comedy The 39 Steps, told the New York Times on Nov. 10 that conversations have begun to possibly move the four-actor show to an Off-Broadway venue.
Producers previously announced that the critically acclaimed comedy inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name would close Jan. 10, 2010. "We think the show still has life in it," Boyett told the Times on Nov. 10.
By the time it closes, the Tony Award-winning staging at the Helen Hayes Theatre will have run a total of 771 performances at three theatres. Its high profile on Broadway helps support a potential future life Off-Broadway, where running costs are much lower.
Moving a show from Broadway to Off-Broadway is a rare occurrence. Earlier this fall, the profitable small-cast Avenue Q ended its Broadway run Sept. 13, and producers surprised the industry by moving the show back to Off-Broadway, where it was born, on Oct. 9. It's currently running at New World Stages, the same complex of theatres that Boyett is reportedly eyeing for 39 Steps. The musical The Toxic Avenger announced on Nov. 10 that it will close at New World on Jan. 3. The Toxic venue is 499 seats; the Hayes is 597 seats.
New World Stages on 50st Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues is considered within the Broadway theatre district.
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The zany four-actor reinvention of the film by Hitchcock received its American premiere in September 2007 at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. The Broadway premiere began previews on Jan. 4, 2008, officially opening on Jan. 15 at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre. The show moved to the Cort Theatre on April 29, 2008 and then to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Jan. 21, 2009.
Among its 2008 Tony nominations were Best Play and Best Direction. It won Tonys for Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams) and Best Sound Design (Mic Pool).
The 39 Steps is now in its third year in London. A U.S. national tour kicked off Nov. 5 at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, following engagements at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Rep. Regional theatres have also announced the play for the upcoming season.
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.
Here's how the producers characterize the madness: "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 current Broadway production stars Arnie Burton (Man #2), Jeffrey Kuhn (Man #1), Sean Mahon (Richard Hannay) and Jill Paice (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret). The company also includes Rob Breckenridge, Cameron Folmar and Nisi Sturgis.
Tickets are available from TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com and at the Helen Hayes Theatre box office at 240 W. 44th Street.
Performances are Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM.
Visit www.39StepsOnBroadway.com.
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