39 Steps: Off-Broadway cast announced

The producers of the Tony Award-winning comedy, Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, have announced casting for the Off-Broadway production. The new cast of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps will begin performances on 25 Mar 2010, prior to opening on 15 Apr at New World Stages / Stage 1.

The cast will feature 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.

The move marks the fourth New York home for the Tony Award-winning comedy. The production originally began performances on 4 Jan 2008 and opened 15 Jan 2008 at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre. The production then moved to the Cort Theatre and Helen Hayes Theatre, playing for over two years and 771 performances, the longest run of any Broadway play in seven years.

The 39 Steps is now in its third year in London, with productions having played in such cities as Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Athens and Seoul and US and UK national tours currently on the road.

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 Broadway premiere opened to mostly excellent reviews: "Entertaining comedy" (New York Theatre Guide); "Throwaway theater at its finest. And that's no backhanded compliment."; (NY Times); "Pushed Hitchcock's brilliance into some riotous realm of satire, without losing its essentially Hitchcockian flavor" (NY Post); "A jaunty homage to Hitchcock, "The 39 Steps" is whirlwind funny business." (Star-Ledger); "An utterly pointless but physically and conceptually ingenious spoof " (NewsDay); "See the movie. And forget the show." (Journal News); "An entertaining diversion"; (Variety).

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.

John Behlman (Richard Hannay) made his Broadway debut in 'Journey's End.' Off Broadway he has appeared in 'Ghosts' at the Pearl Theatre Company.

Cameron Folmar (Man #2) understudied in the Broadway production of The 39 Steps. Off-Broadway credits include 'Five By Tenn,' 'The Jew of Malta' and 'The Merchant of Venice.'

Jamie Jackson (Man #1) has appeared in the National Tour of 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.' New York Theatre includes 'Babes in Toyland' (Lincoln Center) and 'Laughing Liberally.'

Kate MacCluggage (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret) was an understudy in the Broadway premiere of 'The Farnsworth Invention.' New York City theatre credits include: 'Stuck' (Theatre Row), 'Three Sisters' (The Assembly), 'King Lear' (NYClassical), 'Evanston' (Wolf 358/ HERE), 'Victoria' and 'Frederick for President.''

Greg Jackson (Understudy Hannay/Man #1/Man #2) co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in the off-Broadway show "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!'