The 39 Steps plays final performanceat the American Airlines Theatre, resumesperformances at the Cort Theatre on 29 Apr

Alfred Hitchcock�s The 39 Steps, the 2007 Olivier Award-winner for Best New Comedy, returns to Broadway this evening (29 Apr 2008) for an open-ended run, beginning previews at its new home, the Cort Theatre, where it will open on 8 May 2008.

The Broadway premiere of The 39 Steps opened at the American Airline's Theatre 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).

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.

The Broadway production has been nominated for three 2008 Drama Desk Awards including Unique Theatrical Experience, Lighting Design (Kevin Adams) and Sound Design (Mic Pool), three 2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Play, Director of a Play (Maria Aitken), and Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), and a 2008 Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play.

The 39 Steps: 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. The �unstageable� thriller is staged, with four cast members playing a minimum of 150 roles.

The production features Arnie Burton (Man #2), Charles Edwards (Richard Hannay), Jennifer Ferrin (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret) and Cliff Saunders (Man #1).

The creative team features Peter McKintosh (set and costumes), Kevin Adams (lighting) and Mic Poo (sound).

The 39 Steps contains every single legendary scene from the award-winning movie � including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium, besides many other favourite cinematic moments, including the memorable and controversial �stockings and suspenders� scene!

The 39 Steps has been a hit in London�s West End, where it continues its run at the Criterion Theatre. 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 39 Steps received its American debut at Boston�s Huntington Theatre Company. The Broadway premiere production opened on 15 Jan 2008 at Roundabout Theatre Company�s American Airlines Theatre, following previews on 4 Jan 2008, where it ran through to 29 Mar 2008.

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