TheatreSquared Will Extend "The 39 Steps"

Five Performances Added to Accommodate Demand
Now Playing Through September 26, 2010

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS—August 19, 2010—TheatreSquared announced today a one-week extension of the extraordinarily popular comedy thriller, The 39 Steps. “It’s certainly uncommon to have a sold out show on a night when the Razorbacks are playing across town,” said T2 Managing Director Martin Miller.  “One week in, and it’s on track to be the best-selling show in our history.” In addition to previously announced performances September 9-19, five performances have been added September 23-26 and are now on sale to the public. The live comedy thriller is adapted by Patrick Barlow from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film and John Buchan’s spy novel. When a femme fatale is murdered in the home of a dashing Brit, he escapes being framed only to find a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" hot on his trail. The play features an on-stage plane crash, a high-speed pursuit, and a classic Hitchcock “strangers on a train” romance.  The TheatreSquared production features an all-star creative team of working professionals from Northwest Arkansas, New York and Chicago. Performances are now scheduled Thursday, September 9 through Sunday, September 26, 2010 in the Studio Theater at Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios (505 W. Spring St, Fayetteville). Tickets range from $22-$24 ($10/under 30) and can be purchased by visiting the theatre's website at theatre2.org or by calling the Box Office at 479.571.2728.

“This play is taking the theatre world by storm,” said T2 Artistic Director Robert Ford. “It marries Hitchcock’s mastery of the conspiracy thriller with everything that’s wonderful about live theatre –virtuosic performances, remarkable inventiveness, and edge-of-your-seat action unfolding so close that you could literally touch the actors.”

The professional cast for The 39 Steps includes: Avery Clark (Richard Hannay), who previously appeared in TheatreSquared’s Rabbit Hole; Sabrina Veroczi (Annabella/Pamela/Margaret); Jason Guy (Clown #1); and Kristopher Stoker (Clown #2), who appeared in TheatreSquared’s World Premiere production of My Father’s War. Full cast biographies are available at theatre2.org.

The creative team for The 39 Steps includes: Michael Landman (director), head of M.F.A. Directing at University of Arkansas; Shawn Irish (scenic and lighting design), in his tenth TheatreSquared production; Mike Tutaj (sound design), two-time winner of Chicago’s prestigious Jeff Award; Morgan Hicks (props and costume design); Doug Patton (stage manager); and Steve Wilhelm (technical director).

For the first time, TheatreSquared will offer a “Pay What You Can” preview night on Thursday, September 2. Patrons at this special preview are invited to pay whatever they can—from $1 to $100.  Tickets are first come, first served and available only upon arrival at the theatre. Prospective ticket buyers are encouraged to arrive early as availability is limited to 150 seats.

During its three-week run from September 3—26, performances are scheduled Thursdays at 7:30; Fridays at 7:30; Saturdays at 2:00 and 7:30; and Sundays at 2:00. Tickets for The 39 Steps are $22-$24 for adults ($10/under 30), and can be purchased by calling the T2 Box Office at 479.571.2728 or by visiting the Theatre's website at theatre2.org. Discounted prices are available for groups.

The 39 Steps is the first production of TheatreSquared’s Fifth Anniversary season, which continues with Every Christmas Story Ever Told, the World Premiere of Sundown Town, and Reasons to Be Pretty.  Season subscriptions are available starting at $74 for the full four-play package. TheatreSquared is Northwest Arkansas’s regional theatre, dedicated to creating exceptional works on stage and innovative educational programs. For further information, call 479.445.6333 or visit theatre2.org.

###

Support for TheatreSquared is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Promotional support for The 39 Steps is provided, in part, by the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Major media partners for The 39 Steps include NWA Media, KUAF, and Mailco USA.