Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this production closed on March 12.
The 39 Steps
from the novel by John Buchan
from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
adapted by Patrick Barlow
directed by Nick Olcott
A cast of four actors embodies over 150 characters in this fast-paced and riotously funny remix of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 spy thriller film.
In 1930s London, the dashing Richard Hannay starts his evening at the theatre and ends it mistakenly accused of murder. Caught in a maze of espionage, near-death escapes, and flirtatious entanglements, our hero careens across Britain in search of a plausible alibi and the true identity of the killer. This two-time Tony- and Drama Desk Award-winning whodunit is both utterly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining as it lovingly spoofs the iconic cinematic tropes of film noir.
Run Time: 2 hours, plus 1 intermission
"A Funny, Snappy,
Witty Evening!"
In The News
Nick Olcott and Allison Arkell Stockman featured on WTOP!
Click to listen.
"This two-time Tony- and Drama Desk Award-winning whodunit is both utterly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining as it lovingly spoofs the iconic cinematic tropes of film noir." -- K Street Magazine
"The fondness for the era of film noir and Hitchcock is apparent throughout, and the familiar rhythms of those films are lovingly sent up, without devolving into satire or heavy-handed moralizing about the geopolitical machinations mentioned in the plot. By the end, the dashing hero has gotten (one of) the girl(s), the mystery is solved, and many laughs have been had—and all that conspiracy business is mere MacGuffin after all." -- Washington City Paper
"Just come to Constellation Theatre’s The 39 Steps for a couple hours of cheesy lines, old situations, new complications, stunning surprises, cunning disguises, movie allusions, and some of the most intricate physical comedy you’re ever likely to see." -- DC Metro Theater Arts
"The 39 Steps demands a firm grasp of physical comedy and a real ability to roll through the punches (all the hijinks and the occasional set issue, such as uncooperative window blinds, keep its actors on its toes). The result is a festive farce that doesn’t even require any Hitchcock fandom (though a little doesn’t hurt) to get the audience chuckling."
-- DC Theatre Scene
Ensemble
Richard Hannay
Annabella/Margaret/Pamela
Cast of Dozens
Cast of Dozens
Understudy
Understudy
Understudy
Understudy
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
Creative Team
Director
Nick Olcott#
Movement Director
Mark Jaster
Scenic Designer
A.J. Guban^
Costume Designer
Sabrina Mandell
Lighting Designer
A.J. Guban^
Sound Designer
Gordon Nimmo-Smith
Fight & Intimacy Director
Jenny Male
Assistant Director
Rebecca Wahls
Dialect Coach
Teresa Spencer
Production Stage Manager
Paula Fritz
Production ASM
Evangelina Hakes
ASM
Ayla E. Taffel
ASM
Hannah Katherine Herold
Technical Director
Mike Salmi
Scenic Artist
Megan Hart
Master Electrician
Hailey LaRoe
Light Board Programmer
Ben Harvey
Audio 1
Michelle Janota
^ Member of USA Local 829
# Member of SDC