'The 39 Steps' zooms onto stage March 10-13

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø will present ¡°The 39 Steps¡± March 10-13,  a Hitchcock masterpiece crossed with a spy novel and a dash of Monty Python.

In this two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award winner, a man with a boring life meets a woman with an accent who says she¡¯s a spy.  Soon she is murdered and a mysterious organization called ¡°The 39 Steps¡± is hot on the man¡¯s trail.

A cast of only four plays more than 150 characters who experience a plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and romance.

Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Brunner Theatre Center.

¡°This play is based on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, which is based on a 1915 adventure novel penned by author John Buchan. However, you don't have to know anything about Alfred Hitchcock movies or spy novels to fully enjoy this production,¡± said director Jeff Coussens, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø professor of theatre arts.

¡°It is really a zany, laugh out loud comedy that pays homage to Hitchcock in a wild farcical fashion. I think that it is a significant statement for us to present this play now, because after living with a pandemic for the last two years, and confronting unfolding tragic news on a daily basis, we could all use some comic relief, and this production delivers it.¡±

Will Crouch, a junior from Washington, Ill., plays the main role of Richard Hannay. Other cast members are Sarah Walton, a senior from New Lenox, Ill.; Roger Pavey Jr., a sophomore from LeClaire, Iowa; and  Aidan Lenehan, a senior from Oak Park, Ill.

Trinity Filut, a senior from Naperville, Ill., is the stage manager and  Stephanie White, a sophomore from Mokena, Ill., is the assistant manager.

Riley Scranton, a senior from Quincy, Ill., is the assistant lighting designer.

The run crew members are first-year students Aniyah Davis from Chicago and Paige Withey of Aurora, Ill. Julianna Byrne, a sophomore from Joliet, Ill., is the board operator.