Directed by Joseph Frost
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THEATREATLANT ADEPARTMENT | Adult . Graduate PRESENTS . Online DIRECTED BY JOSEPH FROST *The 39 Steps is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. WEDNESDAY—SATURDAY SATURDAY 10/19–10/22/2016 10/22/2016 7:30 PM 2:00 PM BARBER AUDITORIUM LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT OF HOOD LIBRARY AT THE CORNER OF PEACHTREE ST AND ARLINGTON ST THE 39 STEPS adapted by Patrick Barlow The original London production directed by Maria Aitken designed by Peter McKintosh lighting designed by Ian Scott sound designed by Mic Pool and movement directed by Toby Sedgwick opened at the Tricycle Theatre in the West End on 14th September 2006. The orginial production was directed by Fiona Buffini. This production is licensed and the films distributed by ITV Global Entertainment Ltd. A note from the Director… 4 actors 90 minutes 130 characters 39 Steps It has been a joy to get to work on such a fun show that offers chal- lenges like The 39 Steps – the multiple locations, the gritty tone of film noir balanced with the transformational silliness of the comedy, dozens of accents, vaudeville, silent film, imaginative staging, shadow puppets, Hitchcock references, Monty Python, Marx Brothers, Fawlty Towers, Three Stooges, Chaplin, Keaton. In and around all of that is the story of a man compelled to pursue a mysterious goal, and in the process, through relationship and improba- ble opportunity, learns how to care about something and someone other than himself. We hope your experience with this play is as enjoyable as ours has been. Joseph Frost, director COMING SOON 9th Annual Evening of One Acts Sponsored by APO November 29-30, 2016 Blackbox Theatre 7:30 p.m. A project of the Directing and Production Management Classes. Free admission, with coffee and desserts on sale to support Alpha Psi Omega, Theatre Honor Society ΑΨΩ Alpha Psi Omega This nationally recognized Honors Society is not a fraternal organization but rather a society organized by those who believe that a dedication to the theatre and good academic standing deserves recognition and acknowledgement. We have been honored at Belhaven to have had our cast, Iota Upsilon in place since 1938. President Frannie Maas Vice President Business Manager Michaela Bowen Sarah Harris Historian Chaplain Michael Tobin Laina Faul It is the mission of the BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT to train servant artists in the use of the art of theatre to serve their Community, their Collaborators, and their Creator. Belhaven University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and a member in good standing with Christians in Theatre Arts Southeastern Theatre Conference Mississippi Theatre Association Theatre Communications Group Theatre Department Faculty Dr. David Sollish Joseph Frost, MFA Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, Associate Professor of Theatre Chair of Theatre (601) 974-6148 (601) 974-6477 [email protected] [email protected] Dr. Elissa Sartwell Becky Freeman, MFA Associate Professor of Theatre, Associate Professor of Theatre, (601) 974-6131 Costume Designer [email protected] (601) 965-7059 [email protected] Rebekah Bert, MA Specialty Instructor of Technical Design (601) 974-5497 [email protected] CAST Richard Hannay James Kenyon* Annabella/Margaret/Pamela Lydia Brandt* Clown 1 Madison Ellis Clown 2 Mac Mitchell* Understudies Leonela Hernandez Amelia Wilds Understudies never substitute for listed players unless previously announced at time of the performance The 39 Steps is 90 minutes with no intermission PRODUCTION STAFF Director Joseph Frost Stage Manager Morgan Hillman* Technical Director/Scenery Rebekah Bert Sound Designer/Board Operator Brittany Lyday Lighting Designer/Board Operator Michael Tobin* Props Master Joshua Pirtle Costume Designer Ashley Reed Dramaturg Benjamin Shrader Box Office Manager Amy Smith House Manager Alecia Gray *Members of Alpha Psi Omega CREW Dresser Angela Landgraf Run Crew Amelia Wilds, Leonela Hernandez Set Construction Stagecraft Class, Kyra Smiley, Sarah Harris* Lighting Crew Stagecraft Class, Michaela Bowen*, Alice Bryant, Angela Landgraf, Rebecca Lapeyre, Christy Robeson Costume Construction Alice Bryant, Ashley Reed, Julia Smiley, Aryelle Tuttle Props Construction Kyra Smiley SPECIAL THANKS TO: President Roger Parrott Dr. Dan Fredericks Dr. Dennis Watts Dr. Stephen Sachs Lori Farmer Grace Anna Lane Frank Dolansky David Potvin Wayne Green Bryant Butler David Sprayberry Corrie Hung Shannon Frost Richard Lawrence New Stage Theatre Dr. Robert Waltzer A note from the Dramaturg... The 39 Steps began life as a novel (stylized as The Thirty-Nine Steps) by Scottish author John Buchan who wrote the story while in bed with an ulcer. Published in 1915 it was told in serial for- mat like many mysteries in the era. The story’s main character, Richard Hannay, went on to star four additional novels as well as making two further minor appearances. Buchan described the genre as a “shocker”. In his view a shocker is an adventure when the events in the store are unlikely and the reader is barely able to believe they happened. The most famous adaption of the novel (as well as the basis for our play) came in the form of a 1935 film made by a then some-what unknown director named Alfred Hitchcock. The script was originally written by a writer named Charles Bennett who prepared the original treatment work- ing directly with Hitchcock. Ian Hay then helped the dialog. Actor Robert Donat stared as Richard Hannay. Donat would go on to win an academy award a few years later for his role in Good-bye Mr. Chips. Steps was Hitchcock’s first major success. He would become known as “the master of suspense” and would direct such classic films as Vertigo, North by Northwest, Rear Window, and Psycho, well as the television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Be sure to watch out for several Hitchcock references during our show. Although the genre film noir did not technically begin until afterThe 39 Stepswas released, it is commonly associated with all black and white mystery films and is thus a big influence on our show. Film noir gets its name from the French phrase meaning “dark film”. The German Ex- pressionism movement was one of the major influences on film noir. Other examples of film noir include John Houston’s The Maltese Falcon, Carol Reed’s The Third Man, and Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity. In 2005 our story finally made it to the stage. Patrick Barlow wrote the script working off a concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon. Corble and Dimon’s idea was to turn the classic film with its large ray of characters into a four person play. Their idea was funded by 1,000 Yorkshire Arch Grant. Their version of the play premiered in 1995. Ten years later, Patrick Barlow sought to rewrite the script but keep the play’s intimate feel. Barlow was inspired by Monte Python-the iconic British comedy group which gave him our plays zany and off-the-wall feel. We hope you enjoy! Benjamin Shrader, dramaturg THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/ OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTING RE- CORDINGS ON ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYWRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.SAMUELFRENCH.COM/WHITEPAPER.