39 Steps to return to New York for open-ended run

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 3:09pm

It's official! Hurrah!


https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Winning-Comedy-39-STEPS-Returning-to-New-York-for-Open-Ended-Run-Off-Broadway-20150217

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 3:11pm

Starting on April Fools day? Sound a bit suspicious.

I kid. This show is hilarious and I'm glad it'll be playing again.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 3:22pm

Great news! Saw the show night after night and never got tired of it.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 6:42pm

I'm with you Jane. I never tired of it either. I just wish this was going to be at New World Stages, but we can't have it all.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 6:52pm

^ that's where I saw it so often. I was working there!

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 7:00pm

That must have been amazing to work there as you saw every understudy, every mistake and every little difference in every performance!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 7:05pm

lol, well I didn't see every performance, as I worked in all the other houses also.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 7:14pm

Sounds like a blast! What also played in there when you worked in there?

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 8:43pm

lol, don't ask me that! I worked there for almost 10 years.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 8:39am

Happy to say that Union Square is really a great permanent HOME for this amazing show - wait til you see the Front-of-House design - it'll really get your attention as a destination attraction for New Yorkers and Tourists alike. We're tarting up the interior as well to make it feel like you're stepping into the London Palladium in the 30's. Ushers will be in costume and in character as well!

And the theatre is really unique compared to NWS which, while convenient to midtown, didn't allow 39 Steps to stand out on its own. Union Square is really amazing, with the farmers' market, hotels, restaurants and great shopping.

PLUS, the downtown N,R,and Q trains are really only '39 Steps' away from the TKTS booth, and then the theatre is right there across the square when you pop up ! The 4,5,6 and even the L are also '39 Steps' from the show as well, so it's really a great home for our talented cast.

Best of all, every mezzanine seat will always be $39 at every performance ($20 for students, veterans, FDNY and NYPD with ID on day of show)

I've seen the show literally more than 100 times and can't wait to see it 500 more! Glad you're all as excited as I am!

Oh…and wait til you see our casting announcement momentarily!



Updated On: 2/19/15 at 08:39 AM

[The Josh]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 1:18pm

Very happy about this, I love this play!

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 2:59pm

Thank you Josh! It's really quite an amazing thing…3 YEARS on Broadway/OB the first time (1135 performances)!!! NINE YEARS in London and still going…THREE UK tours…Australia, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Moscow, Spain, Italy….47 countries so far. A very profitable North American Tour…and still in the top 10 licensed productions in regional theatres. All without movie stars!

And yet for four years, you couldn't see it in New York City!

Well, starting April Fools Day, that problem is solved! And at great prices!

Updated On: 2/19/15 at 02:59 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:03pm

I also really enjoyed this - one of the few non-musicals I returned to see more than once in the past decade.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 3:48pm

Glad to hear it, Philly! Now you can come again and again with every one of the 130 Mezzanine seats at $39 for every performance. And they're all excellent seats!

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 2/24/15 at 2:27pm

Thrilled to announce our full first cast, including Arnie Burton, Robert Petkoff, Billy Carter, and, making her NYC Stage Debut straight from Juilliard, Brittany Vicars!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-Broadway-Star-to-Reprise-Role-in-THE-39-STEPS-Off-Broadway-Complete-Cast-Announced-20150224

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/6/15 at 1:40pm

"Happy to say that Union Square is really a great permanent HOME for this amazing show - wait til you see the Front-of-House design - it'll really get your attention as a destination attraction for New Yorkers and Tourists alike. We're tarting up the interior as well to make it feel like you're stepping into the London Palladium in the 30's. Ushers will be in costume and in character as well! "

I saw this show over the weekend and none of the above is accurate. The FOH is just as lackluster as it always is. The interior is as disgusting as it has been for every other show there. The ushers dress sloppier than ushers at any other theatre I've been to including Off-Off-Broadway.

As for the show, it's exactly the same as when I saw it at New World Stages. This isn't my cup of tea but you know what you're getting going in.

Based on some factors I don't foresee this being successful and have to ask if there was really a need to revive the show so soon.

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 01:40 PM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 4/6/15 at 5:24pm

so disappointed to hear ddenoff2 was lying about the redesign. -.- 

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/6/15 at 8:21pm

I saw the show the other night and, although it's well done, I get the feeling that it's not my cup of tea, as Clyde said. I mean, it's clever and all, but I didn't really care for Peter and the Starcatcher either, which has a similar approach to staging.

I will say that I think 39 Steps (it seems this production drops the "The") is ideally situated at the Union Square Theater, with its atmosphere of respectable decay. It stands in nicely for an English music hall that has seen better days. I didn't notice anything different about the front of the house, but I wasn't looking for changes so I might have missed it. I can't picture this show in a Broadway house. It seems very off Broadway to me.

I thought Robert Petkoff was excellent, and I also enjoyed Arnie Burton. He seems to have a monopoly on this kind of quick-change role. I thought he was hilarious as the innkeeper's wife. It reminded me of his work in Irma Vep. On the other hand, I didn't understand significant portions of what Billy Carter was saying. It's possible that the characters are not supposed to be intelligible, but there comes a point at which that's counterproductive. Burton's innkeeper's wife also has a problem with being understood, but it was quite clear that it was being done for comedic effect. I think newcomer Brittany Vicars held her own.

 I think fans of the show will enjoy this production very much. My seat in the mezzanine afforded a nice view.

 

 

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 08:21 PM

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 4/6/15 at 8:25pm

why is this show back so soon? they ran it into the ground last time, till there were practically no paying customers. True, I didn't for it very much, but it doesn't sound like a smart financial move.

[nycgogetter]

Posted: 4/6/15 at 11:48pm

Um, the off-Broadway show was still selling well.  They were pushed out by New World Stages up the renting for the theater to make way for RENT.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 4/7/15 at 1:20am

not lying at all - some FOH elements are still in production and should be up this week.

LYING is a pretty strong word.  Everyone who has come to see the show, including BWW's Richie Ridge, LOVES the beautiful and historic theatre - the set looks like its part of the original historic building and it's just the right size for an intimate theatrical experience - even better than the Helen Hayes where we played for 11 days short of a year. Plus almost every seat has enough LEGROOM for someone 6'4! Find that at any Broadway house.

We would love to polish up the lobby and such a bit more but that's up to the owner. But it IS exactly like an old English music hall from the moment you enter, whereas New World Stages, with its decor by Black & Decker, requires time for you to enter the imaginary world of ANY show that's there. and Union Square IS a magnificent location with awesome restaurants, bars, hotels, and no cartoon characters busking for your money. And only two Q-train stops from the TKTS booth.

As for the ushers, they are some of the most engaged and FUN house staff I've ever seen (besides the Cort, where the show ran for many months) - one usher, escorting a patron to their seat in the center orchestra, asked "are you able to fly?" before asking the other patrons to rise so the newcomer could scoot past to her center seat. That's FUN and FUNNY. 

We agree that we'd like them in the period costumes…that's an issue with their management who prefers the all-black attire.  So we're working on that slowly and diplomatically - but they're still the NICEST staff and they're having a great time passing out the red noses, which are being worn with GLEE by patrons young and old.

NWS did want theatre 1 for RENT. 39 STEPS was doing very well in spite of the multiplex environment there. At Union Square it can truly be a destination.

As for the show, if it's not your taste, that's art.  but tonight there were 335 people laughing constantly, standing at the bows,  and having a great time.  Some people have returned after seeing it 4 or more times on Broadway - one over 20 times. We had an 11 year-old Saturday night who had a GREAT time.   If you don't want to join them, no problem. If you do, message me and I'll give you some $20 tix. And a free red nose.

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 4/7/15 at 01:20 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/7/15 at 1:29am

Oh Christ, Mr. Barnum, but you DO go on.

[brdway411]

Posted: 4/7/15 at 5:58pm

Never seen it, is it worth it? I can get cheap tickets. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/7/15 at 6:11pm

It's worth it, in my opinion.

[brdwydreamer]

Posted: 4/7/15 at 6:28pm

Yeah I'd say it's worth it too, ESPECIALLY for the price of the tickets. There is some superb acting and it's just a great time. Very funny show.