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PM&L Theatre presents Alfred Hitchcock whodunit

"The 39 Steps," adapted by Patrick Barlow and John Buchan and based on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, will open Friday, Jan. 31, and run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday, Feb. 16.

Four actors play more than 100 characters in PM&L Theatre's production of this rollicking, Tony Award-winning play adapted from the Hitchcock masterpiece.

Part juicy spy novel with a dash of Monty Python, this fast-paced "whodunit" is for anyone who loves the magic of theater, complete with an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and romance.

David Gasior plays the suave hero Richard Hannay who learns from a beautiful spy about a plot of international espionage. The woman is killed in Hannay's flat, and he suddenly finds himself caught up in a race from London to Scotland in hopes of stopping military secrets from being smuggled out of the country.

As he searches for the secret of "The 39 Steps," he is doggedly pursued by the police, who believe he is a murderer. Three of the female roles will be played by Erin Booth, while the remaining multitude of characters (spies, policemen, inn keepers, traveling salesmen, etc.) are played by just two actors, credited as "Clown #1" (Liam Bell) and "Clown #2" (Charlie Sommers), with help from the Stage Crew (Heidi Zapp and Chris Heilgeist).

The artistic team for "The 39 Steps" is led by Director Casey Audrain, whose previous PM&L credits include "The Diviners" and "Arsenic and Old Lace," and Technical Director Mark Audrain, whose previous PM&L credits include "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Almost, Maine."

The set is designed by Mark Audrain and WOW Construction, with costume design by Lindsey Badtke and Jessica Augustine, sound design by Guy Finley, light design by Mark Audrain and Ken Albrecht, and incidental music by Paul Bleadow.

The stage manager is Randy Margison with assistant stage manager Rose Stevens.

"The 39 Steps" will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 31 through Feb. 15; with Sunday matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2, 9 and 16.

Tickets are available online at pmltheatre.com and are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. To reserve tickets directly through the box office, call (847) 395-3055. The box office is open 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays; and an hour and a half before curtain on show dates.

PM&L is a nonprofit, community-based, volunteer organization located in historical downtown Antioch.

For tickets, show announcements, news and more, call (847) 395-3055 or visit www.pmltheatre.com. They are also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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