About:
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of four), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers, and some good old-fashioned romance!

Audition Process:

Prepare two 1-minute monologues. One with an RP (received pronunciation) accent and one with another UK-based accent.

Child and Youth Safety Information:

Actors must be 18 years old by the first rehearsal.

Rehearsals:

First rehearsals will be Tuesday, January 29, 2026. Rehearsals will be Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays; weekday rehearsals are 6:30-9:30 PM and Saturday rehearsals are 10:00AM-1:00PM. All rehearsals are scheduled to be held at the Spotlight, but location is subject to change.

Tech week is Sunday, March 22, 2026 through Thursday, March 26, 2026, 6-10 PM. Shows are March 27, 28 and 29 & April 11, 12 and 13, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30, Saturday at noon and Sunday at 2:00 PM. All tech rehearsals and performances will be at The Spotlight. Note the weekend between performance weekends will be dark because it is Easter weekend. There will be a refresher tech rehearsal on Thursday April, 9, 2026.

No conflicts tech week or show dates.

Roles:

All roles are non-Equity; no pay, no fee. Arcadia Theater encourages diversity when casting shows and encourages all interested actors to audition.

The following are the characters as traditionally cast. We may, depending on numerous factors, cast differently than provided.

Richard Hannay – 20’s - 50’s. Male presenting. Any race or ethnicity. 1930s leading man type. Suave, dashing and debonaire. Intelligent and resourceful. Actor must be able to maintain an upper-class British accent and be an adept physical comic with the stamina to be present for the entire play.

Annabella/Pamela/Margaret – 20’s - 50’s. Female presenting. Any race or ethnicity. Primarily the classic 1930s British ingenue, but also plays a German woman and a Scottish farmer. Must be able to perform all of the applicable accents. Must be an adept physical comic and create all three VERY different characters.

Clown #1 & Clown #2 – Any age. Any gender, race, or ethnicity. The two clowns portray over 150 roles over the course of the play and are essentially EVERYONE that the two leads are not. They must be physically agile and have a great deal of stamina, in addition to having a slew of accents (especially European) and voices at their disposal. Exemplary comedic timing is ESSENTIAL! Must be able to lift certain set pieces and move adroitly throughout the stage and between roles.

Questions?

Note: Please 1) sign up for an Audition Slot & 2) complete the Audition Form.

Sign Up for an Audition Slot

Complete  Audition Form 

You will need a resume (if you have one) and a headshot or clear face picture, as well as a list of all conflicts.