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 A missing spy. A mysterious woman. A man on the run. When an ordinary man stops to help a stranger, he’s catapulted into a high-speed chase across the Scottish countryside — with only his wits (and a trench coat) to survive. This fast-paced farce features over 150 characters played by just four actors in a whirlwind of costume changes, clever staging, and nonstop laughs.
RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY of Ventura
Continues Its 2025/26 “Crossroads” Season with the Hilarious Farce
THE 39 STEPS
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Limited
and an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
Directed by Jenny Sullivan
Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2025/26 season, “CROSSROADS: Moments That Could Change Everything”, with the exhilarating, Tony® Award-winning comedy thriller THE 39 STEPS. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from John Buchan’s iconic spy novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary 1935 film, this wildly inventive stage adaptation transforms a classic suspense story into a breathtaking feat of theatrical storytelling. Directed by Rubicon Artistic Associate Jenny Sullivan and starring longtime company member Joseph Fuqua, THE 39 STEPS launches audiences headlong into a world of intrigue, romance, danger, and delirious comedy. The production begins previews on Wednesday, February 11 and will have its Gala Opening on Saturday, February 14 at 7:00pm (press opening). Performances continue through Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura. Tickets are on sale now and are priced $30-$79.50. To purchase by phone, call (805) 667-2900, or online at www.rubicontheatre.org.
With more than 150 characters portrayed by just four fearless actors, the play unfolds as a high-speed theatrical roller coaster, fueled by lightning-fast costume changes, bold physical comedy, ingenious staging, and razor-sharp wit. Equal parts Hitchcock homage and theatrical tour de force, THE 39 STEPS is a masterclass in imagination, precision, and play. Producing Artistic Director J. Scott Lapp says, “In a season themed around Crossroads, The 39 Steps celebrates transformation, adaptability, and the thrill of embracing the unknown. It reminds us that crossroads can be frightening, exhilarating, and hilarious - and that sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin when we are pushed off the path we thought we were on.”
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
All performances are held at Rubicon's home, The Karyn Jackson Theatre, located at 1006. E. Main Street, Ventura, CA. 93001 (the corner of Main and Laurel). Ticket prices range from $30 to $79.50 (including a $5 per ticket processing fee), with discounted tickets available for students, seniors, military, and members of Actors Equity Association. Opening night tickets are $155 and include a preshow reception, after party and a tax-deductible donation. To purchase tickets, visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call 805.667.2900.
ABOUT THE SHOW
A missing spy. A mysterious woman. A man on the run. When Richard Hannay, a seemingly ordinary man, makes the split-second decision to stop and help a stranger, he is catapulted into a high-speed chase across the Scottish countryside - with only his wits (and a trench coat) to survive. This fast-paced farce features over 150 characters played by just four actors in a whirlwind of costume changes, clever staging, and nonstop laughs. As conceived by Director Jenny Sullivan, this wildly inventive production is a comic thriller with Brechtian undertones, with a reconfigured set where the audience is part of the action.
Says Sullivan, “When Karyl Lynn asked if I would direct the play, I felt I wanted to find what I could bring to it that I haven’t seen yet. The image of a circus came to mind very strongly and since I feel we’re living in a modern-day circus, why not explore this idea. When I say ‘circus’ I’m not talking Barnum and Bailey but more Brecht.“ This production of THE 39 STEPS is staged as a theatre-in-the-round experience, with the performance space completely reimagined. The stage has been shifted to the center of the theatre, allowing audience members to surround the action and view the story from every angle. This staging allows actors to interact directly with audience members, placing viewers inside the story and amplifying the show’s fast-paced theatricality. “This is immersive theatre at its most exhilarating,” adds Sullivan. “Staged in the round, the action surrounds the audience and never lets up. Fasten your seatbelts.”
The 39 Steps began as a 1915 spy novel by John Buchan, written during World War I and featuring the character Richard Hannay. The story became famous beyond the book through Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film adaptation, which helped define the modern thriller and fixed the plot in popular culture. The stage play version was created much later. In 2005, British writer and comedian Patrick Barlow adapted the story for the stage, premiering it at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. His version transformed the thriller into a fast-paced comic farce, famously performed by just four actors who play dozens of characters. The play was a major success, transferring to London’s Tricycle Theatre, then the West End, and later to Broadway in 2008, where it won Tony and Drama Desk Awards.
Lapp adds, "Rubicon Theatre Company’s production of The 39 Steps turns this wildly inventive Hitchcock-inspired comic thriller into an up-close, immersive experience, with the action unfolding all around and among the audience, bringing the madcap espionage, rapid character changes, and nonstop laughs right into your space. It’s a high-energy, clever staging of mistaken identity and spy-capades that makes every moment feel immediate and engaging."
Says Sullivan, “The key to our stage play is the small cast (which is always more desirable for theatres) and the fact that it embraces a madcap sense of humor. The underlying danger of this spy thriller and the ultimate message of kindness also resonates.”
ABOUT THE CAST
* All appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S..
JOSEPH FUQUA* (Richard Hannay) returns to Rubicon for his 25th season with the company, having been its very first company member. Recent RTC appearances include Bonnie & Clyde, Dark of the Moon, and Almost Maine. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Joseph’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs, 110 in the Shade at Lincoln Center, and Raft of the Medusa. His extensive regional work includes roles at Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theatre Center, and Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara. Film and television credits range from Gettysburg and Gods and Generals to The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Chicago Hope. A cornerstone of Rubicon’s artistic legacy, Joseph brings wit, warmth, and unstoppable momentum to the role of the man on the run.
LARRY CEDAR* (Clown #1) makes a triumphant return to Rubicon after his standout performance as Duke in Big River. With hundreds of television and film credits, including HBO’s Deadwood, Happy’s Place, and the recent feature This Bloody Country, Larry is also a celebrated stage artist. His Off-Broadway work includes his portrayal of Senator Mitch
McConnell in the sold-out political comedy 44: The Musical, and he has adapted and performed acclaimed solo works based on the writings of George Orwell (1984), Fyodor Dostoevsky (Notes From the Underground), and Franz Kafka (The Trial, The Hunger Artist, and The Burrow).
CHRISTIE CORAN* (Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret) makes her Rubicon debut in this whirlwind of roles. Her recent work includes One Man, Two Guvnors at A Noise Within, Baskerville and A Murder Is Announced at Peninsula Players, and productions with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf TYA, and Athenaeum Theatre. She has appeared internationally at the Sabanci Theatre Festival in Turkey and is a trained improviser with experience at UCB and iO Chicago. Christie holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy and a BFA from Northern Illinois University.
JACK HERHOLDT* (Clown #2) is thrilled to be making his Rubicon debut! Jack is a Drama Desk Award winner for That Physics Show! and has appeared Off-Broadway in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory, and more. His New York credits include King Lear (as the Fool opposite Austin Pendleton), Comedy of Errors, and Love’s Labor’s Lost. Jack is also an accomplished adaptor and solo performer, with original works premiering at NYC Fringe.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
JENNY SULLIVAN+ (Director) Some of her favorite plays at RTC include The Little Foxes (Linda Purl), The Rainmaker (Stephanie Zimbalist and John Bennett Perry), Hamlet (Joseph Fuqua), Defying Gravity and The Baby Dance: Mixed (both by Jane Anderson), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Karyl Lynn Burns and Joe Spano), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (Gregory Harrison and Jeff Kober), Our Town (James O’Neil and Lauren Patten) and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (Chris Butler). Other favorites include the World Premiere of Jane Anderson’s The Baby Dance for Pasadena Playhouse, Williamstown, Long Wharf Theatre (CT Critics’ Directing Award) and the Lucille Lortel Theatre Off-Broadway I Am My Own Wife at Laguna Playhouse and The Legend of Georgia McBride, The Children and Justice for ETC of Santa Barbara The Year of Magical Thinking at The Other Palace Theatre in London (Linda Purl) The Dresser at The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Len Cariou and Granville Van Dusen) Tom Dugan’s Wiesenthal (Acorn Theatre in NYC and The Wallis Annenberg) Jackie Unveiled at The Wallis Annenberg Jenny helmed the long-running productions of Nora and Delia Ephron’s Love, Loss and What I Wore (Geffen Playhouse) and the West Coast premiere of The Vagina Monologues (Canon and Coronet theaters). Jenny’s films include: “Access All Areas” and “The Next Best Thing” (in which
she had the good fortune to direct her father Barry). She recently produced the documentary “I Know Catherine, The Log Lady” about her life-long friend Catherine Coulson. Jenny is most proud of the Rubicon World Premiere of her play J for J in which she starred opposite Jeff Kober the late great John Ritter.
PATRICK BARLOW (Adaptation) Besides his version of Lew Wallace’s Ben Hur, Patrick Barlow’s Olivier-nominated adaptation of A Christmas Carol has played off-Broadway and London’s West End while his 4-person adaptation of The 39 Steps has played in over forty countries worldwide, winning Olivier, Helpmann, Moliere and Tony Awards and making Patrick the most performed playwright in America for 2012/13. Most recently, his rewriting of John Milton’s Comus has played to critical acclaim at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Patrick is also celebrated in the UK for his two-man theatre company National Theatre of Brent, whose comedy epics include Wagner’s Ring Cycle, The Charles and Diana Story, The Messiah, The Wonder of Sex, The Arts and How They Was Done, The Black Hole of Calcutta, The Life and Times of the Dalai Lama and Zulu! They have won two Sony Gold Awards, a Premier Ondas Award for Best European Comedy and the New York Festival Gold Award for Best Comedy. Other screenwriting includes “Van Gogh” (Prix Futura Berlin Film Festival), “Revolution!!” (Best Comedy Jerusalem Film Festival) and the BAFTA-winning “The Young Visiters.” Publications
include “Shakespeare: The Truth! and The Complete History of the Whole World. Patrick has also appeared in “Absolutely Fabulous,” “Shakespeare in Love,” “Notting Hill,” “Nanny McPhee” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary.” He is currently writing theatre versions of The Hound of the Baskervilles and Dracula.
JOHN BUCHAN (Novelist) (1875–1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and public servant whose adventurous storytelling helped shape the modern thriller and spy genre. A prolific writer from a young age, Buchan published more than 100 works of fiction and non-fiction over his lifetime, drawing on his deep love of landscape, history, and political intrigue. His most famous novel, The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), was written on the eve of World War I and introduced readers to Richard Hannay, a resourceful, reluctant hero caught in a fast-moving web of espionage, danger, and darkly comic circumstances. The novel’s pace, wit, and cinematic momentum made it an immediate success and a lasting influence, inspiring numerous adaptations for film and stage-including Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1935 film and Patrick Barlow’s inventive and comedic theatrical adaptation. In addition to his literary career, Buchan held significant public roles, serving in British intelligence during World War I and later as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940, where he championed literature, education, and cultural life. More than a century after its publication, The Thirty-Nine Steps continues to captivate audiences with its blend of suspense, humor, and theatrical storytelling
ALFRED HITCHCOCK (Filmmaker) (1899–1980) was one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history and a master of suspense whose work reshaped the language of film. Born in England, Hitchcock began his career in silent cinema before rising to international prominence with a series of innovative thrillers that blended psychological tension, dark humor, and meticulous visual storytelling. His 1935 film adaptation of The 39 Steps, loosely based on John Buchan’s novel, was a breakthrough success that helped define his signature style—fast-paced, inventive, and suspenseful—while introducing themes and techniques he would continue to refine throughout his career. After moving to Hollywood, Hitchcock directed more than 50 films, including Rebecca,Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Psycho, earning worldwide acclaim and enduring popularity. His influence extends far beyond film, inspiring countless directors and theatrical adaptations, and his work continues to captivate audiences with its blend of tension, wit, and unforgettable storytelling.
Other members of the Creative & Design Team include: Matthew Herman, Scenic Designer Mike Billings, Lighting Designer Randall Tico, Sound Designer Dianne Graebner, Costume Designer Danielle White, Hair & Makeup Designer Alex Johnston, Props/Furniture Designer Matthew Floyd Miller, Dialect Coach Patrick Vest, Fight Choreographer Hannah Raymond, Production Stage Manager Christopher Beyries, Production Manager Jimmy Callahan, Technical Director and Stephanie Coltrin, Producer/Casting Director.
SPONSORS
Rubicon Theatre Company’s 2025/26 season is generously supported by Stacey & John Birchfield, Mary Ann Cohen, Nora McNeely Hurley & Michael Hurley, The Jack Oakie & Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation, Jordan Laby & Family, The Manitou Fund, Barbara Meister, Shawn Baker & Jeffrey Naylor, Valerie & Jeff Snider, Becky & Steve Snyder.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
Rubicon Theatre’s THE 39 STEPS begins preview performances on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, and with a Gala Opening Night (Press Opening) on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a post-show reception with the cast, creative team, and special guests.
The production then runs through Sunday, March 1, 2026. All performances are at Rubicon’s home, The Karyn Jackson Theatre, at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. ?
Tickets are priced from $30 - $79.50 (inclusive of a $5 processing fee). Discounts are available for students, seniors, active military, and members of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.rubicontheatre.org, by phone at 805.667.2900, or in person at Rubicon’s Karyn Jackson Theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 (Laurel entrance) from 12pm-6pm Tuesdays through Saturdays.
ABOUT RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY
Rubicon Theatre has been described as “the rising star of the Southern California cultural constellation.” The not-for-profit professional regional theatre company has reached more than 550,000 attendees and more than 54,000 students. Rubicon serves area residents and visitors with innovative productions of classic and contemporary plays, as well as a wide array of educational programs and events. Acclaimed by critics and industry professionals, the company has received the L.A. Drama Critics Margaret Harford Special Award for “Sustained Excellence,” Drama Desk Awards for the Off-Broadway productions of The Best is Yet to Come and Daddy Long Legs and has won more than 20 Ovation Awards from the L.A. Stage Alliance.
Just prior to the pandemic, Rubicon transferred three shows to New York (Wiesenthal – Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations Lonesome Traveler – Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations and Daddy Long Legs (Drama Desk Award). Rubicon has welcomed a steady stream of high-profile actors and directors to the stage, including Bruno & Odiseo Bichir, Alison Brie, Susan Clark, Dana Delany, Conchata Ferrell, Bonnie Franklin, Harold Gould, Joel Grey, Larry Hagman, Bill Irwin, Stacy Keach, Jack Lemmon, Amanda McBroom, Ted Neeley, Lauren Patten, Paul Provenza, Linda Purl, Rondi Reed, John Ritter, Joe Spano, Bruce Weitz, Lillias White & others. (Company members are George Ball, Joseph Fuqua, Joe Spano & Jenny Sullivan).
Based in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District, just blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Rubicon resides in a 185-seat historic church built in the 1920s. In this renovated historic landmark, audience members are never further than 10 rows from the stage on the main floor. True to the company’s name and the vision of artistic directors KARYL LYNN BURNS and JAMES O’NEIL, Rubicon has created an environment where commitment and risk are encouraged, and where artists are nurtured and respected. As a result, the company has gained a reputation for producing invigorating interpretations of the classics and for supporting the development of new works. Rubicon presents at least one World Premiere each season, as well as readings of works-in-progress.
Deeply rooted in the region it serves, Rubicon offers extensive outreach programs, including daytime matinees for high school students, after-school and weekend programs for at-risk youth, and summer musical theatre, drama, and technical theatre camps.
A board of directors of prominent social and civic leaders governs Rubicon under the leadership of President Doug Halter and Honorary Chair Rosa Lee Measures. The company is also supported by an advisory group of regional ambassadors and a volunteer auxiliary.
Rubicon Theatre Company is located in The Karyn Jackson Theatre at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. For more information about Rubicon Theatre Company, or to purchase tickets, call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional photos are currently available under Media on the Rubicon Theatre website. To schedule interviews, please contact Publicist David Elzer at (818) 508-1754 davidelzer@me.com or Tessa Neeley at (805) 667-2912, ext. 239 tneeley@rubicontheatre.org.
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For photos, headshots and more information: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/e29zhaiaqdnqpf47rsq8i/ADFVtM7Us1Bxbea3AEceRgo?rlkey=j4exrwh2j4uu4fv5dbo8ubc7z&st=fnch2ssa&dl=0
CALENDAR LISTING FOR
THE 39 STEPS
Rubicon Theatre presents
THE 39 STEPS
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Limited
and an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
Directed by Jenny Sullivan
FEBRUARY 11 – MARCH 1, 2026 (Low-Priced Previews FEBRUARY 11 – FEBRUARY 13)
Press Opening FEBRUARY 14 at 7:00pm.
Performance Schedule: Wed. at 2pm & 7pm Thurs. at 7pm Fri. at 7pm Sat. at 2pm & 7pm Sun at 2pm.
Prices: $30 - $79.50 (inclusive of a $5 per ticket processing fee) Discounts for Subscribers, Students, Military and members of Actors’ Equity are available.
Tickets: (805) 667-2900 www.rubicontheatre.org
A missing spy. A mysterious woman. A man on the run. When an ordinary man stops to help a stranger, he’s catapulted into a high-speed chase across the Scottish countryside — with only his wits (and a trench coat) to survive. This fast-paced farce features over 150 characters played by just four actors in a whirlwind of costume changes, clever staging, and nonstop laughs. A comic thriller at its best, The 39 Steps is a wildly inventive tale of mistaken identity, espionage, and split-second decisions that change everything.
Presenter / Producer: Rubicon Theatre Company
Listed Categories
Theater > Theatrical Comedy
Event Phone: 805-667-2900
Venue
Rubicon Theatre Company at The Karyn Jackson Theatre
1006 E. Main Street
Ventura CA 90046
Regions:
Ventura, Santa Barbara & San Luis Obispo
Performance Dates: 2/11/2026 - 3/1/2026
Wednesday, 02/11/2026
Thursday, 02/12/2026
Friday, 02/13/2026
Saturday, 02/14/2026
Sunday, 02/15/2026
Wednesday, 02/18/2026
Thursday, 02/19/2026
Friday, 02/20/2026
Saturday, 02/21/2026
Sunday, 02/22/2026
Wednesday, 02/25/2026
Thursday, 02/26/2026
Friday, 02/27/2026
Saturday, 02/28/2026
Sunday, 03/01/2026
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Performance Times
FEBRUARY 11 – MARCH 1, 2026 (Low-Priced Previews FEBRUARY 11 – FEBRUARY 13)
Press Opening FEBRUARY 14 at 7:00pm.
Performance Schedule: Wed. at 2pm & 7pm Thurs. at 7pm Fri. at 7pm Sat. at 2pm & 7pm Sun at 2pm.
Ticket Information:
Prices: $30 - $79.50 (inclusive of a $5 per ticket processing fee) Discounts for Subscribers, Students, Military and members of Actors’ Equity are available.
Tickets: (805) 667-2900 www.rubicontheatre.org
Web Link for ticketing
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Event Information
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