The 39 Steps
by John Buchan
Directed by Phil Johnson
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
October 27 – November 19, 2023
Preview Performance: October 27
Opening Night: October 28
Combine a film masterpiece by Alfred Hitchcock with a juicy spy novel and add a large splash of Monty Python humor. The result? A fast-paced whodunit with four versatile actors portraying more than 50 roles!
London, 1935. The rather dull Richard Hannay encounters a woman who claims to be a spy. When she is suddenly murdered, Richard finds himself the focus of a nationwide manhunt led by a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps.” This play is a hilarious comedy full of dazzling, inventive stagecraft and virtuoso performances that will have you rolling in the aisles until the death-defying, climatic finale.
CAST
Marley Bauer
(Richard Hannay)
Marley is thrilled to be making his debut with Scripps Ranch Theatre. He has been previously seen in San Diego at Trinity Theatre, and as Lenny in Lamplighters’ production of Rumors. Other previous credits
include Mal in The Addams Family, and Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap. He graduated from CSU Long Beach in 2021 after studying Theatre with an emphasis in Performance. He also enjoys reading and writing (when he is not acting, eating, sleeping, or working at his day job).
Melanie Mino
(Annabella/Margaret/Pamela)
Melanie is grateful to be performing at SRT again! You may have seen her as Gert in Lost in Yonkers at the end of last season. Melanie’s other favorite credits include Masha in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Lamplighters), Christa in The Lobster Man (Trinity), Margie in The 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol and Jaqueline De Severec in Murder on the Nile (PowPAC). A big thank you to the cast, crew, designers and director of The 39 Steps and to her family and friends who never stop supporting her love of theatre.
Katelyn Slater
(Clown)
Katelyn is excited to be part of this fabulous production. Her past credits include Romeo and Juliet (Nebraska Shakespeare Fall Tour), In the Heat of the Night, Bullshot Crummond, and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. When not on stage, she teaches acting at a local university, as well as to children. She thanks Jackie, Phil, and praises God for his beautiful plan!
Chris Braden
(Clown)
Chris is a native San Diegan and a graduate from Mira Costa with an AD in Dramatic Arts. This will be Chris’s debut with Scripps Ranch Theatre. Previous, notable performances include 9 to 5, Macbeth, Prairie Lights, 1940’s Radio Hour (Patio Playhouse); The 39 Steps (Lamplighters); A Christmas Carol (PowPac); As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing (Coronado Playhouse). When Chris is not performing around San Diego, he is practicing martial arts and improv.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Phil Johnson
(Director)
Phil Johnson is Artistic Director/ founder of The Roustabouts Theatre Co. He directs for The Roustabouts (The Savoyard Murders), Scripps Ranch Theatre (I Hate Hamlet), and started the new ‘Great Jewish American Playwright Series’/JPlays at the JCC. He’s appeared at most San Diego theaters and numerous original solo shows including A Jewish Joke Off-Broadway in NYC 2019. As actor, he’s played in Les Misérables on Broadway and on tour; Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard; and the 1st National Co. of Miss Saigon. A two-time winner of the SD Critics Circle Craig Noel Award for acting, and a founder of the San Diego Theatre Alliance.
Ruth Russell
(Producer)
Ruth is SRT’s resident Producer. Credits include: Lost in Yonkers, Neat, Extreme Home Makeover, The Outsider, The Dining Room, and The Taming. Ruth studied acting at the University of St. Thomas and has trained locally with Jacquelyn Ritz, Justin Lang and Jo Anne Glover. Ruth’s current acting project is Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, showing at Lamplighters until Nov. 5. Outside of theatre, Ruth is a communications professional and occasionally spends time with her husband and adorable dogs.
IG: @theruthrussell and @citydoggossd.
Jessamyn Foster
(Stage Manager)
Jessamyn has a BFA in Stage Management from Boston University and an MA in Arts Administration from University of Kentucky. Her credits in San Diego include No Way Back, Roosevelt: Charge The Bear (Roustabouts), Sapience, Fade, The Diary of Anne Frank, Ironbound, The Kid Thing, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, The (curious case of) Watson Intelligence (MOXIE), Something Rotten (TYP), Bring it On!, The Arsonists (SWC), Brooklyn! (Leigh Scarritt Productions), and Gideon’s Knot (Innermission). She is currently the Production & Operations Manager for the San Diego Youth Symphony.
Alli Brown
(Assistant Stage Manager)
Alli is delighted to be working on The 39 Steps at Scripps Ranch Theater. She is very grateful for the opportunity to share their combined love of theater with the world. Alli believes that theater is a powerful force for good, and she’s committed to making it accessible to all audiences. Some of Alli’s Stage Management experience include: The Colored Museum with Common Grounds, A 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol with PowPac, and Sense and Sensibility with Patio Playhouse.
Patrick J. Duffy
(Sound Design)
Patrick works at Lambs Players Theatre (LPT) as a resident Sound Designer, occasionally performing on stage, stage managing, helping with sets, or managing their Touring Company, since 2004. Favorite performance roles: Bernardo in West Side Story (LPT), MacDuff in Macbeth (Intrepid), and Hyde in Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Ion). Favorite Sound Design credits: Once (LPT), Mixtape (LPT), and Les Miserables (LPT) for which he received the Craig Noel Outstanding Sound Design award. Patrick wishes to thank you for your patronage, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Heather Larsen
(Scenic Painting)
Heather is a third-year graduate student at San Diego State studying Scenic Design. Scenic design credits include: A Raisin in the Sun, The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee, Mr. Burns, Sabrina Fair and Beau Jest (The Master’s University). Heather also did production design for the 2021 feature film “The Man From Nowhere.” In conjunction with her design experience, she has worked professionally as a scenic carpenter with Scenic Highlights, a company with clients such as The Academy Awards, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Disneyland.
Website: heatherlarsendesign.com
Yi-Chien Lee
(Scenic Design & Set Dressing)
Yi-Chien is a San Diego-based theatre set designer. Credits include This Side of the World (East West Players); Sharon, Life Sucks, El Huracán, Water by the Spoonful, The Great Leap (Cygnet); Future is Female (Flint Rep); King of the Yees (Sierra Madre Playhouse); The Great Khan (SD Rep); Dragon Mama, Eighty-Sixed, Girlfriend, A Kind of Weather (Diversionary); Mother of the Maid, The Pleasure Trials (Moxie); God of Carnage, October Night of Jonny Zero (Backyard Renaissance).
Portfolio: yichienlee.com
Justin Magallanes
(Props Design)
Justin is a propmaster, filmmaker, puppeteer, writer, and lyricist from Temecula, CA. He is a Sophomore at San Diego State University, pursuing a major in Film Production and a minor in Theatre. Justin’s previous work includes PHOBOS and Dreamy Drive, an original musical series and horror film respectively, as well as assistant directing The Weight of Dreams at SDSU. He is currently developing an original comedy musical, and will be providing props for the upcoming Hand to God. Justin is thrilled to be working on The 39 Steps and collaborating with its brilliant team, and equally thrilled to be given the chance to brag in third-person.
Michelle Miles
(Lighting Design)
Michelle has served San Diego local theatre for over a decade, having started her career as a Master Electrician and Asst. Stage Manager. Past design favorites include: The Savoyard Murders, gUnTOPIA! (Roustabouts); Addams Family, Urinetown, Spelling Bee, Young Frankenstein (SDMT); Cotton Patch Gospel, An American Christmas (Lamb’s Players); Steel Magnolias (Backyard Renaissance); Sunday in the Park with George (California Center for the Arts). When she’s not tinkering with electronics, scaling the walls and vigorously tapping keys on the light board, she can be found somewhere in the wilderness – searching for that moment where the world feels big and she feels small. Unending love and respect to her family, the Longfellow Clan, the Peirsons and her Motley Crew.
Caprice Shirley
(Costume Design)
Caprice is a graduate of UC San Diego and is making her Scripps Ranch Theatre debut. Her notable credits include: Boxed (UCSD), Baal (UCSD), It’s a Wonderful Life (VVC), and Go, Dog. Go! (VVC).
