BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS-OCTOBER 23, 2012- Comedy and thrills with a side order of Alfred Hitchcock are on The Arts Center menu at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, as a quick-changing cast of four serves up their production of the hilarious Tony Award-winning play, “The 39 Steps.” 

In preparation for the stage performance, The Arts Center will screen the film version of “The 39 Steps” at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. on Halloween Wednesday, October 31.  Admission to the film is free. 

Based on the 1935 Hitchcock adventure film of the same name, this direct from Broadway production aims for laughter in its tale of an ordinary guy who stumbles into an adventure filled with foreign spies, mysterious assassins and murder. Only four performers take the stage, but they will pack The Arts Center with more than 140 separate characters, thanks to lightning-fast costume and scenery changes, award-winning lighting affects, plus a few instances where one versatile performer plays two roles simultaneously. 

For those who love Hitchcock, the script is peppered with puns and allusions to the legendary director’s greatest hits, including “Rear Window,” “Psycho,” “Vertigo” and “North by Northwest”.  

Dr. Dan Barnard, director of The Arts Center, says the combination of fast-paced action, comedy and Hitchcock references makes for an enjoyable experience for theater buffs. 

“To see them do it, it’s hilarious,” Barnard said. “They have recreated the film in this production and re-energized  it in such a new way and its make it worth seeing.” 

“The 39 Steps” is one of two Broadway offerings in this third season of the Signature Series, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College popular entertainment line-up. 

Individual tickets for the performance of “The 39 Steps” are now available at UTBTickets.com or by calling 956-UTB-TKTS, 882-8587.