In September it was announced that The 39 Steps, the Broadway comedy based on the eponymous Alfred Hitchcock film, would be closing on January 10, 2010 after almost three years and nearly 800 performances, by which time it would be the longest-running non-musical play on Broadway in the last seven years. Yesterday ArtsBeat reported that talks are underway for 39 Steps to transfer to the New World Stages complex, which recently became home to Avenue Q after a similar Off-Broadway transfer.
39 Steps‘ lead producer Bob Boyett explained that the idea was sparked by the puppet show’s move: “We think what (producer) Kevin (McCollum) did with Avenue Q was brilliant, and we hope to follow.” And with the recent news that Toxic Avenger is closing on January 3, there’s a nice big 499-seat theater at New World Stages that should fit The 39 Steps perfectly—it’s currently being performed in the 597-seat Helen Hayes Theater.