The main character of “The 39 Steps” Richard Hanney (Michael Tock). Photo by Peyton Saunders 
Anabella Schmidt (Macy Hooper) meeting Richard Hanney (Michael Tock) to recruit him in the search for “The 39 Steps”. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
Mr. Memory (bottom right) and their handler (left) with Hanney watching the performance from the balcony. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
Hanney hiding from the police officer using the train conductor’s hat. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
Productions like this don’t come together without a talented production staff. The production staff members and roles can be found above. Source: University of Lynchburg Theatre Department.
As part of the Homecoming 2025 festivities, the University of Lynchburg Theatre Department staged an abridged production of “The 39 Steps.”
The play is a comedic mystery based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan, later adapted into an Alfred Hitchcock film in 1935. It follows the character Richard Hanney, played by Michael Tock, through a series of hijinks, including accusations of murder, espionage, and conspiracies.
The story parodies 1900s spy stories and features Macy Hooper as the mysterious spy Anabella Schmidt, Lorelai Mayberry as Pamela Edwards, Hanney’s unwilling companion, Kaizer Gutierrez-Wood as Mr. Memory, and Mytro Riley as Professor Jordan.
Gutierrez-Wood and Riley also played various other roles, including policemen, passengers, a train conductor, and a paperboy. The production didn’t ignore these character changes; instead, it incorporated them into the story’s absurdity. Some of these character changes even occurred on stage, allowing the audience to get a look behind the curtain and for the cast to think outside of the box and utilize props to fill in the gaps.
These jokes turned the difficulties that can come with a limited cast into charming features woven into the story. The actors’ talent was on display as they switched between characters, accents, and even costumes.
While it may be too late to see “The 39 Steps” at the Dillard Fine Arts Center, the theatre department is already planning something for next month for fans of musicals. According to the theatre department, on November 7 at 7:30 p.m., the University of Lynchburg’s musical theater ensemble, Curtain Call, which has performed in New York City, will perform a cabaret-style show with songs from various Broadway musicals, including “Hadestown,” “Les Misérables,” “Mama Mia,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Frozen,” “Avenue Q,” “Newsies” and others. Admission is free and open to the public.
Find out more about Curtain Call’s next show on the University of Lynchburg website.
To learn more about Lynchburg’s Theatre Department, check out their Facebook page.
