Illustrated poster for The 39 Steps: a bold, colorful face under a top hat crowned with a London clock tower

Photo: Courtesy of the Laguna Playhouse; design and illustration by Carlos Zamora

Art & Culture · The Laguna Playhouse

The 39 Steps: Sunday Matinees

Hitchcock's spy thriller, played for laughs. Four actors cover dozens of characters in Patrick Barlow's quick-change comedy at the Laguna Playhouse. Sunday matinees at 1 p.m., through closing day, November 22.

Every Sunday · Next Nov 15, 2026 · 1:00pm Ticketed

Hosted by The Laguna Playhouse

About

Richard Hannay wanted a quiet night out. Then a stranger is killed in his London flat, and he's on the run to Scotland with a spy ring close behind. Patrick Barlow's stage version of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film keeps the chase and plays it for laughs, with four actors covering every role through quick changes and clever staging.

Hunter Foster directs. Jon Root plays Hannay, Ashley Margaret Morton plays the Woman, and Jennifer Cody and Jeremy Webb play the Clowns, who handle nearly everyone else.

The Laguna Playhouse has been staging shows in town since 1920. It sits at the foot of Laguna Canyon Road, a short walk from Main Beach, so a Sunday matinee pairs well with a morning on the sand. The Sunday, Nov. 22 matinee is the final performance of the run.

What to know

  • Sunday matinees at 1 p.m.: Nov. 8, 15 and 22. Thursday and Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m., and evening shows Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
  • Playhouse content notes: adult language, sexual situations and themes, and violence.

Schedule

  • Every Sunday · 1:00pm
  • Last date Sunday, November 22

Getting there

The Laguna Playhouse

606 Laguna Canyon Road, at the edge of downtown. Parking fills up on show days, so check the Playhouse's parking options and give yourself extra time.

Get directions

More from The Laguna Playhouse

FAQs

Sundays at 1 p.m. on November 8, 15 and 22, 2026. The Nov. 22 matinee closes the run.

The Playhouse flags adult language, sexual situations and themes, and violence, played for comedy. Check its content notes before bringing younger children.

Buy them through the Laguna Playhouse box office online, where you can pick any performance date and time.

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